The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 18

cmm reoxts: qcit EIGHIEE.1 ECOND SERIES OF BLASTS OCCURS WITHIN 2 YEARS tot tvtsrsa niuty. caxap. thikdat. i.xwabt nzL stacks was carried out, but In view? crooked. Upon looking at the Hospital Left In Suggestions ByjE Blasts Meet Wide were As Ottawa Podded the Manhole Tops (Cnntinoed Iran Pare 17.) It is an ill wind that blows no Serious Situation Caused As Main Sewer' Breaks In Main Force Of Blast In Ridcau River Vicinity Destruction Reminiscent of Big Shell Holes In France.

City Fire Dept. and Other from FSf 17.) Darkness By Blast! But No Fanie Occurs Among llie Patients Or Staff At! Strathcona Hospital. Possibly the fart that all the! patients at the Strathcona Hospital situated on Range road, are was tne reason mat no panic occurred in the institution when it was rocked by the sharp explosions which wrecked the sewers in itj vicinity. According to Dr. W.

T. 8hirreff. the medical superintendent, none of the patients, through not realizing what had hPPned were but J.HTf and heard the blast and realized that, something serious had occurred but remained calm. As a result of the explosion the hospital itself and nurses' residence across the street, were without elec trical power for about half an hour. The reason for this is attributed to one of the flying manhole eovers breaking down the power wires on 1 Expert In 1929 Not Acted Upon Recommendations bv Bos- ton Man to Prevent Re-! eurrene of Sewer Explo sion Not Carried Out.

Reports on the 1929 sewer blasts failed to give any definite cause for the trouble at that time. A. F. Macallum, city commissioner of works, pointed out that May 29, 1929, was an exceptionally warm day. Experts engaged by the city reported significantly "The cause of the ignition will probably remain unknown, from the fact that there are so many likely causes, and the exact nature of the gas that caused the explosion will never be known because all traces were dissipated by the explosion itself." It was pointed out that there was a sudden rise of temperature on the day of the explosion, which undoubtedly had the effect of setting the gases present in the sewer more or less in motion, and more or less mixing them and changing their proportions.

John Campbell of Boston, an engineer who had made a special study of sewer explosions, was one of the experts, and associated with him was Dr. Alfred E. Maclntyre. chief explosives chemist in the Dominion Department of Interior. As explained in the report of last night's meeting of the Board of Control, recommendations made by Mr.

Campbell and also by the special committee of which Dr. Alfred Maclntyre was chairman, were not carried out last year. In the closing months of 1930, the then Board of Control gave indication of its intention to deal with the problem. This year's Board of Control also took the matter up a couple of weeks ago. and in the consideration of the estimates it was proposed to make provision for the street near tne nospitai.

Dr. Shlrreff told the reporter that! Mrs. Abel Schwarts of 584 Chapel he was in his office at the hospital street was another who had a nar-when the blast occurred. He said row escape. She was waiting for a that he felt a distinct tremor in the bus when a heavy manhole cover was building and also heard the blast, so projected high into the air and nar-sharp that he thought at first that rovly missing her, landed at her feet.

Pumps At Work. Indications that the main force of the explosion was in the vicinity of the Rideau river especially on the Eastview side are given by the conditions of the sewers. About 300 yards south of Cummlngs bridge the sewer for a length of about 40 feel has caved in completely, the earth sinking into the broken sewer and part of it being carried away. Several i manholes were demolished leaving holes which R. Andrews, city foreman, said reminded him of a nine-inch shell hole in France.

Mr. Andrews, who has had many years experience in sewer woTk both in caraaa ana tne Old country and who has been through sewers in some of the largest British cities, is positive that the smell from the sewers is that of gasoline. At three o'clock this morning the gasoline odor was very strong at the manhole at Cum-mings bridge. In the one section where the sewer has collapsed completely, one can see the sides of the sewer, the top arch with the earth over it having sunk into the sewer. W.

