Evening star., 1946-06-22
Wreck Experts Seek
More Bodies in Ruins
Ut Hotel Basement
BY the Associa.ed Press

DALLAS, Tex, June 22.-Firemer
e aIio "recklng experts dug today ir
Ine rubble-fllled basement of the
s"ank' Baker Hotel, with possibility
tney may uncover more victims OF
the terrific explosion which yester.
DAY took known toll of 7 dead and
Al injured.
Explosions Expert George M
klntz of the United States Bureau
OF Mines said after survey:
We can't tell a thing about the
cause yet. 1t takes time-the cause
may never be confirmed"
Fire Chief c. N. Penn called In
MIR. klntz and E. L. Mitchell of San
Antonio. representative of the Ma
tional Board of Fire Underwriters
TO assist in an exhaustive investiga.
ton.
The explosion was the. third ma
1or hotel disaster in the Nation In
l6 days.
First and worst was the flash
flre that swept Chicago's La Sale
Hotel early the morning of june
s. taking 81 lives and injurine
about 200. -Four days later another
early morning fire killed 10 persons
and injured 81 in the Garfield
Hotel at Dubuque, Iowa.
Dead Identified.
Identified as dead were:
William E. Cotton, head steward
ofSthe hotel, killed by falling debris
In his basement Office.
j. B. Parker, assistant pastor of
the New Zion Baptist Church and
o construction worker.
Trinidad Lopez, so, dishwasher.
Frank Oliveras, 46, head butcher
Rafiel Daniel, dishwasher.
David Alvarado, kitchen worker
A Negro boy of IA, tentatively
identified as Clarence Meadows.
The explosion took place shortly
before noon in subbasement where
workmen we're installing refrigera-
ton equipment. Ammonia poured
out of the basement and into the
lobby and rooms.
Guests Remain Calm.
Guests were orderly and no panic
ensued. Some on the upper floors
started hurrying out with baggage,
but returned to their rooms when
f1remen assured them there was no
danger of fire.
John Fies. city building inspector,
said the building was sound and
safe, despite a gaping hole in the
east wall at the basement level.
Guests were ordered to evacuate
their rooms, but returned in a few
minutes after it was decided the
building was safe.
No guests were known to be killed
or injured. The victims were hotei
employees or outside workmen.
The explosion shook the 18-story,
700-room building and made sky
scrapers tremble for blocks around.
Fenton Baker. president of the
hotel. said after the explosion:
The explosion occurred in the
east basement area where new re-
frigeration equipment was being in
stalled.
There was no failure of existing
equipment"
Rescue Work Is Swift.
Quick rescue work by firemen and
employees cleared the basement of
persons overcome by ammonia
fumes. Many dazed and unconscious
employees were hoisted to safety
through manhoies.
Charles Hodge, colored, in charge
Of the laundry in the subbasement,
was credited with leading 81 laundry
workers to safety. There, panic fol-
lowed the explosion and the laundry
workers knocked each other down in
a frantic attempt to escape.
Il couldn't think what to do for
minute when I smelled the am
monia fumes coming in the door"
Mr.. Hodge said. Il threw some wet
sheets to the women and told them
to put them over their heads, I
still couldn't think what to do. so
I told them to lay on the floor until
I could get some sense back in my
head
When I got some sense back I
told them they'd better crawl on
their hands and knees SOS they