Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-20
GAS BLAST INJURIES
-FOUR IN STREET At
RUSH-HOUR PERIOD
Woman Hurled in Air With
Blocks of Concrete at
Thirteenth and U.
FIRE CHIEF, AT SCENE,
HELPS IN RESCUE WORK
Why Explosion Occurred Is Cues
ton Asked in Several Investi-
cations Under Way.

Weight Of concrete pressing down on
gas main until the iron pipe broke,
was believed by Investigators today to
have caused the explosion at Thir-
tenth and U streets. which late yes
terday hurled concrete and passersby
high into the air, iniuring two women
and two men.
The concrete had been used in build
ing a mantole under the sidewalk on
the southwest corner Of the intersection,
according to D. D. Ransdell, superin-
tendent for the Washington Gas Light
Co. The gas main passed along the
side of the manhole, and some of the
concrete was evidently poured on top
OF the main. This pressure, added to
the pressure from the fill on top of it.
and the sidewalk above, Mr.. Ransdeli
believes, caused the gas main to break
and release gas. In some manner the
gas was ignited, and shortly after 4:SO
o'clock, when there were many people
on the streets, 1t cut loose with q deaf
ening blast, hurting concrete, people,
and fragments through the air.
Fire Chief Present.
Fire Chief George 8. Watson was on
his way home and had stopped at the
intersection for the traffic light. Sud-
denly the lights went out. He said there
was big explosion and the concrete
and people went into the air. Some of
the fragments we're hurled as high as
the tops Of electric light poles along the
street, Chief Watson estimated.
One woman, Ruth Henderson, colored,
81 years old, of 1880 u street, who evil
IDENTIFY had been walking almost directly
over the manhole, was blown up into
the air and came down almost In the
same place, falling so her body was
partly down in the hole, which by that
time was a blazing inferno. Fireman
D. H. STATE. aide to Chief Watson, rushed
to the aid of the woman, pulled her
away from the hole and extinguished
the flames from her clothes.
The woman received q compound
fracture of the right leg and spine.
One paSSerby who helped pull her out
said that large piece Of concrete evil
IDENTIFY had fallen on top Of her after she
landed.
Rae Washington, colored, 80 years
old, Of 1880 U street, was also hurled
into the air. Both women were taken
to Garfield Hospital by Chief Watson.
Two Men Injured.
Clarence SWEENEY, colored, "a years,
of 621 w street was also injured.
One freak incident Of the explosion
involved Frank Clark, II years old, Of
2208 King street, Alexandria, Va. He
was sitting in his automobile across the
street from the accident when the ex.
plosion occurred. A large piece Of con-
crete was thrown into the air, crossed
the street, broke through the top of his
automobile, and struck him on the head.
He was only slightly injured. however.
The accident put out of commission
the electric lights in the whole vicinity.
Crowds gathered and were roped of the
scene of the explosion. Gas, which had
caused the blast, still blazed from the
opening in the sidewalk. Police and
fire equipment arrived, and the WASH
ington Gas Light Co., and Potomac
Electric Power Co. sent cars and ON.
Gals to the scene.
Several Investigations were under
way today to determine the exact cause
and how the gas happened to become
ignited. Various conjectures were put
forth. including short circuit in some
of the wires in the manhole under the
sidewalk or a spark from passing
street car.
Located on the corner where the
blast cut loose are the manhole of the
electric company, traffic light and the
control box for the traffic light.