F. M. Bryce, sewer engineer, stated that the complete cave-in of the sewer may facilitate the work of clearing the blockage. If the whole damage is near the part of the sewer which has caved In, the debris will be removed, forming a trench through which the sewage would flow until the pipe is replaced. Of course there is the probability that the sewer also is blocked at points where it does not show from the surface.

On the east side of the Rideau river the sewer passes through a field between the Russell road and the river, about 75 yards from the road. The break in the sewer on the west side of the river seemed to be confined to the Ottawa South intercepting sewer which enters the main sewer just before it crosses the river. The caved-ln earth indicates that the Ottawa South sower has collapsed for a distance of about 900 feet starting Just south of Somerset street east, and running some distance south of the Strathcona Hospital. This sewer is at the base of the cliff behind the hospital, close to the river. Work Throughout Night The banks of the Rideau river at the foot of Somerset street east, where the main sewer crosses to Eastview, hummed with activity throughout the night as the city engineers and gangs of workmen prepared to make a take-away from the main sewer to the river bed to prevent the sewage backing up.

Two fire engines, a number of gasoline pumps, snowplows to clear roadways, air compressors for rock drills, trucks the establishment of a bureau to "Proper provisions should be mada receive and investigate complaints as f0r the retail sale of gasoline deliv-to gas from sewers. Mr. Campbell's I ered in any other manner than into recommendations for ventilating tanks of automobiles or trucks. "In the matter of complaints ot the explosion of yesterday, it would appear that more stacks should hav been placed along the main sewer. With the establishment of tha bureau, regulations regarding the handling of gasoline, etc would be made and if necessary, legislation would be asked to make possible their enforcement.

Frem Campbell Report Important paragraph taken from a special report by Mr. Campbell are the following: "It is evident that if the building that were damaged had been properly connected to the sewer, little or damage would have been done inside of the buildings. It is also true that the improperly connected buildings all acted as vents for the sewer, and the gases that were in the sewer seek' ing the easiest path undoubtedly were in many more buildings than those damaged, but fortunately they were not of an explosive nature or they lacked ignition. "This is the logical time to take all steps possible to prevent a recurrence in Ottawa of another sewer explosion, as the city may not be as fortunate another time. "There is no question of half-way measures, the law must be mandatory and prohibitive of emptying any volatile liquids into the sewers if you expect even a degree of safety.

I da not feel that the householder has wilfully attempted to create a condition of grave danger, but through lack of knowledge of possible consequences dangerous conditions hav been created and must be stopped. Safeguard Gasoline Stations. "Sewers connecting to gasoline storage and service stations, as well as cleaning establishments or other manufacturing establishments, which in the course of their business us gasoline or other volatile liquids, which are readily vaporized, may be safeguarded if either the connection with the sewer is prohibited or if permitted must be made in such a manner that volatile liquids are not permitted to enter the sewer. "Gasoline storage and service stations and other establishments using volatile liquids should be regularly inspected and written records filed with the chief of the fire department, who should notify other departments interested of defects or violations. sewer odors, an Investigation and report should be made, and if is reasonably determined that the odor is from the sewer, proper apparatus tests should be made and results recorded.

Report on Gas Leaks. "In the matter of gas leaks. When a gas leak is reported an inspector should be detailed to investigate and report as to where the leak was re- ported, where actually found, and what steps taken to correct the existing conditions. "However, nothing is accomplished by keeping various records if a follow up system is not used to correct conditions as found. When you want to rent a room, a Citizen Classified Ad.

will make that wish known far and near. OTTAWA 1 she found thai it was badly cracked all across the front. Mr. Bradfield said that he had noticed the smell of gas in the house numerous times in the past month and had complained more than once to the authorities. The back of tne nous 01 u.

k. Giles, 100 Gilmour street, is on Lewis street, where a manhole exploded iwith such force that It knocked several bricks out of the chimney and two or three slates out of the roof. Mr. Giles said that his son. Terry, i ho was the only one In the house at the time, told him that the whole building shook, raUling the dishes in the cupboard.

i Carrel Blown Up "My hair is red, but it nearly turned white about ten minutes to five this afternoon," said Earl Hayes, who works in the Economic Grocery, 61 Waver ley street. "I was washing some brushes in the sink in the cellar of the shop, which is right next to the sewer trap. Suddenly a barrel, which was on top of it, blew to the ceiling with a tremendous bang and I was drenched with water. I was so scared that I thought the world had come to an end. You could hardly blame me.

