Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-15
TOTAL
In EXPLOSION
22;MANYHURT
Pittsburgh Hospitals
Filled With Injured;
Damage High in
Millions

PITTSBURGH, Pa, Nov. 15.-tP|-
A column Of fire and steel shot high
into the air. A terrific report car
ried q message Of death to an un-
known number Of persons and struck
fear to the hearts Of q million more.
A tremendous concussion reduced
scores of happy homes and busy fac
tories to ruins. A pail Of black
smoke turned daylight into dark
ness.
Such was the explosion which yes
terday spread gloom throughout the
Pittsburgh district when a 100000
cubic foot gas storage tank Of the
Equitable Gas company at Reedsale
and Fontella streets, north side let
60 and spread death and destruction
throughout the neighborhood.
Twenty-Five known dead, fourteen
Of them identified, had been located
early today. Fifty more were miss
ing. More than 500 injured had been
treated in eight Pittsburgh hospitals.
While fresh rescue workers be-
lieyed the tired men who had labored
throughout the night by aid Of
searchlights and flashlights, proper
ty owners sought to estimate the
cost in dollars. No responsible of
fetal or business man, however,
could make a more accurate guess
than that the loss would run into
millions Of dollars. The damage 20
the gas tank which exploded, and the
two beside IL, Is in excess Of 81, ,000,-
600. All about the tanks, factories
and houses were A twisted mass of
wreckage. Plate glass worth $4,000
was shattered, some of il several
miles from the scene Of destruction.
Investigate Cause
Daylight today found firemen and
police still hard at the task of
searching the ruins FOR bodies of
men believed to have been trapped in
cellars and beneath debris Of fallen
buildings. Dangerously swaying walls
were pulled down and the Ohio river
was dragged for possible victims.
Coroner w. j. McGregor and the
state public service commission be-
gan Investigations of the cause Of
the blast. The secret, however, may
rest with the 13 men employees OF
the Ritner-Conley company, who
were at work overhauling one OF the
three tanks when the explosion oc-
Cured. The tank had been empty
for months. The men were working
with blow torches and IL IL thought
that a residue OF gas was ignited,
resulting in a minor explosion which
ignited great quantities Of gas leak
ing from rents made by the first
fast In the other tanks.
Witnesses said a great ball Of fire
scared hundreds Of feet into the air.
They heard the explosion and flames
dropped 20 earth. The whole section
was bombarded with pieces CT steel.
falling like shrapneI. Windows and
walls cracked and tall buildings
shook more than half mile from the
scene. The report could be heard for
miles. Nine hundred telephone lines
were put out Of commission Water
mains burst.
Almost before the real significance
Of the disaster had come home 10 the
city. rescue work was being organ
ized and relief was being rushed 20
the stricken district.
Policemen and firemen proved
themselves heroes by rushing into
the heart OF the trouble and while
roofs were falling and walls eollaps-
ing carried women and children out
Of their wrecked homes. Fire ap-
parntus, private automobiles and
commercial vehicles were utilized %
rush injured 20 the hospitals. Houses
were searched for injured. Through
streets flooded by water escaping
from broken mains, the rescue work
ers plunged 20 aid people lying un-
conscious in their yards or scream
ing where they were hurled Fire
started in some or the wrecked homes
and in one case, five persons were
carried stunned out Of their burning
house. Another woman who had been
struck bv falling plaster and was ly-
ing beside a leaking Eas main was
saved. A pair OF twins who had been
blown from their home and de-
posited. still In their crib, in q back
yard were rescued.
Some OF the most pathetic scenes
OF day OF tragedy were enacted nc
the entrances Of the nnorgue and at
various hospitals were relatives of
victims we're permitted 70 view the
bodies or see the injured.
Insurance companies announced
that most Of the loss viii have 20 be
borne by individual property owners
~ the damage was almost aif due Co
explosion which IN not covered in the
standard fswa fwau~arrn rn1frfae