AMERICAN FIRE DISASTER

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4048, 30 September 1915, Page 6

AMERICAN FIRE DISASTER

HAVOC IN OKLAHOMA.

TWO CITY BLOCKS RUINED. (United Press Association —Oooyrie*»t i NEW YORK, Sept. 28. At Ardmore, Oklahoma, a spark from a workman’s hammer ignited a tank-car containing rrasolinc. As a result of the explosion a fire raged through the town and ruined two city blocks. As the result of the explosion and fires there were many casualties. Thirty-five bodies have been recovered. 'Fifty persons are believed to have been crushed to death under the fall of walls. A search is proceeding at a large departmental store, where it is feared the bodies of many girls, women shoppers, and employees of the store are buried. - The fires were caused by flaming gasoline, which was thrown for blocks. Martial law was declared. A panic followed the explosion. Every building on either side of the main _ street was demolished. Over splintered buildings for blocks around flaming gasoline/was thrown, starting fires m the stores. Rescue parties _ were avii"ldv formed. All communication with the outside world was cut off for five hours. Two hundred people were injured and taken to hospital.