Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-25
TWO ARE DEAD FROM
GAS SUFF0CA1|0N
Mrs. Martha Harrington and
Mrs. George Raymond Sue
comb at Result of Leaking
Main on Park Avenue--Seven
Others Taken to Hospital

The condition Of the seven victims Of
the break in the gas main on Park av-
enue who were taken TO the Mary Flet-
cher hospital early Wednesday morning
was so much improved to-day that
all but one have returned to their homes.
Bertha Raymond was still too i'll to he
moved, although she was improving. Al
though various reports were in circuia-
ton about the street yesterday TO the
effect that several had died, the only ones
to succomb were Mrs. Martha Harrins-
ton and Mrs George Raymond.
Men we're busy Wednesday replacing
the pipe which caused the death and in
jury. The leak was found near the cor
ner of Pine street and Park avenue. The
pipe was a direct line TO the Vermont
Chocolate companys plant and was
r pipe which was plugged at its south
and east extremities The break was
found to be about three inches long and
a half inch wide. near collar. The ac-
cident is believed to be due to the nature
of the soil which is clay and settles in
spots. This places strain the pipes.
which is believed to have cause the split
In addition to the two VINO are dead
several were severely affected. Those
who were taken 10 the Mary Fletcher
hospital in the police ambulance and that
Of Corbin & Frye were Mrs. John Nor
rili, the Misses Anna and Ruth Morrill,
Miss Bertha Raymond, George Raymond
Sr.. George Raymond. Jr.. and Mrs. Gil
bert Miller. Others who were made very
III were Gilbert Miller. John Morrill,.
George Morrill,. Zeph Morrill, and Mrs.
Samuel Trushaw.
The fact that many deaths did not
| result from the accident is due 10 the
iyitU Of Nv
Mrs. Chase awakened her husband on
| smelling the gas and he thought at first
| that II was only his house which was
affected He called the Burlington Light
| & Power company at once and reported
| the trouble Within a few minutes. how
eve. ne saw the police ambulance go
rushing past and then he knew that
there WAS trouble along the street He
called central telephone office and got
| the operators to work. awakening the
| residents of the houses along Park az
| enue. They also sent in emergency calls
/ for physicians and several were on hand
! in short time While the operators
were at work. Mr.. Chase Went to num-
der Of houses, awakening the people. The
| Morrill, family. who live next door were
| first visited by him. and to that visit
| they owe their lives. Mrs. Morrill, was
able to totter about when he reached
| there. Entrance was forced and Mrs
Morrill, and her four children Anna Ruth,
! Zeph and George. we're in bad shape
| Mrs. Morrill, was the only one who was
conscious and she only partially so. Mrs.
| Morrill, and the daughters were removed
at once to the Hospital in the ambulance.
while the others were resuscitated at the
! house.
grove was losing no time and when the
first call came in ne sent the ambulance
with Police Officers Thomas Collins
| John Brothers. Joseph MCGOWAN and
| Thomas Mungeon to the scene. They
made their first stop at the RaymonG
house. where conditions appeared to be
| the worst. They then went to the Nor
rill house and the Harrington house on
Sheburne road. Mrs. Harrington at that
| time appeared to be all right. IT was
not until afterwards that she went into
her cellar and inhaled the gas that caused
her death
Many others along the pipe line had
narrow escapes Mr.. and Mrs. Ralph
Jones. who live just above Mr. Chase,
were aroused by him. but they had not
been affected Mrs. Samuel Trushaw was
overcome while visiting those who were
| affected. ana her condition was serious
later on The gas got into the home Of
Louis Gotta and all OF the family were
affected. although no one was overcome.
st. Anthonys Church was filled with
the gas and a dozen other buildings had
the odor, but none to the extent of the
Morrill,. Raymond, and Harrington
houses. Some of the houses on the same
sewer line We're not affected at all.
Among the physicians who responded
to calls and who rendered aid were
Health Officer {. A. Ravcy, e. \, Pcase,
r. f. Maynard. Lyman Allen, D. y. Shea
and c. n Perkins