On this date, the Minneapolis Tribune’s front page had 28 stories, but no photos, no bylines and no jumps. It had plenty of what designers now call “layering,” larger or bolder text intended to draw readers into stories. There were no multicolumn headlines. The big local story of the day anchored the top right column:

EXPLOSION

Of Tank of Carbonic Acid
Gas Kills W.L.
Hughes.

Proprietor of the Pharmacy
Will Probably Insist
On an Inquest.

The bursting of a tank highly charged with carbonic acid gas attached to the soda fountain in the drug store of A.H. Crowell, 1013 Hennepin avenue, caused the death of W.L. Hughes, a young clerk, about 6 o’clock last evening.

The young man, who was only eighteen years of age, was in the basement attaching a cylinder of carbonic acid gas to the gas and water tank of the fountain. It is not known how the explosion occurred, or what caused it, but the young clerk must have been bending over the apparatus. At any rate the lower part of his body was terribly torn, and both his thigh bones were broken, and the combined injuries resulted in his death just as the police ambulance got him to the City hospital.

His death was directly caused by the shock and loss of blood.

TANK WAS NEW.

Hughes was at work charging with gas a ten gallon tank which was partially filled with water. He had connected the heavy cylinder in which the gas is delivered with the tank that leads to the soda faucets in the fountain when the contrivance burst.

The tanks are tested as high as 500 pounds to the square inch and it is doubtful whether the pressure in charging the water rose higher than 136 pounds. The tank that burst was a comparatively new one, having been in use but a few times.

The report from the explosion could be heard for nearly a block but, although the force exerted by the bursting tank was terrific within the space of a few feet, outside of several overturned boxes there was no other damage.

Mr. Crowell, the proprietor, was in the store at the time. He rushed down the cellar within a few seconds after the explosion.

WAS STILL CONSCIOUS.

Hughes was lying on his face at the front part of the basement bleeding profusely but still conscious. His clothes were saturated with the water from the tank which, from mixing with his blood, ran along the floor in a reddened stream. He was hastily carried upstairs where Dr. Mary Towers, who chanced to be in the store, gave him what temporary relief was possible.

It was plain that the boy was in a precarious condition and the police ambulance was immediately summoned. Hughe’s lower limbs were so severely lacerated that the loss of blood greatly weakened him. Within a few moments the wagon was on the seene and he was driven with all haste to the City hospital.

Shortly after the start was made Hughes became unconscious and never rallied before the end came. He had scarcely been taken inside the doors of the hospital when his last bit of strength left him and he died without a struggle.

JUST STARTING LIFE.

His father, Richard Hughes, a prominent contractor of Mankato, was notified of his son’s death and sent word that he would be in the city this morning. Young Hughes had just finished his course in the Mankato high school last spring and came here four weeks ago to learn the druggist business. He was exceedingly popular among the younger people of his home city where he had spent the greater part of his life. While in Minneapolis he boarded at 44 Eleventh street north.

A.B. Crowell will probably insist that an inquest be held to determine upon whom the responsibility of the boy’s death rests. Coroner J.M. Kistler viewed Hughe’s remains last evening but did not decide upon further investigation at that time.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 8th, 2005 at 11:58 pm and is filed under Main, Mayhem. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.