The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1848-05-31
EXPLOSION.

Z ~ -1.e1 {f.l
EXPLOSION. ;ijjf2ss
On Tuesday, the 23rd, a terrific ex-
plosion occurred q, the steam mill Of
Messrs- GRAHAM s. L1eoN, situated about
n mile and half from this village, and
generally known as the Sumteryile steam
Saw Mill. 1t occurred about eleven o.
clock in the morning. Fortunately no
one was seriously injured, i.
The mill contained three boilers, which
supplied the steam necessary for the ma
chinery. They lay side by side; and
the middle one was patched on the lower
side about six feet from the mouth Of the
furnace. The sapponingg arch nears,hoy
mouth was somewhat cracked, but be.
lievcd to be sufficiently sound, strong and
safe for use: A few moments before the
explosion, the engineer had lell the, boil.
ers pretty full, and gone TO another part
ofthe mill, yet in sight Of them. 7 During
his absence, it is believed that the arch
broke, letting fall boiler the centro with
sufficient force to ornp,aresit at the patch.
and throwing the water forward iin the
heated boiler, thereby causing space
and lightness at the further end, willie the
hiher end, heated, was completely filed
with water, producing sudden genera
tion of steam. AT this moment the boil.i
er burst with 9. terrific explosion, which
was heard at the distance Of severalmiles.
So great was its force, that the larger por.
ton, from the patch to the further end,
about fifteen feetin length, was carried TO
the distance of seventy yards, through
The underground, splinteriiIg q stout light :
wool stump, and making its way through.
a post. Of the. mill a foot in diameter and at
pile Of bricks, rubbish, old iron and saw.
dust about eight feet thick. The o.her.
part of the boiler, about six fee. long, was.
carried in nn opposite direction about one
hundred yards. That portion, forming,u
plate, from which the, steam conducting
pipes passed out, was blown up to tho
roof and lodged among the raftcrs.
The bricks Of the furnace, the support.
ing iron arches, and the dirt, ashes and
wood, near the boilers, we've ,showered
around. A child, playing near The boil.
ers, was covered with aiplastcr Of mud
and ashes. A brick struck him on the:
arm and bruised it; his hat was found
undor one of the boilers which was blown.
round and transverse to its previous posi-.
tion, SO that the wonder is how he escaped I
1t is believed he was in a hole beside as
high ash pile, in WHICH ho usually play
ed. Aiyoung man, near. the, boilers q,
the time oflhe explosion, hearing strange
hiss from them, began 70, run, but had
hardly gone a few steps briEurs he was
struck down by shower Of bricks and
mud, with only momentary injury.
These were the only injuries 10 individu.
ais. :.s
The boilers to the right and left Of The
exploded were blown from their posi-
tions, the left transversely round, the
right slightly out Of its limo OF position.
The ground around was much torn up.
We are inclined to bclieyeth boiler first
broke at the patch from the fall, as deep
hole was found after the explosion, dircc.
tly under the spot where the patcl, was.
evidently made by ater,and steam: ~
Z a few moments before the accident, se-
iyeral persons, were around the boilers
who had fortunately removed whom II oc.
Cured. f. a
Boilers frequently explode from d sud.
den displacement ofthe water, caising il
to fall against the heated surfacs ana An
instantaneous generation and apcliis1t tila.
tion OF steam, moro than the boiler can
beur. 5sS
The boilers and ma achinerY ofihis mill
cost $4,000, at second purchase; and the
loss to the present proprietors lis hoayf
and productive Of considerable iaconYeniis
ence N TO them and the public, as The de-