FATAL EXPLOSION

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 141, 16 May 1929, Page 7

FATAL EXPLOSION

IN AMERICAN HOSPITAL. V POISON GASES EMITTED. NINETY-TWO PEOPLE DEAD. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.—United Service.) Received May 16, 11.5 a.m. NEW YORK, May 15. A message from Cleveland, Ohio, states that shortly after noon to-day an explosion that emitted poisonous gases occurred at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital shortly after noon to-day. There are 92 people dead. Some have been burned, while others are suffering from the effects of the gas. Pedestrians over a wide area were overcome by the fumes and dropped on the sidewalk, gasping. The explosion occurred in the x-ray room. The cause is not known.

Firemen braved death and took scores of patients from the wards. Many of them were unconscious when the firemen arrived.

THREE EXPLOSIONS. POSSIBLY ONE HUNDRED INJURED. MANY PATIENTS JUMP FROM WINDOWS. (Australian Press Association:) Received May 16, 11.5 a.m. NEW YORK, May 15. There were three explosions in the Cleveland clinic disaster, after which fire broke out. There are possibly 100 injured. It is believed that 200 persons were in the building when the explosions occurred. Unofficial reports declare that the first explosion was caused by the X-ray machine in the basement. This was shortly before noon. Then, within 15 minutes, a chemical in the pharmacy exploded, setting fire to the building and spreading deadly fumes. A third explosion shook the structure several minutes later while the police and firemen were inside attempting to rescue the patients. The removal of the patients was handicapped owing to the intense heat.

Many jumped from the windows and were injured.

Scores of physicians and all the available ambulances were rushed • to the scene. A GRUESOME SPECTACLE.

Firemen found a gruesome spectacle on the second floor. It was a pile of bodies on the landing. Some of them were dead, and some injured. All the latter were unconscious. Mixed with the bodies were chunks of plaster and debris from the ceiling and the walls.