Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-09-01
DEXTER GAS PLANT WRECKED
Explosion Causes Destruction Of Prop
erty and One Fatality.
MANAGER WILL PROBABLY DIE
Foreman Meyers, ThOugh Terribly
scaIded, PuIIed Body of Manager
Hanson from Debris--State
Fair winds UP Today.
lrrom a staff Correspondent.l


DIES MONIES, Ia, Aug. 31.-(Special Tel
egram. Especial dispatches from Dexter,
Ia. lust west of Des Moines, this after
noon tell of an explosion Of gas there
that totally wrecked the new $4,000 plant
OF the Dexter Gas company. and the prob
able fatal burning of Charles Hanson,
manager of the plant. A. B. Meyers, fore
man, was frlghtfully scalded, but sue
ceeded in dragging the unconscious form
OF Hanson from the burning building. The
cause Of the fire is unknown.
Iowa's pioneers were guests of the state
fair management today. All the residents
living in Iowa before the territory became
a state were admitted free to the grounds.
The attendance at noon today was esti-
mated at 5000 and already the gate re-
ceipts are sufficient to pay bills incurred
in the exposition. Harroun's automobile
race against Parmelee, the Wright aviator,
will be the feature Of tomorrow, the final
fair date.
Attacked by CrRzed Woman
Twice refused admission to the private
office of General Manager j. r. Harrigan
of the Street Railway company, a woman
giving the name Of Mrs. Coons and wear
ing the garb of a nurse, chased Charles
Snyder, private secretary to Mr.. Harrigan.
from the office with hatpin. She re-
turned this morning, and while Snyder
escaped her by going into the office OF the
manager, Patrolman Rabbit took the
woman to the police station.
Gas Experts Cost High.
Gas experts whom the city of Des
Moines recently employed TO assist II in
its fight for 9O-cent gas come high. Just
as II the city council didn't appreciate the
big bill, w. D. Marks this morning pre-
scented request for $2,0t275. The bill in
cluded 81. $50 salary and the remainder was
for expenses.
Reception for President Taft.
Preparations are being made to welcome
President Taft when he comes to Des
Moines September 20. At meeting of the
greater Des Moines committee today a
committee composed of Lafayette Young
| jr., Edward Meredith and Harvey Ingham
was appointed to make the necessary plans
for the reception Of the president. The
president will probably deliver an address
at the coliseum here.
Held for BIackmaiI.
Hugh Fry. a railroad fireman, was ar
rested this morning by Constable Temple
on charges of having attempted to black
mail Edward Thompson, druggist. He is
alleged to have threatened to kill Thomp-
son last Saturday. The druggist claims
that Fry forced him to sign an affidavit
at the point of gun and threatened to
send him to jail for improper relations
with Mrs. Fry If he did not give the
! fireman $500.
Killed by Train.
Frank Hilman of Jamaica, Ia, was run
over and killed by Northwestern train
here early this morning. He was a visitor
at the state fair.
Catholic Cathedral Here.
An imposing cathedral will be erected
in the st. John parish district when the
Catholic see is formally established in Des
Moines, according to the statement OF
prominent members of the church here to-
day The list of candidates for the office
Of bishop has already been submitted tC
the American college at Rome.