The entire city of Seguin was rocked by a tremendous gas explosion at the Tapp-Weinert Building at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, and three local men were seriously injured by the impact which literally destroyed the entire contents of the buildings first floor.
    The injured were:  
    Edgar Engelke, chairman of the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority, suffering a fractured collar bone and fractured right knee, as well as lacerations about the face.
    E. A. Tapp, Seguin accountant suffering lacerations about the face and nose.
    Ed Brawner, employee of Tapp, suffered a broken leg, fractured upper jaw and loss of some teeth.  (It was feared both legs were broken at first)  
    Dr. Jesse Williams said it was too early to determine any further injuries.  
    The explosion occurred when Engelke was leaving his office and turned the light switch off.
    It is believed the light switch ignited a tremendous sub-surface gas pocket to cause the explosion, which ripped the building's 5 inch thick concrete floor to pieces.
    Chairs and desks were hurled through the air and wood splinters shot through the air like spears.  A large portion of the ceiling was destroyed as were most of the concrete and plaster walls.  
    So great was the impact that office filing papers were embedded in parts of the remaining ceiling.  A desk leg was embedded in another section of the ceiling and resembles a spear.
    The impact also knocked dozens of plate glass windows out of the stores which are right across the street from the building, as well as businesses adjacent to the building and businesses located blocks from the explosion.
    The Furniture Mart and Reichman's Department Store lost their complete store-front windows.  Willmann Hardware Store's plate glass windows were shattered also.
    The Seguin State Bank and Trust Center, which joins the destroyed building on the southeast side, suffered few ill affects.  A door separating the two buildings was blown from its hinges and splinters showed the bank's main lobby, breaking every pane of glass.
    The 18 inch concrete and brick wall dividing into the Tapp-Weinert building from Willmann's Hardware was knocked over several inches.  Many china dishes and bowls were destroyed.
    Glass continued falling for seconds following the explosion.
    Seguin's National Guard unit Battery B. 155 FA Battalion, 36th Division, immediately rushed to the scene and marshal law was declared on the spot as the uniformed men formed a tight guard arm throughout the entire block to protect the hundreds of spectators appearing on the scene.
    FBI agents from San Antonio soon appeared on the scene and commenced  a brisk investigation along with Sheriff Phil Medlin and Police Chief Willie Hoffmann.
     Popular opinion is that the explosion was caused by a gas leak beneath the concrete floor.  Persons in the destroyed building had complained of gas fumes many times before, but couldn't determine the origin.
The Seguin Gazette, February 17 1955