The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-12-06

| ana covered With blO0d. Ne1gnDor said that the woman ran througl the wreckage ih search of he daughter, unaware that she hat been carried to safety by her bus band.
 When police and fire officials summoned by neighbors, arrived ol the scene, the remains of the hous were in flames and soon becam leveled to the ground. Wreckag' was Strewn in every direction glaS filtered the surroundings and wrap ping paper and cards, apparent, intended for the Hansen's Christ mas, lay charred and ruinet throughout the smoking embers. Discover Crack in Main
 Officials of the Connecticut Light and Power Company, stated that workmen discovered s large crack in a six-inch gas mair located about 100 feet from tht house on Plank road. He added that the cause of the crack was undeter- mined, but company officials are continuing their investigation. Fire Marshal Den Lahey, ir charge of the triple investigation which included the Public Utilities Corporation, the Coroner's Oflce as well as the Fire Department, stated that MT. Hansen was aroused by ar unusual cry" from his daughter Marshal Lahey added that Hansen who slept in the front of the house ran to the rear where his wife and daughter were asleep and encoun- tered Mrs. Ringenberg in dazed condition, groping her way along the hall way.
 Hansen then went into the child's bedroom and took the infant to the front porch. His wife, dazed and frightened, later went to the rear porch in search of her daughter Marshal Lahey said that Hansen re- entered the house in an attempt to remove Mrs. Ringenberg, and saw her on the floor, overcome by the escaping fumes. He was unable tc remove the woman, Lahey said, be- cause of the density of the fume, which were rapidly overpowerine the man.
 Heard For Blocks
 Lahey said that the man then went out on the porch and screamed 'gas, gas', as he called John Kin ney, 51 Plank road, Crosby High school teacher. He placed the baby on the road, the marshal said, and was in the process of summoning aid on the telephone when the explo- sion, heard for blocks, rocked the East End section.
 Marshal Lahey said that the break in 8 twenty-foot circular section of the gas main, in front ot T Plank road, was covered later this morning by a cast iron sleeve
 He said that the firts call was received at fire headquarters at 4:52 a. m. and was responded to by Engine from East Main street, Engine from Orange street Truck 3 and the booster engine from headquarters. He said that Deputy Chief Martin Campion, in charge of the initial fire response notified the marshal's office upon arriving at the scene to see the seri- ousnesS of the alarm.
 Probe Underawy
 Marshal Lahey said that he noti- fled the Public Utilities, state mar shal's office in Hartford, and the State Police. Trooper William Mur- phy, in charge of the State Police investigation, responded to the Marshal's notification.
 Theodore F. Breithaupt, division engineer of the Connecticut Light and Power Company, was request ed by Lahey to conduct survey oi the neighborhood and report ir writing to the marshals office that such a survey had been conducted Marshal Lahey said that he wanted assurances that other residents o1 the neighborhood were uninjured and he wanted 8 complete report of the damage inflicted in the sec- tion. He said that MT. Breithaupt confirmed the wishes of the marshals office and promised that such a survey and report would be forthcoming.
 Marshal Lahey stated that the responsibility for the investigation lies with his office. This is serious thing" he said. Tt shows the dan gers that we are all in during the winter season while we sleep" He said that, we never know who will! be next in such emergencies, or where they will occur"
 Coroner On Scene Coroner Frank T. Healey had not completed his investigation and was still on the scene late today. His office reported that he was conduct ing a probe in company with MT Elmer c. Nuesse of the engineer di- vision of the Public Utilities Com mission.
 Inspector Joseph R. Bender. who Is conducting the police investiga- ton of a triple probe into the ex- plosion, stated that gas, apparently escaping from 8 broken main, filled the house and became ignited from an oil burner. Bendler stated that police worked all morning in the winter rain in efforts to determine the location of the leak. He said that water, created from the heat of the resulting fire, caused huge geyser about 50 feet from the Han sen home.
 Daughter Uninjured
 Official at St. Mary'S hospital re- ported that the couples daughter was uninjured by the explosion. They said that the infant suffered from exposure and was in perfect condition.
 Mrs. Ringenberg, owner of the house, had recently retired from