The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-03-07
Il KILLED BY
FIERY BLAST
AT OIL WELL
Nine Die at Scene: Two
Girls SUCcumb in Hos
pitaI: Nine Injured.
EXPLOSION PREMATURE
Crowd, in Holiday Mood, Is
Panic Stricken: Firms
Manager Victim.

Fv rrifes Pr~ss
ST. GEORGE Utah. March L
The death toll in 4 fiery blast from
= premature explosion IN a new oil
we'll being brought in sev- n miles
from here this afternoon reached Il
Nine persons we're killed outright
last night when an explosion
wrecked the Escalante well No. l
being drilled by a SUBSIDIARY Of the
Arrowhead Petroleum Co.
Miss Leah Gotham, daughter Of a
local contractor. and Virginia Alsop
q-rrar-old daughter Of the COM
uanv's general manager. Charles D.
Alison. who. with MS wife, was in
efantIv killed died today.
A thrOnE Of spectators. IN holi-
dav mood. gathered near the well IN
see The proving" Of new oil field
which. they hoped would add oil
riches 10 the agricultural wealth of
this prosperous farming community
Of southern Utah.
HurIs Death Into Crowd
Then. suddenly the cartridge be-
ing sunk EMPLOYED. hurting death in
tn the ranks Of spectators and oil
workers.
Others killed.
Charles ID. AIsop. general mar
a-er If the company.
Mrs. Charles d. Alsop, wife Of
the manager.
Mrs. Joseph 6. Snow, former
state representative.
Joseph Empey. electrician.
Gah Nicholson. salt Lake City,
son-in-law Of Mr.. Empey.
Joseph Kitterman. salt Lake
City. druggist.
william VI. MaIOney, business
man.
Ray II. Nelson, grocery clerk.
c. NJ. FIickenger, oil driller m
charge Of the shooting
Among the seriously injured we're
Miss Rodamond Snow. daughter Of
Mrs. Snow. She is not expected 10
live. Nine others we're in the St.
George Hospital.
The explosion occurred between
$50 and 10 p. m. More than 100 au-
tomobiles had gathered near the
well. The crowd was thrown into
= panic when the explosion ripped
the derrick and other equipment 10
bits. Fire followed the blast. but
n could not be determined whether
oil or gas was burning
Doctors Aid Injured
Sheriff John H. COttam organ
Iycd a crew to battle the flames
while A corps Of hastily assembled
physicians and nurses took care of
the injured. taking them by auto
mobile 10 this tiny railroadleSs VII
LACE.
s. L. Dixon. auditor for the COM
pany said the cause Of the eX-
plosicn probably never would he
determined.
1t was what is known as a sur
face explosion" he said. The
charge was being sunk in the well
but exploded before 1t sunk very
deeply"
FlICkenger was an expert powder
man and specialized IN blowing in
new wells.
Top Of Car Ripped OF
Ellis J. Pickett. St. George at
rney. escaped because his wife
as nervous. Mr.. Pickett wanted
10 Be near the scene. but Mrs
Pickett asked him 10 park some dis
lance away. He complied.
I drove back about so feet" he
said. turned of my motor. when
the blast hurled flames in the air
and the roar of the explosion
crasned against our ears.
The top Of my car was ripped
Of. The derrick Splintered and lell
IN pieces on those gathered close
10 the well. There were terrified
screams as men, women and children
rushed from the scene.
I Jumped from the car and aided
in caring for the injured. taking
Two 70 the hospital. seven miles
away"