Show BLAST WELCH M 1 I HE nr S BRICK BRICI AND STONE BURY automobiles I 1 EXPLOSION FELT TWO MILES AWAY state stae militia held in R readiness earliness to patrol streets in springfield mass many city worker ere are hurt springfield mass the explosion of it a storage tank of 0 the gas and light company thursday thurida y injured lorty forty persons and caused contusion confusion and wreckage in the business section office workers and persons in the tha streets were struck down by debris automobiles in the were hub deep in wreckage the municipal group ot of bull dins centering about city hall banks and business blocks were in the area in which windows were broken ier sons bons in these buildings bul dings comprised many of the injured the his bi storage tank was wall located t d at the toot foot ot of elm dim street near water and not tar far distant from t the he connecticut river rire fire followed ollow cd the explosion but firemen formed a cordon around the wreckage ot of the tank and indications were that the flames would not spread the tank which exploded was forty feet high it was said to have been nearly full of gas at the time the cause of the explosion was undetermined some time afterward when the blast came it rocked city hall so much that one side of 0 the building was badly dams damaged ged automobiles in the streets were struck by bricks and stone work and firemen had to dig them out occupants escaped serious injury according to first reports buildings two miles from the scene were shaken the power plant of the united electric company is in the immediate vicinity ot of the gas works but service was not affected the tour four companies of state militia stationed here were ordered to report to their armories to be held beld in reserve for patrol duty Bl members embers of 0 the state constabulary stationed at Korth hampton were ordered to proceed here for duty at once |