Evening star., 1948-12-10
More Victims Souqht
In Power Plant Blast
Killing 9 at Topeka
BY the Asseeiotsd Press

TOPEKA, Kans., Dec. 10.-Nine
men were killed and 16 injured in a
series of blasts that shook a huge
power and light plant near this
State Capital for almost As minutes
yesterday.
Rescue crews still CROPPED through
debris today seeking other possible
victims.
The explosions occurred in the
Kansas Power & Light Co.'S main
plant and left Topeka, a city Of
10000. without electricity for sew
eral hours.
Hospitals were forced to operate
on an emergency basis, elevators
were stalled in downtown buildings
and many shops and Offices closed
early. No serious accidents were re-
ported, although traffic was snarled
at busy intersections when signal
lights went out. Theaters were
blacked out.
Fire Follows Blasts.
Fire broke out during the explo-
sions which rocked a large area.
The plant is in the little town of
Tecumseh, miles east of here.
The exact cause of the explosions
had not been determined but several
workers reported they had smelled
gas in the building.
The explosions pulverized concrete
and twisted and ripped away heavy
steel. The plants basement was
badly wrecked. The external walls
OF the structure, part eight-story
and part five-story building, were
not damaged, although most OF the
windows were blown out.
Approximately $50 men were work.
ing in or near the building. Sixty
of them were power plant employees.
The others were construction men
working on new addition.
All the dead were from Topeka.
They were identified as c. A. Aliens
worth, Arthur Dahlene, Alphonse
Bryant, Charles Miller, Roy Handy,
A. w. Freel, c. H. Redenbaugh, Al
bert Sheahan and H. F. Shay. Mr..
Shay died of injuries early today.
Blasts Described.
L. r. Beaver, 20. a plumber, gave
this account of the blasts:
First there was muffied explo-
sion. It brought dust all around us.
A few seconds later there was a
powerful blast with fire. It blew me
down on my face and must have
blown Sheahan Zone of the dead
In the other direction. I ran out
the south door,"
Men swarmed from the building
after the initial explosions. Asbestos
workers on the roof were shaken and
one tumbled down, but escaped in
fury. Steel framed windows were
hurled 100 feet from the plant
There seemed to be small ex-
plosion at first" Walter Janesko, Al,
of Kansas City, Kans., said. I'VE
started running downstairs when
there was terrific blast. The con-
cussion stopped us as if we had run
into a brick wall.
I'VE ran back upstairs and out on
the roof There was another blast
and we started downstairs again.
Then there was a smaller explosion
while we were on the stairs. We
finally got outside"
Recalls Smelling Gas.
Mr.. Janesko said he had noticed |
"the smell of gas" for several days
In the plant.
Power was restored to Topeka
last night on a limited basis through |
an emergency hookup with other
plants.
None of the major equipment in
the building was believed seriously
damaged. Company officials said
they expected to have the plant in
partial operation today.
Mrs. L. L. Bacher said her house, !
which is a quarter of a mile away
from the plant, was Jared by the
explosions. Some residents in the
vicinity of the plant fed after hear
ing rumor that power lines in the
vicinity might break