Columbus, Georgia, USA
1938 - 10 PRISONERS HURT IN JAIL EXPLOSION. EIGHT OTHERS ARE MISSING AS BLAST RIPS THROUGH GEORGIA LOCKUP.

Columbus, Ga., Oct. 21. (AP) - Ten prisoners were injured and eight were unaccounted for today after an explosion ripped out a corner of county jail.

City Police Chief H. W. Cornett said the explosion apparently was caused by firing up a steam boiler in the basement.

The blast tore a hole about 12 feet high and 15 feet back from the corner on either wall. It left a portion of a cell block hanging.
The jail is three stories. The explosion tore out the wall of a one-story kitchen. The three-story portion extended partly over the kitchen.

Police said there were 75 prisoners. Forty-one were transferred to city jail; the 10 injured were in city hospital and 16 were kept in the jail enclosure.

Firemen shoveled out debris to make certain none of the eight unaccounted for prisoners had fallen into the basement.

Eight of the injured were negroes. Hospital attaches had not determined exact extent of the injuries.

The explosion did not wreck any cell blocks and apparently those injured were thrown from bunks by concussion.

Kingsport Times
Tennessee
October 21, 1938

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