The insulation on the wires of an exten-

sion light that Edward Flasch, one of the

repair men was using became cracked, the

wire grounding as a result. The sparks

fell into a bucket of gasolene standing

nearby and in a few minutes the entire

building was ablaze. G. W. Smith, pro-

prietor of the garage, said that he was sit-

ting in his office at the time of the explo-

sion and tried to put the fire out with sand

but could not get the blaze under any con-

trol. He then started to run out as many

machines as possible.

Six cars, valued at $9,000 were saved.

IV

Madison, September 25th, 1912; With

a loud deafening roar that violently

aroused hundreds from their beds of slum-

ber the monster gas holder occuppying

the southwest corner of South Blount and

Main Streets at the gasplant of the Madi-

son Gas and Electric Company collapsed

very suddenly at 6:sO a. m. this morning,

and now lies partly submerged in water,

a total wreck. The damage will be fully

25,000 dollars, but there will be no inter-

ruption to the service the company's excel-

lent reserve equippment being immediately

brought into action for the emergency.

The cause of the explosion was at first

clothed in deep mystery before the officials

of the company had time to make any in-

vestigation.

However it was definitely ascertained

during the morning when Mr. John W.

Jackson, the secretary and treasurer of the

company, being interviewed by a Daily

News correspondent this morning, stated

that the immense quant.i.ties of snow on

the roof of the holder was primarily re-

sponsible. The weight of the snow on

one side of the holder causing it to drop

down broke the wheel and pushed the

holder off the foundation on which it was

standing. There was a momentary blaze

but when the tank settled down into the

reservoir below the fire went out and the

awful peril from this highly dangerous