Firemen examine debris from a gas explosion at the Garment Capitol Building A portion of a gas pipe had been removed and fire officials were originally inclined to rule out the explosion as accidental. Photo was printed twice. Photo caption on Oct. 18, 1930, reads: "Firemen are pictured digging into the debris on the fifth floor, center of the explosion. Furniture and machinery were blown into a mass of wreckage by the explosion, then flames further destroyed them. Loss of life was voided [sic] by only a few minutes, according to investivators, for employes [sic] were just starting to arrive to begin the eday's [sic] work at the tables and machines. Note the pillars and ceiling cracked and broken. Great chunks were blasted from them and the concussion blew pieces of machinery out the windows for some distance". Photo caption for Dec. 30, 1930, reads: "On the morning of Oct. 17, a thunderous explosion occurred in the 12-story Garment Capitol building at 217 East Eighth street, caused damage estimated at $1,000,000, injured 35 persons and shook the entire downtown district. This photo shows a scene on the shattered fifth floor where the blast centered. After a long inquiry, investigators decided the blast was accidental". Photo dated: Oct. 21, 1930.
Fires--California--Los Angeles Explosions--California--Los Angeles Clothing trade--California--Los Angeles Factories--California--Los Angeles Fire fighters--California--Los Angeles Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
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