Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-07
. 9 . . . . . - . . . .
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III Paso. Tex, March More than
forty city prisoners. undergoing the
first Of series of disinfocting baths
ordered in connection with the cam
paign TO prevent the spread 'of dis
ease from Mexico. were burned late
today when the bathing solution, a
mixture of gasoline kerosene and
vinegar, exploded and hurled sheets
y flames thronghoni the east wing
Of the city iail
Become iASing Torches
On fire from head 10 foot. ,ie VIC
tins All naked. dashed into the
streets and alleys surrounding the
prison. six were dead at O'Clock
tonight Thirty-two were at hospitals,
with the prospect that six more would
die within few hours Sevcra4
nthcre. maddened by the pain from
scared flesh out-distanccu all pur-
sucrs ana disappeared. only one
had been found several hours after
he disaster.
one American Badly Hurt.
Nearly all the prisoners were Mex
cans one American, however. list
ID as among the fatally injured, was
aiken to hospital with one eye gone
md his nose burned or blown off. DR..
!. r. Calnan. chief police surgeon.
vas slightly injured.
Caused by Drug Fiend
a drug fiend who violated the in-
JUNCTION not TO light a match in order.
0 heat a solution for a stolen hypo-
lermio injection to soothe his shat
cred nerves, was believed tonight to
rave caused the explosion. A coro-
Ier's inquest. according 10 city Of
lcials will be held tomorrow, how
yer, to sift evidence and fix respOn-
ibility.
Dsinfecting Baths.
The explosion occurred shortly
ftcr 2 o'clock Under the direction
+ Dr Calnan. the prisoners were
tken from the steel tanks, dlsrobed
nd placed one by one in the dlsin-
citing baths. Their clothing, at the
lme time. was placed in another
ith TO destroy any disease-carying
'rmin.
The tubs were placed near the door
ay leading tu the police hospital.
he explosion blew out doors and
indows. and the flames swept the
lspital, rendering 1t untenable and
'elcss for the press Of emergency
ork which followed.
hNtHf~ ttViIibfA nutllHttN.
one Of the victims a vortabie
roh. plunged through the Jagged
mains of window pane and clam
'red to the roof Of the jail, where
! was rescued By firemen. only to
c a few minutes later
Every vestlge of hair was burned
IN The heads and bodies of all the
lor victims, and the flesh Of many
them was crisped number OF
I'm were blinded. \ majority of the
! inmates were out at work at the
lc Those who were taking the
tbs We're mostly men arrested as
lg addiots
Dr Calman ISSUED strict orders that
matches were TO be lighted or Gig
'ttes smoked during the disinfectng
,cess.
Matches Lighted
TRUSTEES were stationed about the
ridors TO see that the order was
ped. Despite these precautions, ac-
ding to statements made by 'trus-
8 TO Mayor Tom I.oa, two prison
We're seen to light matches, and a
lerdermiI needle filled with drug
ition wus said TO have been found
PR the fire in one Of the cells
me or two of the more slightly in
ed prisoners said tonight that the
losion camc with The suddennness
q belt OF lightning The vapor
ng from the disiufectng bath ig-
81, and IN an instant q sheet of
no seemed to spread among tho
s.. There was no detonation. but
rs hulged and windows burst open.
glass ciattering in fragments in
alley and street skiring the prison.
Agony l. Terrible.
Dated with the burning liquid, the
ioners stampedod for the exit lead
20 the police emergency hospital
moment later the alley fronting -
pital held the prostrate bodies o
re than score of them. One man.
ecro, died before aid could reach
The others lay tossing on The
cmcnt, and calling IN spanish upon