Eight Perish in Explosion

Two Others Missing After Mysterious Blast and Fire In Cleveland

Scores Flee Down Fire Escapes of Apartment Hotel—30 Injured

CLEVELAND, OH, June 7 (AP)— Eight persons were known to be dead and two others were missing in an explosion and fire which swept a downtown apartment early today. Four bodies had been brought out of the ruins and firemen had sighted four others. First Assistant Fire Chief James Nimmo said he was positive two more bodies still were in the
Ruins.

Bodies of two men and two women had been recovered and First Assistant Fire Chief James Nimmo said six others probably were trapped and burned to death. Nimmo's estimate was based on a check of the number of residents with those accounted for. It would take hours, firemen said, to make- a complete search of he debris.

About 30 more were burned or inured, while the rest of the nearly 100 residents were saved in dramatic escapes.

Scores of persons fled down fire-escapes from the seven-story structure, which is located at east Ninth street and Superior avenue, but it was feared others were trapped. The cause of the explosion was not immediately learned.

Several persons were taken to Charity hospital.

Flames were leaping high from the roof and windows of the building. Dozens were rescued by firemen on ladders and others climbed down fire escapes. Some persons were perched in windows, clinging on the outside far above reach of the fire ladders.

Windows were shattered by the blasts, with the glass being thrown hundreds of feet from the hotel. Occupants of the Hollenden and Olmsted hotels nearby were shaken by the force of the explosion. The lower floors of the Ellington apartments are occupied by a restaurant and a number of business shops.