The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-01-26

debris The roof and east south and
west walls bulgrd outward and col
lapsed. pieces Of the debris being
hurled with terrific force. Nothing re.
mains Of the house except the mass OF
ruins. Three walls were completely
demolished. while a part of the north
wall remained standing.
The shock was felt tor squares. Near
tho Burck home. people in their homes
were knocked 10 the floor. and three
men who had just passed .the house
were thrown violently 70 the street.
Houses in the Immediate vicinity are
several seconds. Henry Williams.
neighbours child. living n"Nt door, was
throwp to the floor in his hornc and
his face and head badly bruised.
way was hurled across McColloch street
with such fore" that Il buried itself IN
the haniSter Of porch.
The household furnishings destroyed
in. the explosion included new piano
Tor which the Hurck family recently
paid $500. There were several hQnGT"d
dollars worth Of Liberty bonds In the
house which have not been found. FIre-
mon rescued some clothing. a pocket
book containing good sum or money
and some jewciry.
Mr.. Burck was attended by DR.. f NJ.
Phillips. and was taken to the North
Wheeling hospital. Mrs. Phillips WAS
attended no,, q. Or, 4. sHupy sunany se1ss School
Had the tw" young boys been at
home. 1t is probable that they would
have been in the main part OF Their
home. in which case they no doubt
would have been killed.
News IF the explosion spread rapidly
and large crowds were Qurckly attract
ed 10 the scene. SightSe"rS came all
dav from as far as MouudsviI!e and
ReCCh Bottom TO witness the wreck
This ~ the nrst explosion OF The kind
In this immediate vicinity since The one
which wrecked house IN Rcnwood
tarrc years ago. and the destruction OF
the Rcnwoud building was not nearly so
complete ~ that of the BurCk home.
The three occupants OF the house at
IN" I'm" 80 the explosion were inter-
viewed and their styrir. follow:
''S""r. as,rr cam" down stairs. sag
Mr. Burck. my wife asked me I" lo'k
in the cellar FOR q gas leak. 40 she
claimed there was quite an odor Of gas.
vent into the yard and down The shs eel,
reached the cellar my wife came down
the stair way that led {" the cellar from
tho kitchen. A she passed along thH
wlll she said that rh' leak must be near
by for it smcllsd stronger. opened
csllar when heard a loud report. The
floor seemed 10 fall IN and l heard my
wife calling for M TO follow her. but |
was unable TO locate her. ] then at
tempted TO 70 up, the cellar steps out
how | got uIt. ! don't know
Although Mr.. liurck was unable 70
relatr his rescue Th" Inlclligcncer re-
porter. who was on the job immediate.
lv after tho explosion. witnessed 1t. and
it - ag follows:
A. Mr.. Turck attempted 20 ascend
N. stairs leading int" tho yard. l;"h
iIinkNlman. former member Of the
rnIic. force wa~ On the scene. aiding
'h> family to crawl ont of The ruins. Mr
HinkeiTnan heard RurCk call for helt
:-nnr the cellar and he quickly cleared
away tho debris and helped the rn7n 10
the residence Of Charles w. rd.
across me street. ~hcr" Mr. Burck told
tn, .,l,,rc story hefnrs he was removed
- 'h.. office ~ Or. Phillips
Mrs. Burck's story.
4 nm alwaNS an ,ariy riser. even on