The cellar is small, the noise was terrific, and it had the unpleasant advantage of being very close to my ear. I was lucky to escape without injury, for the top of the six-inch pipe was smashed by the force of the explosion." "I was sitting in my office when I heard a rumbling noise. Immediately I thought there had been an ex-plosion and then the building began to shake. The windows rattled and the floor of the office seemed to rock Then I heard a loud noise. Just like a blast, and the shaking of the building stopped." With these words.

Aid. Rod Plant, who was in his office in the Trades and Labor Congress quarters at 172 MacLaren street, explained how he had experienced the shock that accompanied the sewer explosion. said he was nervous at first, but as the shaking of the building subsided, this left him. His first thought was of his family. He immediately telephoned to Mrs.

Plant, who said she had heard the noise of the blast, but had not heard of any trouble in Ne Edinburgh, where Aid. Plant resids. Will File Motion Aid. Kirby Bangs, who called The Citizen office last night, in remarking aoout the explosions, said: "The gasoline fumes in my cellar are so strong that I wouldn't dare go down there with an open light of any kind. I would even hesitate to smoke down there.

"This morning I will file a motion asking that tanks of the companies bringing carloads of gasoline into the Capital for the use of motorcars be placed outside the city so that none may leak into the city sewers. All those that are inside the limits of the city now, I will suggest he moved. "I also think that when human life is in danger, as it most certainly is from these sewer explosions, the city is not wise in passing grants to improve the tourist camp or the grandstand at Lansdowne Park. This money should be used for a much more important purpose." The opinion was expressed by an official that the relief sewers, now under construction, will not be adequate. A.

J. Wisklng had two samples of the explosion, both at his home, 72 Lswis street, and at his garage, corner McLeod and Cartier streets. "While working in the garage," said Mr, Wlsking, "I heard an awful crash about ten minutes to five. I thought it was an earthquake, because the tools were thrown about in all directions and the garage itself shook to some extent." On his arrival home. Mr.

Wisklng went to the cellar. "The explosion," said Mr. Wisklng, "blew the furnace 6Qor 0pn Heard Rumbling Before 8ome Ottawans claimed that thf-elements which caused the explosion had manifested themselves on previous occasions in various manners. John Fyffe. 3 Lewis street, remarked last night: "On Tuesday night.

Just before midnight, I heard a rumbling and felt the house quiver, but thought that It was caused by heavy trucks passing or trains, I thought very little of it, but Wednesday morning' looked up the train time tr.bles and found that there was none passing about that time. "I still never thought that it was perhaps the fl.st warning of an explosion that was to come within 24 hours and had disminfrd the matter from my mind till I came home from work and heard of the explosion yesterdav. I thought immediately that it must have been the first small start, but cannot understand how it tnok started Waverley street nlnnt tn. h(Vlif i miiiio, itiuv mv t-mhied several times as if there were several shocks or small earthquakes. Houses Were Rocked.

The Citizen called at the home of Mrs. Allan, 65 Delaware avenue, where the explosion rocked the house and shook the window panes, but did no actual carnage. The disturbance seemed to come from the Waverley and Cartier street areas, manholes on these streets having been blown off. Mrs. (Dr.) N.

MacLeod, 121 Cartier street, told of a terrible noise, shaking the house, and all the people In the neighborhood rushing out of their houses to see what was wrong "Cold and all." Mrs, MacLeod said. The noise and the rocking were the wrrst, Mrs. MacLeod added, as nothing was arttially damaged at their place, nor had they heard of any damage In the immediate vicinity. Tenants Forced Out Tenants in the Kennlston apartments, 341A Elgin street, were forced to vacate their apartments for some time after the explosion. The apparently, came through th cewei in the basement and in some mannei managed to ascend to the third store).

