The Washington times., 1929-05-17

BLAST INJURED
FACE SLOW
DEATH
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institutions. For years persons
whose ailments did not respond to
ordinary treatment have come from
far and near to submit to the en-
pert medical and surgical skill Of
DR.. Grille and, his associates.
No One Blamed
The death toll Of Ohio's worst
calamity in a decade stood early
today at 12S or 124. Officials check
ing various death lists said today
the toll in all probability would
mount higher.
Thus far no criminal negligence
has been uncovered by the investi-
gators. Coroner Pearce stated. Buf.
ferry Boggs, ateamfitter, who was
working In the ill-fated hospital
when the explosion occurred, still IL
held today, but he il not under
suspicion. Pearce merely wants to
question Boggs further in the belief
that he will be Of much assistance
in clearing UP certain events Inn.
mediately preceding the blast.
Boggs has told Pearc0 and AS
sistant County Prosecutors Frank
Merrick and limerick Freed that
he left the clinic basement and was
gone about half an hour, waiting
for steam to be reduced.
When he returned Boggs said he
found the basement filled with thick
yellow fumes ana saw q man with
a fire extinguisher in his hand run
past him. Boggs and the man with
the extinguisher, named Steele,
sprayed the fluid where they
thought fire might be, but soon
Boggs was overcome by the deadly
fumes.
Boggs has not seen Steele since,
the steamfitter said. Coroner Pearce
has ordered . search for Steele, and
hopes to question him during the
day.
All the city was in mourning to.
day a. relatives OF the victims ar.
ranged for simultaneous funerals.
Flags on city hall were half
masted and will be kept 90 until
after the funerals. as an indication
of the municipalities deep grief.
VIII Study Ruins
DR.. Pearse had planned to ques-
ton Sam Steele, maintenance man
and electrician at the clinic, but de.
cided to defer the investigation in
the belief that more could be &C.
complished by accompanying the
Chicago experts to the ruins.
Other delegations from Washing.
ton and Pittsburgh were due later
In the day. They, too, viii don fire.
mems rubber boots and coats and
examine the ruins In the interest Of
science.
The devastated clinic has, in fact,
been converted into q research lab
oratory where the expert toxicolo-
giats WIN study the conditions under
which the deadly gas, now believed
to be nitric oxide, was generated.
DR.. Pearse pointed out that the
Cleveland disaster was 30 unusual
and Of such grave proportions that
It had attracted the attention OF
scientists all over the country, many
Of whom viii come here to investi.
gate its causes and effects.
Out of the scientists work prob
ably viii come standardized practices
for handling the X-ray accessories
which when ignited, become so
| deadly.
Later in the day DIR. Pearse may
resume his Investigation, the pur-
pose Of which II to establish the
cause and fix responsibility. He
has definitely announced there will
be no coroner's jury and intimated
that he 10 satisfied no one was
criminally responsible.
Steele Stil1 Held
Steele is being held incom'
municado in the central police sta
ton until the coroner finds time to
interrogate him.
DR.. Pearss feels that Steele may
be able to furnish some important
facts as he was working In the
basement at the time Of the ex'
| plosion.
Others In the Chicago delegation
besides DR.. Kegel, were DIR. w. D,
McNally, eminent toxicologist; Rus
sell Hobbs, assistant manager Of the
Western Actuarial Bureau; Archi'
bald F. Martin, associate chemist
and engineer Of the underwriters
laboratory, ana F. J. Prindiville,
engineer for the bureau Of fire
| prevention.