Peters, Claud 1889-1912

PETERS, MACIEJEWSKI

Posted By: Lois J. Hinshaw (email)
Date: 5/7/2011 at 10:28:35

GRINNELL BOY KILLED IN EXPLOSION

Claud H. Peters, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Peters of Grinnell, died in a hospital at Kankakee, Illinois, on Wednesday morning of last week as a result of injuries sustained in an explosion of gas. Mr. Peters was an electrolysis expert for the Central Union Telephone company. The testimony given before the coroner's inquest was to the effect that deceased with a laborer went to examine a man hole of the telephone system. The laborer swept away the snow and picked off the ice. The cover to the hole was frozen and, acting under instructions, the assistant poured gasoline about the edge of the lid for the purpose of thawing the ice. Having completed his job, the assistant turned and walked some fifteen feet when he heard a terrific explosion. Turning around immediately he saw Peters lying on his back in the street, his feet touching the rim of the hole. The cover, weighing 300 pounds, was turned over and lying near the body of Peters. The assistant did not hear or see Peters strike a match to the gasoline, but swore it had been his custom while thawing out man holes to do so. A box of matches was found near the scene of the explosion. There was no definite evidence as to what produced the explosion. While the accident was not witnessed, it is presumed that Peters struck a match in the gasoline around the edge of the cover and the flames around the edge of the cover and the flames of the burning oil ignited the gas formed in the man hole. This produced the explosion and the impact was sufficient to hurl the cover from the hole, striking Peters in the face and crushing his skull. He was conveyed to a hospital but remained unconscious until his death. Deceased was twenty-four years of age, single and lived at Grinnell, where the body was taken for burial. His mother was Anna Maciejewski, a former highly esteemed resident of Kellogg, and has many friends here who sincerely sympathize with her and her husband in their deep sorrow.

The Kellogg Enterprise, March 1912