The tenants afTected, J. J. Fair, Mis M. J. Lvors, Mrs.

L. Dickson ina James Greene, had to open the windows of their apartments to rid the promiH'S of the gas odor. Mrs. Eva Neal nmnaKcress of the apartments. v.ho rp.ldes In the basement, sold The Cltben that her apartment a as filled alth a terrible ga'ollne mli.

She could not remain In the apartment until some time after the I body good, runs the old proverb and so think managers of local hotels and apartment houses out of the line of the main sewer. Several families moved bag and baggage to hotels and apartment houses or to the homes of friends to spend the eight. Corroboration of more than one statement that some of the manhole covers bad "blown into the air as lvgn as the roof was given by the tact that several shingles were broken on aa untenanted house at 3 Harting-ton Place. T. C.

Evans, who lives directly opposite, said that he hap- Hooking out the window time and saw the manhole hif th. Some indication of the force of the explosion was shown in the dislocation of tha huge cake of ice by the sewer at the corner of Lewis and MacDonald streets. This blast ISew many feet into the air, besides the manhole cover, a solid piece of ice that was nearly as large as a barrel. 1 HI It U1IC Ullgllfa ill UL- tawa's second exhibition of sewer temperament, that is, there were no casualties. In the blast of May, 1929, one woman died and one was seri ously burned.

Narrow escapes were ananas sharing with the Central Canada Exhibition the right to the slogan, "bigger than ever." Whatever authorities decide, they will have a great Job convincing those who experienced in any way the wrath of yesterday's explosions thai it was anything but gasoline fumes which caused the blasts. Everyone interviewed was unanimous. They smelt gasoline. Sewer gas was not even hinted at in the majority of cases. Mrs.

Wilfred Grace, wife of ex-Ald. Grace, 77 Blackburn avenue, got action. She was on the telephone calling Controller Lewis' home to complain about the gas odor when the explosion added a convincing note to her complaint. This year's barrage started along Waverley street about 4.50 o'clock yesterday afternoon. It ran along the sewer mains like wildfire and in five minutes had broken out in Sandy Hill.

The outbreak did not last very long and by five o'clock all was quiet on the sewer front. John A. Aylen, 95 Cartier street, had a close call. A few seconds before the manhole cover was projected into the air, he had been examining it to see if it were completely covered with ice. He saw one man thrown on his back by the concussion.

Many "experts" attributed the dis astrous explosions of May, 1929, to the week of intense heat which vaporized pools of waste gasoline which found its way into the sewers. This year's experts will have to attribute the vaporization to something else besides the heat. Just to show its strength, the explosion tossed a manhole cover weighing over sixty pounds higher than the Hydro-Electric pole at the corner of Somerset street east and Range road. Coming down, it tore through the wires. In some cases the huge eovers were thrown a hundred feet through the air.

Globes were broken In the street lights. Many of them broke Into pieces like huge poker chips. It's an ill wind that blows nobody good. Unemployed glaziers will have a Job replacing many windows in the vicinity of Goulburn avenue and Somerset strfet. Four were blowo out of the home of J.

A. Taylor, 335 Somerset street alone. Stories of motorists who lit a match to look into their gas tanks must have had an impression of Aid. Kirby Bangs. He told The Citizen last night that his cellar, before the explosion, was so full of gasoline fumes he was afraid to light a match.

Aid. Bangs says he is going to file a motion to prevent gasoline companies from having great storage tanks inside the city. Something which may approximate perpetual motion may have been discovered at last. Only on Tuesday was the final claim for the last sewer explosions settled by the city. The road on Nelson street, between Somerset street east and Templeton street, for a dutance of 150 feet, was split asunder as if pried apart by the angry hand of a giant.

City officials lost little time. Scarcely had the first manhole cover stopped bouncing when Mayor J. J. Allen and Controllers York, Lewis and Dunbar broke up a Board of Control meeting and hurried ta the scene of the Center Town disturbance. There was a little rmnrwr to brighten the det.acle.

