Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-17
80 MORE WILL DIE,
BELIEVE
Deadly Gas Often Takes Five
or Six Days to Kill,
Doctor Says.
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page)
suddenly were stricken by the poison
ing.
Newspaper reporters and photograph
ers who entered the building before thG
gases had disappeared were Ill from its
effects.
Numerous other persons who breathed
the lethal fumes said they were unaf-
fected. only to be overcome later, and
many of them died.
Three firemen and as many police
men who aided in rescue work went
to hospitals last night. Others were Ill
at their homes. among them Fire Bat
talon Chief Michael j. Graham.
75 Are Missing"
Physicians declared. however, that
those who survive the next "a hours
probably will not suffer permanent ef-
fects of their exposure to the deadly
gas. Grave concern was felt for those
who were reported injured last night
and a search for rs missing" patients
was started.
These persons. officials announced
had appointments for examinations at
the clinic. Their names were given out
In order that they may report them
selves uninjured or undergo eXamina
the building without notifying clinic Of
ilcialS or police, 1t was explained. II
their lungs were filled with the gases
there still was a possibility today that
they might Succumb.
Plumber Fights Gas Alone.
State officials examining the x-ray
film storage room in the basement
where the fire burned the cellulose ma
terial and filled the building with gases
causing the explosions, laid the origin
to spontaneous combustion. Escaping
steam supplied the heat, they believed
Buffery Boggs, plumber, told them on
fighting the thick, browniSh cloud OF
gas alone as he attempted to repair a
leak. He was blown through a door by
the first explosion after emptying a fire
extinguiSher into the room.
Coroner PearSe announced that he
mad found no evidence Of negligence
However. neither Coroner Peases re-
port nor that Of the fire wardens, at
tempted to Ak responsibility.
Had the door been closed authorities
agreed the tragedy would have been
ayerted
Fire Wardens Ferrie and Gross made
minute examination of the door and
decided definitely 1t was wide open when
the explosion occurred, as Boeg related
Building Is ROped Of.
They were in doubt, however, whether
there had been sufficient heat in the
room before the explosion to melt the
fusible link which should have closed
the door. Bogg was held in technical
custody until further investigations have
been completed.
roped of to keep all but officials away
1t was feared there might be some OF
the gas lurking about the structure.
Miss Laura Lambert, 81, clinic en-
ploye, and Mrs. w. L. Langdon oil
Sharon, Pa, were added to the death
list when they succumbed to the poison
gas in hospitals last night.
Former Foot Ball Star Collapses.
Another victim of the poison gas died
early today Ben Jones, 20, fullback on
the 1925 Canton, Ohio, Bulldog foot ball
team and prominent in professional foot
ball circles, died at his home In Grove
City, Pa. 8"
Jones was one of the first persons re-
moved from the clinic after the blast
He told friends yesterday he felt no i'll
effects from the experience, and yes
terday morning drove his car TO Grove
City, a l50-mile trip.
Late last night Jones collapsed and
died within few hours, with his young
wife and 2-year-old daughter at his
bedside