Hemingray Glass Company

GAS PUMPING STATION

WRECKED BY EXPLOSION

Elmer Newkirk, Oiler,

Was Killed

Bert Lee, Engineer,

Seriously Injured

Dead:

ELMER NEWKIRK, oiler.

Seriously injured:

Bert Lee, engineer.

The death of one man and the very serious, perhaps fatal, injury of another, resulted from an explosion at the pumping station of the Manufacturers' Natural Gas Supply company at DeSoto, Monday morning.

As to its cause, no one knows.   A grief-stricken widow and the gloom of sadness which now . . . [illegible text] . . . the little town of DeSoto . . . [illegible text] . . . it's horrible results . . . [illegible text] . . . smoothly as usual at the pumping station early Thursday morning. The white steam rose and floated away in billowy clouds to the north. The explosion was sudden and disastrous.

A heavy noise like a sharp clap of thunder was heard just before 8 o'clock. The people rushed from their houses and all eyes were turned at once toward the pumping station. Nearly everyone was in time to see the walls of the building bulge outward and the roof fall in.

At the same time, all the flames burst forth, the two men shot from the building as if they had been thrown by the force of the explosion, such was the general supposition until it was learned later that neither man had even been knocked from his feet by the explosion.

The clothing of both men caught fire as they issued from the building and they were immediately enveloped in flames. Elmer Newkirk, oiler, jumped a wire fence, ran across the L. E. & W. tracks and toward the house of his aunt, Mrs. Martha Rittenour, calling for her to bring a blanket as he ran. He was met by Mrs. Will Myers just at the rear of her house, who called to him to roll in the snow. Newkirk fell at once and began to roll but his efforts were futile. Mrs. Myers then began to tear his clothing from his body and . . . [illegible text] . . . continued until . . . [illegible text] . . . Other neighbors brought a blanket and the flames were extinguished. He was then carried into the Myers home.

Bert Lee, engineer, ran west from the burning building, tearing his clothes as he ran. He was met by several men who tore his clothing off and he was then carried to the Myers home, wrapped in a coat. Carl Myers, who looks after the lines that run into the pumping station, severely burned his right hand in assisting to tear off Lee's clothing. He had only left the pumping station a few moments before the explosion occurred.

Dr. W. D. Simmons, whose house was in full view of the catastrophe, hastened at once to the Myers home. Drs. J. N. Trent and G. W. Bucklin, of Muncie, were also telephoned for and hurried to DeSoto. It was seen that Newkirk was the most badly injured of the two. His head, body, and limbs were severely burned, his feet being the only part of his body that was not burned. He was burned about the head, arms, and chest.

Neither man lost consciousness though suffering terribly. Newkirk complained constantly of his throat, lungs, and chest, showing that he had inhaled the flames. His wife was sent for and staid by him until the end., which came shortly after 3 o'clock.

Lee was able to talk at intervals . . . [illegible text] . . . explosion. By degrees he informed the attendants that a plug in one of the compressors had blown out and he had stepped back to close down the engines. Just as the big fly wheels slowed up the shock came. Half blinded by the smoke and fighting his way through the flames, he reached an open window and plunged through head first. Then he got to his feet and began running. Newkirk had preceded him through an opening that had been blown out and was running to the northward.

All that is known of the explosion is that it occurred on the east side of the building. On that side the debris was blown several feet. The roof was partially raised and settled again. The wrecking of the building would not have been very great but it was soon consumed by fire. It was a frame structure, 60x90 feet, and located about 100 yards east of the L. E. & W. station.

The damage to the machinery cannot be estimated at the present. There were two engines of 150 horse-power each and two huge compressors, each capable of sending 1,800 cubic feet of gas per minute through the mains. Other than the smaller pipes and fixtures, the machinery was not greatly deranged by the explosion, the most damaged being the result of the fire.

The pumping station was started at DeSoto in September last year. It was established by the Manufacturer's Natural Gas company at an expense of about $40,000. There are some 25 wells in the neighborhood of DeSoto on it's lines and gas was supplied to Hemingray's glass factory, Over's, and also Maring and Hart's.

The greatest inconvenience was caused at Hemingray's where the fires went out immediately after the explosion. The cause was telephoned in at once and Ralph Hemingray hurried to the scene of the disaster. He telegraphed to Indianapolis for a trained nurse, who arrived during the afternoon. He did all in his power for the injured men. During Monday special arrangements were made with the American Sheet Steel company and with Ball Brothers to obtain more gas for Hemingray's factory and it was running as usual Monday night.

At the present time the station was in charge of two men at night and two in the day. William F. H. Myers was the engineer and Jesse Batten, oiler, on the night run. They went off duty at 6 o'clock Monday morning. Their places were taken by Bert Lee, engineer, and Elmer Newkirk, oiler.

Engineer Myers stated Monday that none of the employees had ever felt any apprehension about the station. Citizens of DeSoto expressed a different opinion and a number said they were not surprised at the disaster, the pumping station having always been considered a powder magazine in disguise.

Mrs. Will Myers, wife of the night engineer, told the most graphic story of any of the witnesses of the catastrophe.

"I had just finished getting my little boy ready for school," said Mrs. Myers, "and had looked at the clock to see if it was time for him to go. I had no more than said that it was a quarter of 8 o'clock, when we heard the shock. We all ran to the back porch of the house and looked toward the pumping station."

"Then I saw the wreck settling down and the flames leaping forth. At the same instant Elmer ran out and Bert jumped out of the window. I saw no more of Bert, but Elmer came running towards our house with his clothes on fire."

"As he ran I could hear him calling, 'Aunt Martha, Aunt Martha.' I ran to meet him."

"'For God's sake, roll in the snow, Elmer,' I said as he neared me. He fell and began to roll. His clothes still burned. Then I began to tear at them. He had half raised on one knee and staid in that position until I had almost stripped his body. His aunt, Mrs. Rittenour, had also heard his cries and ran to the fence which separated her from us, where she stood wringing her hands. Someone came with a blanket and after the flames were put out, we wrapped Elmer in it and I helped carry him into the house."

Elmer Newkirk had been at the pumping station since it was started at DeSoto. He lived at Sharon, one mile north of DeSoto, with his young wife. They had no children. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Newkirk, of Sharon, and was 26 years of age. He was married four years ago to Theresa Reasoner, whose parents live at Sharon.

Elmer Newkirk was a member of the White Chapel Christian church and about three weeks ago joined the Red Men and Haymakers. He belonged to Kickapoo Tribe, I. O. R. M., of Albany. He was a strong muscular young man, weighing 160 pounds, and was liked by everyone because of his gently and pleasant spirits. About two weeks ago he almost severed a finger while at work and had only gone back to the station Sunday morning to begin again.

The funeral services will be held at 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at Union church, DeSoto, and will be in charge of Rev. Errick. The body will be interred in Union cemetery.

Bert Lee is 37 years old and has been working at the station since December 1. He is married, but has no children. Mr. and Mrs. Lee live at DeSoto. His well known in Muncie, where he formerly lived. For five years he was engineer and electrician at the Whiteley malleable iron works. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, also the Uniform Rank, the Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen.

A message late Monday night stated that Lee was resting easily. Unless the shock of the reaction is too great, there are strong chances of his ultimate recovery.