The "wags" had their -inning. "The fellows in Batavla have a cinch," said one street car passenger. The volcanoes there always grumble a little first." One patriotic citizen, having 'just, ducked a manhole cover, bemoaned the wastage of an excellent carnival attraction. Police Rufhcd to Areas Affected ly Explosions As soon as it became known at police headquarters that sewer explosions had occurred every available police officer was rushed to the affected areas. Fire alarms sounded from points along the route of the affected sewer provided a means of directing not only the firemen but also the police.

Sergt. Joseph Dion and memlyra of his motorcycle squad were detailed to check tip through the areas affected by the explosion to ascertain if there were any fatalities or anyone injured and also the extent of the damage caused. (Continued In Center Town Btrange tales of the prank played by the explosions upon tne Inhabitants of the eastern section of Central ward were told to Citizen reporters last night by scores who had been affected. Narrow escapes from Injury by flying manhole covers: reports of broken windows and dishes; shaken houses, and many other near catastrophes were described. The maioritv of those interviewed fori their experiences held that they had amelled escaping gas previous to the explosion, some even claiming uiai slight shocks had been encountered two ar.d three days ago.

At the comer of Lewis and Robert streets, where blocks of snow had been blown from a manhole only an hour previous, children were found by The Citizen engaged in an impromptu game of hockey. Blue smoke was pouring from the trap in the cellar at the home of J. E. Hobson, 40 Robert street, after the explosion occurred, according to Mr Hobson. The house filled with the choking gas, and his son, Ralph, was forced to vacate his room on the Dter storey.

All windows and doors had to be opened, and even then the house could not be cleared of the nauseating odor. Bruce, another son, ate his supper with his overcoat on because he wished to be prepared to rush out should another upheaval come. The city should look after those thinjs," declared Mr. Hobson bitterly Hit by Rush of Gas One of the most exciting stories of all was that told by Frank Boxall, a plumber employed by R. C.

Gatens. About 4.30, Mr. Boxall received a telephone call from Alf. Henry, 5 Lewis street. He was told to come quickly escaping gas could be smelled.

Mr. Boxall arrived about five minutes later. Mr. Henry took the plumber down to the cellar and Mr. Boxall proceeded to try and find the leak.

He was leaning over the pipe, when he noticed a little white puff of something that looked like smoke. He got down on his knees right over the pipe. There were two more white puffs of smoke. Then he was hit full in the fact with a terrific rush of gas. The shock-was so great that it set him right back against the wall.

"I was choked for a minute," Mr. Boxall told The Citizen. "I remember it started like an earthquake. There was a rumble, and then one cr a-a ck. I ran Up the stairs and out of the houst, after warning the family." A bridge game of the Henry family that had been in progress broka up in a hurry.

Everybody made a dash for hats and coat. The cards and bridge table went flying. The house was soon empty. But Mr. Boxall was hot through with his experiences.

A manhole cover blew off at MacDonald and Lewis streets. Mr. Boxall and another man went to investigate. They decided to put the cover back on. Lifting the heavy piece of Iron, they attempted to put it back in place.

Somehow the foot of the man who was assisting Mr. Boxall slipped. With a crash the ill-fated manhole cover slipped from sight into the noxious depths of the sewer. The plumber notified the city engineering department. A barrel and several boxes were placed over the hole When last seen by The Citizen, a stalwart policeman was asking where he whs going to get a lamp to place on top of the barrel to act as a danger fignal.

The opinion was advanced at the home of William Asher, 7 Lewis street, that the fact that their home was a new one had saved them to a great extent fro-n any effect of the explosions. All the other homes In the district were scathed, but Mr. Asher1 home escaped. "It was built four years ago," The Citizen was told, "whereas all the other homes around here are over twenty years old. We have an especially strong cellar." Heard "Bang, Bang" A graphic description of the scene outside her home at 43 MacDonald street, rorrier of MacDonald and Lewis, where a manhole cover blew off, was given by Mrs.

