New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-03-30
ExpIo,isn and Fire at Pittsburg Awful Loss
life.

axrfox0n Of
About hali-past ten yesterday an
boiler occurred IN the small Cotton Factory OF NesH
Fife near the corner Of OtiOsi anu tne hs' '.' ,
mons AUexhany city The boiler being blown on, o'
", rIscs thew down ID. wal. OF the factory 80 also
those OF the wooden csrding estsoAshment solo
belonging % Mayor Jonsihan hgsn, sri Ine .-luIu-
rnrns siey took FIRE Between twenty snd tNenY
i've persons il 10 estimated. were engaged ~ tne -
s.,.fii,bren,s when tire explosion occurred SIX OF
the number - the moment oi writing, " ~ e
ascertsned . have been killed The mere ciucers Oh
three human beings have been takea iron me ~
IA condition too horrible for description and Iour'n
person VIM Bell burnt to sshes II the basement Of
the cotton factory.
Heis s.id 70 have been cut in two BY the exploited
boiler bic own brother seeing his remains yug snons
the ruins attempted to draw them out but isllns 'ne
fire devoured them. James Fife his dsuRnter snc
sister and Mics s,sley. were among tue LOST M'
William Bell nephew oi tue Nests Ar- ~
addition 10 the killed six esh, persons we're
more or less severely, by burning. 'eading &c. A.
IL il hoped will recover They wsre nmrds'ey IN ~
veyed 70 the neghboring dwellings where the"
wounds were promptly dressed ,.s
Persons who arrived hrst AZ the scene -epresh' ''
erie, proceeding from the dying tortured wrecnes as
most horrible several it appeared had been ~edsea
10 among the fallen timbers, and were calnS lof ."
and rescue from the sppr. aehing hre' oul ~
po.sible 10 reach them Some Of the wounded nov"
aver were dragged out from positions OF ihuilueue
peril One OF the Misses Fife who escspedl s'as' US
she was 10 the upper story Il the factory "nen lns
plo,ion occurred and was blown OUT 10 tne sto.-r
shs received no injury Andrew File, the eldest OF tne
hro,hers being eutanced among the runs his brotner
David while aiding in bis rescue, VAS struck oy 'ne
falling OF wall Both were badly Injured Inc PEI
.on. engaged In Mr. Rush's cardng essaohshmeh' s4'
we understand escaped l., a.,
The factory Misunderstanding thar pofuon IN INC
occupancy Of Mr. Rush-was owned oy Me'..s ne
-Four or hvs dweilings the properly oil 'iis 'i9"o1"
ngle. were also consumed
FGrihey Pdrucuinrs-We have just returned from
second visit 10 toe scene of wreck and ruin. Toe re-
mains of VIM Bell have been dug out from the cellar
"a beadle,s trunk blackened burned 10 crisp, one
arm and leg burned Or Four dead bodies are a. yet
discovered Two OF three are reported - b. stiAl
buried The dead are Mr. James Fife and daughter,
Mia Sialey and VIM. Bell. The wounded ara DONG
we'll The sister thrown out Of the building At the time
Of the explosion IS badly but II is hoped not fatally
injured.
Tn, boiler was thrown considerable distance from
ts resiiug place both heads were blown entirely out
one driven east the other west300 feet more apart
The boiler large cylinder OF 80 isches diameter,
and Is said to have been before exploded, on steam
bost Ii IS the opinion Of engineers, however, That me
accident was the result of defect 10 the metal but
of deficiency of wa,er-generstlng combust6le eXplo
sive gas The gncer escaped No accurate estimate
Of the loss Of property be arrived at some OF the
buildings were Of little no valurOne beirg 40 old
log house-said 10 be the oldest tenement in the city,
and for long ime the residence of Mrs nc1iounige.
The others were of considerable value. Messrs Fife,
we are informed. had no insurance. Mrs McCounlee
had y 200 insured on her brick houses. which will
more than cover the loss 10 them.
20 CREST was the confusion and excitement that we
found it nearly impossible TO obtain accurate details
The most exaggerated reports of the number killed
sni wounded were In circulation; but II Ia ascer.
tsined positively that not more than SIX seven and
possibly not so many were killed. Dispatch, 27th