Massena, New York, USA
1943 - EIGHT PERSONS PERISH IN BLAST AT MASSENA, N.Y. WAR WORKERS TRAPPED AS THEY STOP FOR MEAL ON WAY TO ALUMINUM PLANT.

Massena, N. Y., Jan. 5 (AP) - Eight persons, seven of them night shift war workers, perished in an explosion and fire which destroyed a small restaurant and filling station on the outskirts of this northern New York town today.

Five of the victims were passengers of a bus which had stopped briefly to permit passengers to eat. The bus driver and two occupants of an automobile which had stopped for gasoline also died.

Four persons were injured, one seriously. No estimate of damage was available.

State police questioned WALTER HUTCHINS, the station owner, and other witnesses on details of the explosion, believed caused by a can of gasoline which ignited within the restaurant. The blast blew out the small building's front wall and enveloped the station in flames. The war workers were en route to their jobs in the Blancor aluminum plant three miles north of here.

State police announced this casualty list:
MAURICE KIAH, 28, Ogdensburg, the bus driver.
BARTON C. LAWRENCE, 45, Lisbon.
FRED H. LaBOUNTY, 19, Waddington.
PETER J. BLACK, 19, Ogednsburg.
ERNEST OLIN, 33, Canton.
CLEM TUCWAY, 27, Heuvelton.
LOUIS J. NEMERETT, Massena.
CARL G. KING, 25, Massena.

Fitchburg Sentinel
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
January 5, 1943

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