The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-12-07

ed possibility that the explosion occurred when MT. Hansen opened the door of the house, allowing cool air to enter which set in operation an automatic oil-burner, which in turn ignited the gas.
 Causes Indefinite
 Coroner Healey also agreed with the theory advanced by Marshall Lahey that a pilot light could have ignited the gas fumes.
 The coroner added that his in- vestigation, only in the initial steps, had not revealed any definite causes of the explosion or the break in the gas main.
 Elmer c. Nuesses of the Engineer ing Division of the Public Utilities Commisson also is conducting an investigation into the disaster.
 William T. Jebb, manager of the Waterbury branch of the Connec- ticut Light & Power Company, dis closed no definite reason for the break in the gas main. He stated also that company officials had, shortly after the explosion, made an investigation of the homes in the surrounding neighborhood and had discovered no traces of gas seepage in any of the cellars
 Sleeve Put On Break
 Odor of gas in the entire area was not dispersed, said Marshal Lahey, until after c. L. & P. crewmen had placed a cast iron sleeve oh the break in the six-inch main. The odor lasted until about 11:30 a. m. Blue flames were discovered on the ground near the escaping gas, he added.
 The break was discovered in front of the link of the gas main that runs in front of Il Plank road, about 100 feet from the Hansen home.
 Marshal Lahey said that there was probability that recent heavy rains could have washed away soil and heavy trucks running on the surface could have caused the crack.
 MT. Jebb stated that the main is about three to four feet below the surface, and he dispelled the pos sibility that frost could have caused the damage.
 Fumes Overpowering
 Aroused from sleep by the cries of his daughter, MT. Hansen said, as he awoke he smelled "a strong odor of gas" He took the infant to the front porch while his wife went to the rear porch. He discovered Mrs. Ringenberg unconscious on the floor and when he returned to her rescue he was unable to do so be- cause the fumes had become over towering.
 He went out of the house, taking the baby from the porch and plac- ing her on the road. Then the ex- plosion occurred.
 Mrs. Hansen, bleeding profuSely from a deep gash on her head, was aided to safety by an unidentified neighbor after she wandered around in a daze and hysterically called for her daughter, forgetting that her husband had the child. Crosby High Scnoo1 teacher John Kinney, who lives across the street from the Hansen home, awoke from sleep when he heard his name being frantically called by MT. Hansen. He said that he aroused his wife, dress ed hurriedly and raced outside just as the explosion shook the neigh borhood
 There were reports that the ex- plosion, which not only leveled the Hansen home but damaged several windows and furniture in other neighboring homes, was heard from many sections of the city. Persons as far away as Waterville, Fulton Park and the West End reported that they heard the explosion. Some stated that their houses were rock ed.
 Legislation to regulate the depth of gas mains was killed in Gen. eral Assembly committee after be- ing introduced by Sen. Edward Egan CD, and Rep. Daniel Ma nancy CD earlier this year. The bill was introduced following the death last Feb. g of Albert H. Gaess, who succumbed on the Country Club road after escaping gas had seeped into his home. Both the mans wife and daughter were ren- dered unconscious by the fumes. A $35,O00 negligence suit is now pending in Superior Court. To Try Again
 MT. Egan stated that he would probably introduce a similar bill. The first bill introduced by Sen. Egan also provided for more flex- ible connections to avoid breaks
 The police department, under the direction of Inspector Joseph R. Bendler, roped off the ruins to keep at 8 distance the hundreds of curious persons who visited the scene.
 Marshal Lahey said that the property damage was estimated at between six and seven thousand dollars. Mrs. Ringenberg's property is covered by insurance. Only a small trunk containing papers and pictures and a charred hope chest with flew clothes and nick hacks were saved from the wreckage. Mrs. Ethel Cynthia Ringenberg