The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-10
member, sprained back and superb

member, sprained back and superb
Cial burns.
George Calvert, so, decorations of
the face. Taken home from hospi-
tai after receiving first aid.
Delbert Smith, rescue squad men,
Der, overcome by smoke and ex-
haustion. Taken home from hospi-
tai.
Bonnie Jones, rescue squad mem
Der, overcome by smoke and eXhaus-
ton, possible fracture of the left
ankle. Taken home from the hospi-
tai.
Fred Lund, 40, town laborer, LAGER
atoms of the scalp, fracture of the
right hand; condition not serious.
Mr.. Taylor touched off the ex-
plosion at 1920 last night. He lost
his spectacles down an open place
in lid over a cistern inside the
building. He hac been washing at
a hall lavatory and they were bal
anced on the edge of the wash
bowl
LHttIe 1OWH IL hEOuScu
After considering the problem of
recovering them for some time, and
talking it over with various persons,
he went after them with a lighted
match.
The gas, apparently accumulated
in great quantities, exploded and
twisted the building into ruins. A
fire started almost Immediately, and
burns were responsible for most
deaths and injuries.
Every person in the town heard
the explosion and in a short while
large crowd had gathered at the
scene, guided there by the flames.
But because the fire department
was housed in the building, no eff
fectual fight could be waged against
the flames, and no telling rescue
work could be done.
WPA Workers Aid Rescue
Calls were placed to other nearby
towns for fire equipment and in 40
minutes the Anderson department
had trucks and bumpers on the
scene.
WPA workers from a nearby prof.
ect volunteered their services and
were put to work exploring the
wreckage for injured and dead as
soon as the search was feasible.
The state police barracks at An
derson sent squad of Is to the
scene to assist in the search and to
talk to witnesses. The fire burned
or smoldered nearly all night, and
although a continuous search for
more bodies was conducted today,
no one was expected to find more.
"Felt Like Big Bertha"
Eye witnesses SAID that with the
terrifying detonatio-, floors APP
peared to buckle, then crumble with
their helpless cargo as the high
walls collapsed.
j. E. Popplewell, one of those
nearby at the time, said 81 felt
a burst like Big Bertha. 1t almost
knocked me off my feet. I threw
my hands across my eyes, then
looked back and saw the town hall
going up in flames"
Volunteer rescue squads began
battle to break through the roaring
flames as Anderson police, fire ap-
paratus and physicians arrived on
the scene. A detail of Is state
policemen from the Anderson bar
racks, four miles distant, directed
an offensive on the blaze.
One of the first saved was Mr..
Silvers, 81. Town Board president.
He is suffering q severely lacerated
leg, cuts and shock, but was pulled
by cable from the debris.
While townspeople and farmers,
attracted by the brilliantly colored
sky, thronged to the scene, Mrs.
Mary Wisehart, telephone exchange
operator, spread an alarm through
out the locality.
Roy Mills, SIS, town night mar
shall, was approaching the building
and within 20 feet of it when the
blast occurred. Force of the ex-
plosion knocked him half way across
the street.
1T threw me clear to the street
car tracks," he later declared, land
/ remember spinning around on the
pavement. Then 1 must have
tainted for next thing new they
had me in DR.. Hunts office"
First water thrown on the blaze
was due to the daring of Earl Fow-
Ter, a volunteer fireman.
Plunges Into Flames
One of the first to reach the fire,
he plunged into the flaming build
ing to reappear with a hose, part
of the equipment stored in the rear
of the building. With the help of
several others, he attached it to
a hydrant across the street.