Evening star., 1931-10-07
GAS TANK BLASTS
ARE MADE SUBJECT
OF TRIPLE PROBE
Railroad Men Blame Boys for
Fire in Which Four
Were Injured.
ACETYLENE EXPLOSIONS
ENDANGER HUGE TANKS
Major Catastrophe Is Averted
When Flames and Fragments
Are Kept From Plant.


4 triple investigation was begun to-
day into the cause of a fire, which set
off acetylene tanks last night in a rail-
road tool shed only block from the
City's principal gas plant and resulted
in a series of explosions which injured
four persons and sent hundreds OF resi-
dents of the southeast area Scurrying
from their homes.
AS the Fire Department and Metro
politan and Pennsylvania Railroad police
launched separate inquiries into the eX-
plosion. a theory was advanced that the
fire which set off the blasts in the tool
shed was caused by gang of kids in
the neighborhood.
TrainmaSter Advances Theory.
H. w. Seminar, trainmaster for the
Pennsylvania Railroad, offered this
theory.
The explosions occurred between 8
and o'clock. drawing between 10000
and $4,000 persons to the scene. Every
available policeman was rushed there
and by the time firemen got tie blaze
under control, after the third explosion,
traffic was tied up on Eleventh street,
main artery into AnacOstia, as far north
as Pennsylvania avenue.
The fact the flames did not spread or
any embers or bits of metal carry to the
two huge gas tanks OF the Washington
Gas Light Co, IT'S yards away. was all
that prevented what may have become a
ma jor catastrophe. That only few minor
injuries resulted from the blasts. which
hurled hot metal hundreds of feet III all
directions. was described by firemen as
little short of miraculous.
Four Known Injured.
The known injured included Mrs.
Dolly Wilson, 81. of 1921 Potomac ave-
nue southeast, cuts about the face and
arm; Thomas Jenkins, colored %, of
1919 Twelfth street southeast. laccrated
arm; Mary Merritt. colored. SO. of 1916
L street southeast. cut knees. and
Emma Campbell, colOred. Is, cuts and
bruises on her right arm.
Only a few seconds separated fire.
men of Engine Company No. 8 from
almost certain death. They were lay
ing hose on the embankment above the
railroad tracks when the second eXplo-
sion occurred. throwing blazing embers
and jagged pieces of metal high into
the air. The tiremen hit the ground
in unison, like in the days in 1918, and
sought protection behind their fire en-
gine. In another half minute they
would have been down the embank-
ment next to the burning tool shack.
The second explosion was of such
terrific force that it was felt as far
away as police headquarters, Fifth
street and Indiana avenue northwest.
Capt. Edward j. Kelly, assistant chief
of detectives, said he felt the blast
Just as the second alarm was being
turned in. He started out Immediately
from headquarters to Investigate.
Police Reserves Called.
The first alarm was turned in by
Harry Bond, a watchman at Hyman
Vieners scrap metal shop. after he
heard the first explosion and saw the
flames consuming the little shed.
Police Capt. L. l. H. Edwards, whose
home is at 1910 Potomac avenue
southeast. about two blocks away, sum-
moned police when he heard the first
blast After the second explosion he
again telephoned police headquarters
and recommended all reserves be dis
patched to the scene Immediately.
Every available cruiser. scout and
patrol car answered a general police
radio broadcast Shrieking through
the city, the police cars were followed
by thousands of curious motorists. BY
the time the third explosion occurred
thousands we're grouped above the
railroad tracks overlooking the burn
ing shack.
The fire marshals Office. after a
preliminary inquiry last night. at
tributed the cause of the fire to sparks
from a passing railroad train. Train
master Sentman expressed doubt at
this theory, however. He said the
shack never before had caught fire
from a passing train, but once. about
a month ago, had been set on fire by
some one 1t is located only a short
distance from the tunnel under Vlr-
ginia avenue.
Sentman also disclosed that some
equipment was missing from the shack
today and expressed the belief it had
been taken last night be1)re the shed
was fired. The missing equipment he
said, was too heavy to have been blown
away in the explosions.
Woman Describes Blast.
Railroad Police Lieut.. p. Lancaster
was assigned today to conduct the in
yestigation on behalf of the PennSyl-
vania Co. The Fire Departments in
uuiry is being made under the fire
marshal's Office. while the Detective
Bureau at police headquarters has as
Sumed charge OF the police nVeStl-
cation.
Mrs Wilson. her face sWathcd in BAR
dages this morning, related how the
earth came up and hit me in the face
Il was walking across L street looking
tor my 13-year-old grandson, Harry Sey-
farth. when the ground shook like paper.
: vas turned completely around and
thrown down. AS fell. it seemed like
the street just fell away like hill.
Il threw my arms in front OF my
face and buried my head in the rocks
on the street A jagged piece OF metal.
about a foot long struck me on my right
shoulder. l thought my time had come.
! could see the flames shoot into the Ar
and heard things dropping all around