Frederick McKay. "I beard a bans-bang," said Mrs M'TCay. "I-was looking out of the window, and saw smoke issuing from a sewer farther down tne street, just then the manhole cover at our corner blew off. It looked as If it went as high as the house." The home filled with the choklns gas so prevalent, and Mrs. McKay beat a hasty retreat to the street with her two-year-old son, Leslie.

A window in the back of the house was smashed by the concussion, a picture fell off the wall and plaster was split in many places. Twelve-year-old Frank Bury, 93 Cartier street, had Just returned from school. He smelled something in th cellar and went to investigate. Finding escaping gas, he stuffed the chinks with sawdust. He then went upstairs.

Happening to look out of the window, he saw puffs of what looked like smoke isbuina from the sewer at the corner of Cartier and Lewis streets. Frank went downstairs to ask hi? neighbor what was wrong. He had just got outside the door, when the manhole cover shot "sixty feet Into the air." He saw it land again, about five feet away. Going to look, he saw that a substantial hole had been dug In the hard snow by the falling meteor of the cover. Firemen replaced the object, which might have proved such death-dealing missile.

The nome OI mr. mar(jairi. ivhiuic. rwi street, suffered considerably from the exploalon which occurred at the sewer directly in front of nrr residence. The entire foundation of the house was badly strained, and the ewer In the basement was brnkn.

A wcture on the wall fell and rns smashed to jmlthereena. i of supplies and a large gang of men were on the spot all night. At a manhole almost on the river's edge, the engineers had the pumps taking away the sewage, which at this point had risen about seven feet above Its normal level. W. F.

M. Bryce, sewer engineer: W. E. MacDonald, waterworks engineer, and H. Hooper, engineer! T.

E. War- ner, mechanical superintendent, and Grey Burnett, chief mechanic of the fire department, were in charge of respective gangs of men, all of whom were busily engaged. A gang of men started early this morning to cut a trench from the manhole to the river. This will take off sewage should it rise much above the level it was at the manhole. The pumps will be used to draw oft sewage below this level.

IXTY YEARS As If Back In France A veteran of France, where she served for two years as a V.A.D. and had been badly shell-shocked, Mrs. William Sutherland, 70 Lewis street, had the worst reported experience of anyone in the neighborhood. "I felt as if I had been shot as if I was back in France with the rumble of guns and the terrible din of battle that was how the explosion struck me," she told The Citizen re- porter. "I thought the whole house had blown up.

I was standing there Ironing, when tne explosion happened. It threw me back anst the edge or the oven door oh now my back hurt. I'm gassed! I'm I shouted, and must have fallen in a halt-faint. The smell of gas was terrible. My husband was gassed badly overseas, and it gave him a terrific headache." Some damage was done to the home.

Stovepipes came out, and as the Are was on Mr. Sutherland had to hurry to replace them. A platter which Mrs. Sutherland prized highly fell from the buffet and was broken. Mr.

Sutherland rushed out into the back yard after the explosion, thinking it was the boiler blown up in the cellar of the next-door neighbor. His wife was forced to Me down for an hour to recuperate. "I never want to go through anything like that again," commented Mrs. Sutherland. "It was too much like France." Had Narrow Escape John A.

Aylen, J5 Cartier street, was only a few feet from the manhole at the corner of Lewis and Cartier streets when the explosion occurred. A few seconds before he had been examining the manhole to see if It were completely covered bv Ice. He had Just stepped back, when the top blew into the air "as high as the top of the nearby houses," he said. His wife had called him about three o'clock, he said, to tell him there was a bad smell of gasoline fumes in the house He decided to come home early to investigate. He arrived at the corner of Lewis and Cartier street about ten minutes to five o'clock and decided to see if the manhole was plugged up and causing the trouble.

He had no sooner finished his examination and moved a few feet away, when he heard a terrific explosion and saw the manhole cover fly high into the air amid a shower of snow. He was hit by a few flying pieces of snow and ice, but was not hurt. He was looking down Lewis street at the time, he said, and he noticed one man thrown on his back on the street by the concussion. Immediately he heard children scream, and in every direction the front doors of houses opened and people rushed into the street. In the range of his vision he could see clouds of white smoke coming from sewers all along Lewis street, where, apparently, the tops had been blown off all the manholes.

