Fatal Blast In Gary

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31773, 2 September 1968, Page 13

Fatal Blast In Gary

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

GARY (Indiana), September 1. An explosion and fire which destroyed an apartment building in the predominantly Negro section of Gary early today killed at least seven persons. Twelve others are still missing tonight.

Seven children of one family are among the missing or dead, and the police say the charred condition of the bodies of the victims has hampered identification.

The explosion occurred before dawn in a tavern closed six weeks ago after the Negro Mayor of Gary (Mr Richard Hatcher) suspended its liquor licence after a series of disturbances.

The explosion caused one wall of the three-storey tavern below the apartments to collapse and blew fixtures and furniture into the street. The fire spread rapidly to two other buildings in the

block, and it took firemen four hours to bring it under control. “It was a terrible explosion," said Mr Abbis Johnson, who lives a block away from the destroyed apartment house. “It shook the building I live in. I ran over there and saw people climbing out of the debris in their nightclothes.” One resident, Mrs Allie Nickerson, escaped with two daughters but seven of her other children are among the dead or missing. The total damage is estimated at SUS2OO.OOO.