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120 Years Ago in 1904, transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:
Terrific explosion of natural gas in Haselton Boarding House Wednesday. Two men badly hurt. Frank Funfar taken to City Hospital in serious condition. Firemen summoned.
A natural gas explosion in Haselton Wednesday evening at about 5 o'clock injured two men, one of whom is in the City Hospital in a dangerous condition and is not expected to survive. The accident happened in the boarding house conducted by a Mrs. Lewis at 128 Center Street. The men who were injured boarded there. One of the men named Albert Elerick, employed at the Cochran Street Mill in Haselton, was in bed at the time of the explosion. The other victim, Frank Funfar, employed at the bridge works, came into the room after his work at the house named. He asked his roommate why the gas was not lighted and the other said he smelled gas and had turned it off.
The room was supplied with a gas stove connected by a rubber hose. Funfar struck a match to light the gas and instantly there was a terrific explosion. The men were badly burned and the bed clothing set afire. Other members of the household rushed to the assistance of the unfortunate boarders and the fire department was summoned. The fire, however, was soon put out with slight loss.
It was found that both men were badly burned. Dr. Wick was summoned and he dressed Elerick's wounds. The man was burned about the hand, arm, face, and neck. He refused to go to the hospital after receiving attention.
Funfar was found to be the most serious hurt of the two. He was burned about the face, head, and neck, and he also inhaled some of the flame. Dr. Wick dressed his injures and ordered the unfortunate taken to the City Hospital where he was taken by Gillen's ambulance. It was reported he was in a very serious condition today.
The force of the explosion raised the roof of the house but did not blow it off the building. It was lifted about four inches. All the windows in the room were blown out. It is not known whether the gas was completely turned off or whether it leaked into the room after being shut off by one of the roomers. The report of the explosion was heard several blocks away. The accident was reported to police headquarters by Officer Farragher shortly after it occurred.
Compiled from the Youngstown Vindicator by Traci Manning, Mahoning Valley Historical Society curator of eduction.