The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-19
Washington H. S. Officials
Scored by Feeney for
Failure to Report.
TEACHER NOT LICENSED
MiShap Not Reported Before
State Probe; Youth
Is Serious.

A bleak Christmas due to the
threatened loss of his left eye today
faced Joseph Hancock Jr., l6, OF A
South Mount street. George Wash
ington high school track and foot
ball star. who was the victim OF
laboratory explosion in the high
school. Dec. 7.
Today at Methodist hospital doc
TORS held only a faint hope that the
sight of the eye might be saved.
And JOe's face, Swathed in band
ages. was white and tense although
he tried to smile Cheerlly as he
greeted his mother and visitors.
Completing his investigation into
the explosion at the high school
laboratory, Al Feeney. state safety
director announced that while no
arrests would be made, he neverthe-
less felt that the high school
authorities were subject to criticism
for their handling of the case.
Two Others Hurt
Two other high school boys, Louis
Skaggs. SAT South Vine street, and
Dick Smith, 962 West Maryland
street. members of the chemistry
class, were slightly nurt in the ex-
plosion. Both we're cut by flying
pieces of glass.
Mr.. Feeney declared that he never
was notified of the accident until
rumors began to seep into his office
yesterday via the grapevine route.
Il then sent Ignatius Dienhart,
one of my investigators, out on the
case" said Mr.. Feeney today He
reports that the high school au-
thorities admitted that they had not
notified the city fire department nor
the fire marshaTs office.
Delicate Operation Performed
Furthermore. we have found that
the teacher in charge Of the labora-
tory at the time of the accident was
not licensed to teach chemistry IN
this state and had been assigned to
the class because Of the Overcrowd-
ed condition of the school.
The teacher, J. G. Nelson, who
was hired to teach biology, botany
and general science. was assigned
to teach the class in chemistry by
Estill Van Dorm head of the de-
partment, according to Mr. Nelson's
statement to the fire marshal's in
vestigator."
The boy is under the care of DR..
w. S. Hughes of the Hume Mansur
building, an eve specialist. DR..
Hughes performed a delicate oper-
alton on the boys eye the night OF
the accident.
Teacher Makes Report
The following statement was made
to representatives of the fire mar
shal's office by Mr.. Nelson:
"On Dec. 7, 1888. 1 was with my
class in chemistry in the laboratory
room 2O8) at the George Wash
ington high school
Elmer Koch was demonstrating
the production of hydrogen and had
set up the appar9 tus two bottles
of the gas were collected over water
and then the end of the delivery
tube was placed in soap suds and
soap bubbles we're blown small
glass tube was inserted in the end
of the delivery tube and lighted
match applied to the gas coming
from the tube.
The flask exploded, throwing
pieces Of glass in all directions. The
entire class was gathered around
the table watching the demonstra-
ton. I was standing at the side OF
the table directing the demonstra-
ton. Several pupils were struck by
flying glass. They we're sent to the
clinic for first aid"
Son of City Fireman
But according to Mr.. Feeney the
most pathetic part of the tragedy
is not contained in the brief report.
The Hancock boy" said Mr.. Fee
ney," according to the information
supplied by my investigator, first
was taken TO the school nurse. She
stated that it was a case for doc
tor. Young Hancock accompanied
by another pupil walked two blocks
to a doctor, the boys left eye bleed
ing profusely all the while.
At the doctors. they were in
structed to 60 to an eye specialist
in comparatively distant part Of
town. Still suffering intense pain,
the boy was forced to thumb" bis
way to the specialists Office. where
It was found that a large piece Of
glass was lodged in his eye, which
may permanently affect his vision.
Young Hancock is the son of a
city fireman attached to engine
house 6. West and Washington