Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1920-08-04
GAS EXPLOSION
STARTLES RENO

One man was injured and property.
damage exceeding $4,000 was caused
bv a gas explosion at $3.50 Monday
morning which razed the Olliveria
Garage. Is Front street. and. shat
tered store windows throughout the
business district. the damage exetend-
ing over a radius OF more than two
blocks iron the scene OF the blast
]. ]. Olivera. proprietor OF the ga.
rage. was burned about the head face
and hands. He was treated at st.
Mary's hospital an later removed to
his home. 222 California street. The
explosion came when Oliveria opened
the door Of the garage. The doors
and windows of the building had been
closed for more than 36hours and
the theory is that the gas had formed
by evaporation of a quantity OF gaso
line stored there; and that Oliveria,
to find the electric switch or was
smoking at the time. He was unable
to give a clear account of the accident.
as vet, The proprietor OF the garage
wa blown entirely across the street
but was able to get up and rush to
the Western Union telegraph Office
IT., h,,,1I;nx
which is a complete loss, was owned
by Judge c. f. Mack.
The fire department was called inn
mediately. The debris of the fallen
building had burst into flames and
burned the more readily because much
of it was oil-soaked. Within an hour
the fire was extinguished Two auto
mobiles were in the garage at the
time. one belonging to Fred SERVERS
and the other to Oliera Both were
demolished.
Windows in business buildings
within a radius OF more than two
blocks were shattered by the force
of the explosion and houses were
shaken in all parts of the city. Thou
and believed the city had been rocked
by all earthquake. Many dressed and
an arthquake. Many dressed and
came down town and within 20 min
utes the streets about the scene OF
the explosion. were crowded with peo-
pie. 1t was at Ifirst thought possible
that number OF people had been
killed but hurried investigation es-
tahlished to the contrary. Following
the blast there was a crash of falling
glass which was secondary i'll volume
of sound only to the explosion iteslf.
The sky was illuminated with red
glow which gave the impression that
big lire had started, Flames leaped
more than lC0 feet i'll the air but died
as soon aswater from number of
lines of hose was turned on the burn
ing ruins of the building.
The blast was oil such force as to
lift the building bodily froSl the
ground. only to. let it drop again a
crunpled mass of brick and plaster.
Bricks were hurled in every direction,
several dropping on the roofs of the
Nixon and Grand Theatre buildings.
The wheel o. an automobile was
was thrown to the top of the Nixon
building. The front door OF the ga
rage was hurled across the street, strik-
ing the Y. NJ. c. A. building and
part oi it going through the window.
\ number Of bricks went through
the windows al the Y. NJ. c. A. and
theMajestic theatre buildings, also
through the window of the Nixon
building and the city hall One of the
faces of the clock in the tower of tho
city hall was blown out al its frame.
Practically every window in the city
hall, Nixon, Majectic, Theatre and the
Y. NJ. c. A.. on sides nearest the ex-
plosion was shattered
The streets were deserted at the
time off the explosion--3;3 80 htm.-
which accounts for the fact that no
deaths or serious casualties occurred.
Keno Journal.