Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 112, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1914 — SEWER GAS EXPLOSION OCCURRED AT FLORA [ARTICLE]

SEWER GAS EXPLOSION OCCURRED AT FLORA

Richard Collane Had His Hair and Beard Singed in the Cellar of His Home. Delphi, May 11.—Citizens of Fkxra were panic-stricken by a peculiar explosion which occurred at that city Friday night, and in some ways equalled the queer workings of lightning. It started at the residence of Richard Oollone about 10 o’clock. Mr. Oollane detected sewer gas in his house and went to the cellar carrying a lighted match. An explosion followed which dasflied him to the floor. He was badly bruised and his toair and beard were burned. ~~ The bouse was pretty much damaged. The force of the explosion seemed to vaTy in different rooms and parts of the structure. Certain doors and transoms were singled out and demolished. A can of fruit was blown thirty feet through a window in the residence of James Ledman. Buildings were rocked all over town and hundreds of window panes broken. Following the first crash the frightened people rushed to the streets, many in night dress, only to be met by a succession of explosions as the man-holes of the large sewer blew up at intervals oi a few seconds, throwing the iron covers high in the air, with a spurt of flame from each man hole.