Year: 1869

AT a few minutes after 10 o'clock noon, on
Monday the City of Cincinnati felt the rumble and roar
of great explosion. great mass Of black smoke rose
above the Gasworks then came concusson that shook
the windows and Immediately the smoke was crowned
with a big red iameburst that shot up to an amazing
hight The shock felt all over the city, except In
the extreme limits and probably not less than third
Of the population realized Immediately that something
extraordinary had occurred


The gasometer, or holder which burst was mas OF
boierron Of quarter Of inch thickness l27 feet In
diameter and IS feet in hight 1t immense In
verted circular tank, that and fell slowly according
TO the amount OF gas confined between Its top ana me
depth Of S5 feet, is the tank proper, circular OF
feet of gas in the holder when the explosion occurred
We find impossible TO state the cause OF the eXpOson
and dcut TO convey any idea OF the appearance oft
II appeared as if the roof Of the holder rent in
twain from north TO SOUTH that II and fell DICK
tbe overwhempg sound was heard and then the great
bursts Of flame and smoke arose. For an Instant fo
square around the breath OF mighty heat played Inc
woodwork Of doors and windows was bstered ana Datk
ened. Men hundred feet found their faces arms
and hands scorched to the flesh and for many squaes
around the close, sitting heat was felt and then was


The most terrible feature Of the affair spectacle
toward which ten thousand blanched faces OF the crown
full naked man, black and blue and red IN ootches VINO
had been at work on the frame OF the h9Iaer au
alive, and yet he lived and moved htte ana retained
his consciousness, as he covered there lh corner J





monuments He was waiting for relief He felt that ne
was growing weak, and might not long be able to hOld
himself there and he called plteOusy 10 those VINO were
bringing the ladders 10 hurry up. He wanted 70
reach the ground and his Wlte ana
three children terrible anguish he felt and knew
And so TINS earfuly ysuilerinR man, whose mutlated
trunk and limbs thrown out In bold relief against
the shining backness Of the arred and painted angle OF
ornamental iron work. waited there 80 feet or more aDOVe
the ground while long ladder Of the Fire Department
was elevated to him The crowd shuddered and Wod
dcred as they looked there and saw this naked,
dying man slowly raise himself 10 a standing posi-
ton as he leaned against the column, climb over the
lattced brace GOr the ladder was on the other de ana
then in his great strength and endurance, actually
descend would lremen only quite slowly ana win
man preceding him TO steady his steps. IL seemed as
though he fall 10 pieces, would an an OyefDOeu
chunk OF beef! The poor fellow ded at o'clock


The explosion Is not accounted Tor by even the Des
informed gas manufacturers We were informed last
night that when IL occurred there was no fire near the
holder and that had been let into IL for six hours
one theory that of great expansion OF the by solar
heat on the holder the consequent bursting Of the roof
and fame communicated TO the escaping contents from
the stack Of the Globe Rolling Mil The idea has quite
generally prevailed that there IS no danger OF an eNpO
sion to a holder. Several instances refute this In Oc
tOber, 1865 "a gasOmeter Of the London Gasllght
Company's works, at Nine Elms, Batersea road
exploded killing ten II was twice the size 81 this
Not long since are Informed there similar cx
poson Chicago. Both these explosions, however, we're
accounted for the fire communicating from the governor
in the first instance How this occurred no one
know. The officers aud employees Of the works
are puzzled aud solve the sery. SO far we
learn the only sufferer 10 property by TINS affair
the Gas Company whose loss is about 100000 on which
there is 10 insurance. cincinnati Commercial