Norwich bulletin., 1921-12-28
PUTNAM

Firenen and other citizens inspected
with interest Tuesday the bnrsted >cl1s1rli-
cal tank. capacity about 40 gallons.
which burst with q roar Mol,day night
while No. i company was engased in
combating a chimney ire st what Is
known as the Ross tenement house or
Woodstock avenue near what formerly
were Kennedy's stables.
Fly rare good fortune none 81 the Ere
men or other persons were injured by
the accident. which might have had fatal
consequences. Driver Wiifrttd Benoit
and Charles T. Thayer and Frank Ba,-
ker were, the members of the company
who were closest to the tank when It ex-
ploded and Driver Benoit, who stood
with his hand on the crank waiting to
dump the tank. or tin it over. had his hat
knocked off. Mr.. Thayer had just climb
ed down from the truck and was stand.
| IN" beside it when the crash, came.
So great was the force OF the explosion
| that the heavy copper tank was rent
| ssunder and actually torn. as though It
| had been no stronger than pastehoard.
| THE explosion ripped the tank loose from
| its fasteninss and the bursted tank
smashed in the side Of the gasoline tank
| mounted iust ahead OF IT on the body OF
| the motor =pcmper as we'll as dannaei41g
= rack mounted JUSTIN the rear OF the
! ark
| 1t was stated Tuesday by r Baker
| -ha THE gauge on the tank was show
| ing lust go pounds pressure when the
EXPLOSION came. scattering, 2 Chemical
| mixture in all directions. but iniurifls No
| one. The tank is usually charged to $50
| pounds and is SUPPOSEDLY built to resist
| \ much HIGHER nressure. 40 special ex-
| 7ianation was. offered Tuesday as to why
| he tank should go TO sraa sf1 but It was
sid by a well informed member Of the
| department thar such tanks of chemicals
| 80 explode and ti1at:+ile occurrence was
"ot very unusual. though t never before
| had occurred f.sreabouts.
The tank IS sn.it so5en much after the
--1anner in which frankfort is opened
N hy the hot dos. man who anrlies the
Mustard. Not onlv did some Of the riv-
us rim out but the metal sides of the
ank are actually torn where there was
10 seam or union.
Francis Decatur was missing Tuesday
morning when his case was called in the
"itv court and though judge Geisslei
waited an hour after the set time 70,
Decatur to nut in an appearance he con-
| -inued to remain among the missing SC
here was. nothing for the court to dc
| 1fil. c. HIS pOftt ana pectare II forfeit
| Il. Decatur. arrested to answer to d
charge of intoxication. did not obtair
Nail until about $40 Tuesday morning
~hen s35 was put IN BY friend to OBJ
ain his release. When he was let go h
vas warned TO return at 9 q. m. for the
| sitting Of court, bue he. failed to do so
A few fro-'' this city witnessed the Ar,
that Quilted Mason's drug store at Web
stew late Monday night. causing damage
,stinated. at s25.00o. Dwellers IN apart
~a"nts over the store were rescued witt
difficulty An explosion Of chemicals fea
nre1 the firn and caused extra difficult
y for the firemen. The fire, which was
| ti7e worst that has occurred In Webster
Cor some time, was. watched BY Rail
Tlurston Of the local department arnotae
other, Putnam -5oeople. some of whom hap
7ened TO be visiting in the nearby town
This weekend viii be. marked by. 4
gathering of members of Putnam stodgt
Of }5tks at their home in the Elks' build
ing. The lodge members viii enjoy a
! program such. as usually mark Men
Tears eve observances. by the organi
cation in this city. -;
Alters an exceedingly busy week. the
members OF TIE posta. force IN this city
found some relief from their labors or
! Monday and Tuesday. O1ae feature o.
| this years .Chrisfn1as. rush apprecia ter
by the carriers was that the holiday mai
was more evenly distributed over long
er period than has been the rule in Other