Then the crowd collected and great excitement reigned for a time. When he came into his house later, he found that the ceiling in the front room had been cracked, that the pictures on the wall were all askew, that the floor of the downstairs bathroom was filled with pools of water, that a window, which had been left ud to let the smell of gas out of the house, had been knocked down by tne crasn, ana inai ine iop mr sewer trap had been blown to pieces. Mrs. W. M.

Craig, 62 Lewis tfreel. said: "I was nursing on my knee my two-weeks-old baby when I heard a terrific noise, like an earthquake. The other children came rushing into the kitchen, where I was, crying with fright I didn't know what happened until I looked out the window and saw that the manhole cover in front of our house had blown off. I then at once thought of the previous explosion, which had affected this district, and wondered if this one had done as much damage. My sister says that I was more scared than the children, and perhaps I was, because for a moment I thought the wholn house was boIiik to shake down.

I have smelled gas in the house fre- i quently of late, and just the other dav I some of my boa: decs complained of the odor of gasoline In the house. Mrs. Ambrose Smith, 40 Lewis i street, said: "I could smell gas in lh nouse au nay. uimng I cauea tne piutnner, ana wnen nr, came he said it was coming from some gasoline In the cellar. Todav was the third or fourth time in the past few weeks that there has been the smell of gas ine nouse.

par ticularly one day about three wee us ago. "When the explosion happened, some of the children were playing upstairs, and they came rushing down, screaming at the top of their lungs. My little girl, Anita, was skating on the sidewalk in front of the house in company with a glil playmate. The other girl was hit by a large piece of snow, but I guess that both were more frightened thaii hurt. The smell of gasoline fumes in the house afterwards was suffocating for a time." Felt House Rocking Mrs.

Ellen Lynn, 4 Lewis street, said that she was sitting In the parlor when an explosion rocked the house. She thought st first that the pipes in the rellar had broken. She went to the cllar rloor, but the smell of gas was suffocating that she did not go down. She soon found out from excited neighbors what had really occurred, and, upon Investigating, found out that tha sewer trap in her cellar had blown off and filled it with a quantity of water. She said that she had smelled gas all so much that she did not know if she could remain In the house if It continued, Mrs C.

Bradfleld, 41 MacDonald street, said that the smell of gas was so bad In her house all day that, in the afternoon she could stand It no lnncer and went out. When she re turned, she found that plaster was all over the floor of the front room many of the pictures on the wall I Lhom the 'Afesfllly A 1 feSf it 1931 With the breaking of the electric wires tha nurses' residence was plunged into darkness. There were no lights turned on in the hospital wards so that there was no sudden rfarbnAsx in frttrmen the vmmff patients. However the water heating svstem in the hospital, wnicn is operated by electricity, was out of commission until repairs were made to the broken wires. According to Dr.

Shlrreff there are about 90 children patients at the hospital. On Sandy Hill Mrs. Wilfred Grace, wife of ex-Ald. Grace, 77 Blackburn avenue, said: "I was on the telephone calling Con. Lewis' home to complain about the gas smell when the explosions occurred.

I was told that the controller was at the Board of Control meeting and had Just thanked the party when I heard the explosion. Hanging up I rushed out of the house and saw the smoke coming from the sewer at the corner of Blackburn avenue and Somerset street Mrs. Grace said that the gas company's men had been down three or four times in the past few days and each time had stated that it was gasoline fumes that were in the cellars and houses and that it was up to the city to correct the fault, not up to the gas company. "I seldom had headaches but tor the past week my head has been continually aching and it could be nothing but the smell backing up from the sewers into the house," she said. Tore Wires Down.

At the corner of Somerset street east and Range road, the sewer cover was blown over the top of the Hydro Electric pole and in coming down again, tore the wires from the pole putting out the lights on Somerset street, from Range road to Henderson avenue out. On Somerset street, at the corners of Marlborough avenue, Goulburn avenue, Chapel street and Russell avenue, the manhole covers were blown straight up in the air and broke the globes in the street lights. In some cases the covers landed as far as 100 feet from the sewers and broke in half and some into three pieces. Explosion in Cellar. At Goulburn avenue and Somerset street, in the home owned and occupied by J.

