Imperial Valley press., 1929-05-17
DANGER
OF GAS
L|NCERS
Authorities Order All
Near Cleveland Disaster
To Be Treated.
PATIENTS MISSING
Death Claims Another
Victim Who Aided Lin
Rescue Work.
PATIENTS

CLEVELAND, O., May H. W.H -
With so patients of the Cleveland
Clinic unaceounted for and 4J more
in hospitals here, it was feared that
many more may be added 30 the
death toll which stood today at 1913.
The so unaccounted for patients
are persons who were registered at
the clinic Wednesday when the eX
plosions occurred. What happened
to them is unknown to officials here.
Fear that they have felt the cf-
fects of the deadly gas that resulted
from the blast developed when II
was learned that an slst unaccount
ed for patient died today at Grove
City, Pa.
He was Roy Jones. of Grove City,
Pa. Jones, Il pro football star who
had played with the Cleveland In.
dians and Canton Bulldogs, had been
ii the clinic for removal of tonsils.
For 20 minutes after the blast he
hung from window ledge of the
third floor. Rescued. Jones aided in
taking others to hospitals He then
drove home to Grove City.
Jones became i'll Thursday after
Noon. He died this morning. Clinic
officials upon learning Of the death
and the circumstances which pre-
eeded it, requested that others of tn"
unaccounted for patients or their
relatives. communicate as TO their
condition.
4 was pointed out that perhaps
othcrs like Jones who felt all right
following the disaster, went to their
home and later became ill.,
Meanwhile work of rehabilitation
and investigation continues.
CLEVELAND, May II. W.H-The
threat Of death hung over a score of
persons today as funeral plans were
made for the l27 whose lives were
snuffcd out by poison gas and fire
in the Cleveland Clinic disaster.
Patients, doctors, nurses-all those
ttiil alive who were in the clinic
Wednesday when three explosions
starting in the X.ray room sent yell
lowish nitrogen dioxidc fumes swirl
ing through the building were
marked on the danger list. They,
with firemcn, policemen and volun-
teers who carried victims from the
blazing structure, Were ordered to
report for medical treatment to drive
gas poison from their lungs and
blood corPuscles.
The vast destruction of human life
in an institution erected to preserve
life was believed probably due to
two steam filters bIunder5 each
ordinarily cNcusabie.
One of the steam filters, "A young
man named Buffery Boggs, was held
in technical custody after he told his
story to Coroner a. j. Pearse, police
and county officials.
He said he had been called to re.
pair Il leaking steam pipe in the
basement Xray film room Wednes-
day morning. Removing the fire.
proof covering, he had found the
pipe too hot TO touch. He went back
to his shop, leaving the pipe to cool
off. Ninety minutes later he return
ed to find smoke in the room and
steam dripping from the pipes.
He seized a fire extinguisher and
played it against the ceiling where
the smoke and kissing steam seemed
ccntered. Almost Immediately the
first explosion knocked him TO the
floor.
Thereupon he crawlcd from the
room and was seeking safety when
the second explosion flung him
through window.
His error, if such it might be
called, lay in leaving the steam pipe
unguardcd.
Second Error Found
City Fire Wardens p. +. Ferrie
Boggs' statement and that of Giley
A. Mul'nneaux, chief engineer OF
the clinic, said they believed the
heat spreading from the unprotected
pipe and escaping steam had caused
spontaneous combustion among rolls
of X-ray film stored in the basement
room. Nitrogen gas given off from
the film combined with the oxygen
in the air to form nitrogen dioxide
gas-rsure death for those who
breathed it deeply.
But this gas would never have es-
capped from the film room to the
floors above except for the error of
the second steam fitter-a man as
vet unidentified. Years ago this
man put II steam pipe-separate from
the one Boggs worked on--in the
wrong place. 1t protruded from the
ceiling and prevented the automatic
closing of fire door in the film