Evening star., 1939-06-01
Broken Gas Main
Found in Probe Of
Blast at School
Two Pupils, Jonitor
Are Near Deoth,
Sd Others Injured
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BARBERTON, Ohio, June In
veStigators unearthed a broken gas
main today outside the wrecked
school building where a blast in
jured SO children and four adults.
Fire Chief Claude Witwer said a
complete break was found in the
IA Inch pipe feeding the frame
temporary school, former resi-
dence, with natural gas. The break
he said, was about nine feet outside
the basement and the ground around
the break was permeated with
fumes.
Chief Witwer said investigators
theorized that the pipe might have
been defective before the explosion,
and that fumes perhaps seeped into
the basement from the break. School
officials said the gas meter inside the
structure had been turned off about
two months ago.
Of the ST injured, two small chill
dren and a janitor were given
scarcely fighting chance to sur
vive.
Four Others Seriously Hurt.
Doctors described as serious the
condition of four others, including
teacher. Thirty-one of the 81
injured were confined to hospitals.
The blast occurred at midafter-
noon yesterday, blowing out walls
and buckling the floors of the two
story, elght-roOm structure, a resi-
dence converted last fall into a
temporary school for first to fifth
grade pupils.
Those near death were First
graders Dorothy Young, 6, and
Frances Fisher, 7, both injured about
the head and body, and P S. White,
SO, janitor, critically burned.
Investigation Opened.
Seriously hurt were Ray Clemens,
7, internal injuries; Lucinda Will
liams. 7, colored, burns; Mary Mat
tingly, 7. possible skull fracture, and
Miss Mabelle Miller, 38, 1-B teacher
fractured leg and ribs and possible
internal injuries.
The State Department of Indus
trial Relations opened an investiga-
ton of the tragedy, remindful of
the 1887 New London, Tex, school
blast, in which 297 children and
teachers met death. The United
States Bureau of Mines ordered two
chemical engineers who have spe-
cialized in gas to investigate.
The worst part of this is that
some of the little girls probably will
be disfigured for life said a work.
man who aided in rescue work.
Fire Chief WitWer said earlier that
evidence indicated gas accumulated
in the basement from a lead near the
buildings foundation.
The janitor, who said he had been
burning paper in the basement. NUT
tered before lapsing into uncon-
sciousness: The whole basement
must have been filled with gas
Building Ripped Apart.
AS the blast ripped the building
apart, the sides of the structure
erumpled. Some children literally
were blown to the ground. The lit
tie tenants of the 1-B room. on the
first floor, plunged into the base
ment amid a litter of desks, timbers
and plaster.
Second-story floors slanted as on
hinges, hurting children and equip
ment downward. Many youngsters
were buried under debris.
Miss Miller was injured when
struck by a falling piano She was
rescued by John Ruhlen. carpenter
at work on the nearby grade school
which is being rebuilt. Another
teacher was less seriously hurt.
Il heard the explosion and
screaming Mr.. Ruhlen said, CAS- 4
ran to the building the sides fell out
and part of the roof came down.
Many children not buried under
debris were blown out of the house. :"
A small fire broke out in the base
ment, but was quickly put out by
| firemen