CLEVELAND TRAGEDY.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17713, 17 May 1929, Page 7

CLEVELAND TRAGEDY.

DEATH RATE MOUNTING,* NOW COMPUTED AT 125. SIX DOCTORS SUCCUMB. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.);’ (Australian Press Association.) . (Received May 17, 10.15 a.m.) j NEW YORK, May 16. 1

A message from Cleveland states that the death list from the hospital disaster is now 125, and is increasing hourly.

Victims, who fought for -their lives through the night, succumbed one after another io the effects of gas to-day. Six staff physicians have died, including Dr. John Phillips, a co-founder of the clinic. He was a native of Welland, Ontario. CAUSE OF THE DISASTER. DOOR FAILS TO WORK. DISCOVERY BY COMMISSION.

(By '( eie,~rapD—Press Assn.—Copyright.*

(Ausfaiirtp press Association.' (Received May 17, 10.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, May 16

Various inquiries have been instigated by the city, county, state and federal authorities.

There are persistent reports that a man was seen using a blow torch in the vicinity of the room where the Xray films were stored, and this is being thoroughly investigated, but in the meantime the only definite fact regarding the possible cause of such extensive fatalities was revealed by the City • Investigating Commission; which discovered a faulty fire-door in the clinic’s X-ray room, where the catastrophe originated. Dr. H. L. Rockwood, the Health Commissioner and head of the commission, declared that had the door worked it would have shut off the room from the remainder of the building and caused the deadly poison gas to be forced t<j the street through the ventilator.