A. Taylor. 335 Somerset street east, four windows were blown out by an explosion in the cellai and vibration broke two more in the first floor and attic. Two doors down on Somerset street, In the home of Mrs. J.

J. Olive, two windows were broken, one by the force of the explosion in the cellar and one In the attic from vtbratlon, the whole house shook so badly. In Mr. Taylor's house, one of the boys. John Taylor describes the events as "I was sitting ui the kitchen when I heard the first explosion and immediately cailed everybody out of the house.

We were Just outside when the manhole cover at the corner blew ofT. Just after that we heard an explosion in the house and four ut the cellar windows blew out. Tne house seemed to rock and plfL-es of glass fell at our feet from windows on the first floor and from those in the attic. After some minutes we went back into the hcise and found the cellar and the first floor rooms full of gasoline fumes. They were so thick they were ciiok-Ing." At Toronlnw Store.

L. Torontow. whose grocery store' at the corner of Somerset east and Chapel streets, was so badly damaged by the sewer explosion in 1920, said: "I was standing behind the counter looking out the window in front of me when I hesrd the first explosion. I Immediately knew that it was the sewers blowing up again I expected the windows to crash in any moment and the pipe into the store, which ran along the snlt dlrertly back of where I stood, to blow up any minute as It did last time, but I was powerless to move I Just couldn't get away from and seemed rooted to the spot. The cover blew off in front of the store and still the windows and store were intact.

Then I realized that i.ns worst of the explosions were ovor and was able to go out of the strre and look around. "My little girl was rending a bonk In the house. When she heard (he explosions she came out to the frr.t of the store, book in hand, looked at the smoking manhole and then wnt back to the house and continued reading. It sure must have been an absorbingly Interesting book." Miss Dorothy Nicholson. Overbroos, a clerk In the Strathcona grocery, run by Mr.

Torontow, who received sundry cuts and bruises in the 1929 explosion, echoed Mr, Torontcwi words. "It was the uncertainty. We dMnt know what to expect. For a time you could have heard a pin drop. It was so quiet." Mrs.

Torontow said, In speaking lo her hushnnd: "You can slay here If you like but 1 am rcrUini not going to sleep In this m-meht." 6he said that nistorrers had come (Continued on Page 21.) AGO Ai Canada aettinn out upon a journey of promise, a marri tt pngfeM. Confederation of the Province, though newly achiewW, already forging a of nniteJ thought and action. Rrrantatie ituwi anient, at la an eMUUtSstW fact. Settlers eering in eTer-incTeamg nmnbera, farming the small eomiumitie which were to become fntnre eitie and towns. A time of pknmBf; ntnrf gigantic problems, and the dawn of big bnwww.

coming the Dean of life "bamtxaea fai Canada. The Finance lyGnkter of tfee first Dominion Gownnneet IxnexnM the finA President. ITirougfeiwat hi history the Confederation life kmm-nation hat commanded the loyal service of pToarinent men, and, because of their foresight and energy, ita reenrd of growth has paralleled tha development of Canada. Irro these stirring times the Confederation Life Association entered upon its mission of service, and, with only one man in ererr hundred enjoying the protection and benefits of life insurance, the need for its facilities was deadf apparent. The Founder of the Confederation life Association was destined to guide its fortunes for the long period of 57 year, and to crown a distinguished career by be TODAY Confederation life Aawriarion is inter- national in character.

Now, in its Diamond JtibiTee Tear, it prondly irriewa the work aeaontplished dnring 60 yaw of usefulness Oner 370 auZCons of iiurtrimrt in jtwet OrfT 80 millions paid to polUjholdert and beneficiaries Over 14 million paid to policyholders in dividends. A record to be proud of, and an inspiration to still greater service. Confederation Life Association BROKERS' EXCHANGE BUILDING i 1.