The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-02-19
UTICA GAS FIRE
 EEXTINCUISHED
munication with surrounding col munltles Xas cut of.
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AAANattSOWAVAA WsWA 0NtA0tQaaNAet0 00AtA~ munities was cut of. Policeman Badly Hurt
 The condition of Policeman Ern- est Banville remained critical and physicians feared his leg would have to be amputated, Bonvillo was struck by . flying lnanhole cover during the first series of blasts yes- terday. Some of the manhoie cov- CTS were hurled 100 feet in the air. Flames which followed the explo- sions shot as high as 90 feet In the air.
 Fire Extlngulshed The flremen extinguished subter- ranean gas fires that drove 5000 store and office workers from the district yesterday, but were unable to halt Q roaring flow of gas from i've ruptured mains.
 They worked In constant fear that single spark from c tool striking metal, or from faulty electrical equipment in some building above the leaking mains, might start again the fire and terrifying explosions that ripped open paving, shattered windows and critically injured three personals yesterday. City authorities forbade entrance to the district. Newspapers, radio and policemen carried warnings of the danger. Mayor Vincent Corrou said department stores, banks and office buildings in the threatened area probably could not open until tomorrow. Most of them closed within an hour after opening yes- terday to remove their employees from danger.
 National Guard There At Mayor Corrous request, a corl- pany of Utica national guardsnen was mobilised to help police enforce the bank against public entrance into the district.
 A street workers sledge. utility officers said. caused the main break in the gas lines and tgnited the gas. The sledge broke a pipe joint. they asserted, and in striking the steel main caused sparks that fired the gas.
 The fire leaped like Q flash through miles of conduits under the streets where Q normal" accumula- ton of gas nearly always lies. Ai- most simultaneously, over a district five blocks one way and six the other, the ground shook with ex- plOglOns.
 Sewer man-hole covers weighing 60 pounds leaped in the air. Some witnesses said they wllistled higher than five story buildings: when they fell they made craters l2 feet across in the street.
 One struck Patrolman Ernest Bonville. It fractured one of his thighs, fractured an ankle, probably fractured his skull and injured him internally. Physicians said today he probably would die.
 New Explosions Utica, N. Y, Feb. ie,-fUP).- New explosions shook the downtown business section of Utica today and flames shot from leaking under ground gas mains. ManhoIe covers were blown high in the air by the new blasts, which occurred as work men struggled in dangerous, gas-fIll- ed conduits to repair leaks which developed yesterday fin . series of explosions and fires that endsneeT- ed the city.
 National guardsmcn and police barrIcaded the business district, keeping out all except the men working to repair the damage.
 Ono Og the explosions occurred al the opening on Q telephone conduit in which five men were working. They escaped unhurt.
 The new fIageup of fire was o0sa- fined to one hugo Jet Of flames which famed up from hole in tho Anmwammnk.