The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-03-14
THE DAILY DISPATCH
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION IN f
DEIPHIA.

The telegraph has already announce =, -
steam boiler explosion in philadoPh'~ - NJ.
was stationed in the cabinet furniture ~.
+. Beck In Master street. The Phiiadeiph'a Dur
Ietin, of Tuesday evening. says
: tn. 49, ~ The explosion was so grea, that tne
huiidings In the neighbornood VIZ 'nAN0"' "D"
49, ut,sost confederation prev
me u1oss ,r As follow ed by frightful crash,
ane - .hs tnubIing into a heap OF ruins OF the
49,, LAY or shop of Euhard Beck, on the east
side Of Alder street, about nty ieet ABOVE
.shs Sr;rhtful mishap was caused by the explosion
s lam boiler in the cellar, which shattered the
walls and brought the entire structure in ruins 10
the ground ..o,,s xvere
at work in the building at the time OF the expo
sion the most intense excitement ensured. neisht
ened not little by the presence attho spot Vi
of the workmen.
The police and citizens and one or TWO hre com
NAMES fastened TO the scene of the disaster, and
a.For,s ,xera az ONCE made to rescue those who
might have survived the frighttu crash. some
three or four persons creps our rroip among the
ruins and escaped with slight bruses Others were
rescued more or less hurt, while the bodies OF two
!. f.thar and SON were taken out dead, and hor-
riblv scaled and mangled
The proprietor of the factory was in the cellar
within few feet of the boiler which exploded
He was dashe 10 the ground, but was not de-
crashed down all around him but he found open
ings among the ruins through which he crept out
safely.
There were it is believed eight men and two
boys. all Germans In the building, at the time of
the explosion.
Mr.. Eckhard and his son Herman "a lad of IA, }
were both employed In the building. They were
both II is believed, at work upon the first floor, in
the front building, at the time of the disaster
Their bodies were taken ont, scalded and crushed
In a dreadful manner. Their remains were taken
to the Twentieth Ward Station House, at the cor
ner OF 10th and Thompson streets.
John Kemple was considerably bruised about
the head. His injuries, 1t is thought, win not
prove fatal. He was taken TO his home in Ogden
street, between 9th and 10TH in a deranged con-
dition.
1t was thought up TO near l O'Clock, that Ack-
erman was still buried in the ruins; but it was
then ascertained that he had got out safely, and,
as it was believed that all the persons in the build
ing had been got out the farther search among the
ruins given up.
The building which was blown to pieces was a
three story brick. The front building was 90 feet
wide and 80 feet deep. There was also a two sto
ry back building which was thirty feet deep and
sixteen in width.
The engine was but three horse power and it.
rs well the boiler stood in the cellar of the front
building close to the southern wall The boiler
was an upright boiler, and the head was blown
completely out The top is taken off close around
the edges, as though 1t had been cut out with a
chisel .....
The explosion was so severe as TO dash down the
Southern wall, foundation and all, and throw it
over upon shed that adjoined it. The front and
rear walls were alsdb blown completely out North
of the building was the dwelling occupied by the
Eckhard family. This escaped serious injury
The oists Of the second floor of the factory rest
cd upon the side walls, but the upper floor rested
upon the rear and front. The destruction of the
walls was of course followed by the falling of all
the floors and the demolition of the entire struc
ture
Mrs Beck was in the kitchen, but she escaped
unhurt
The most painful part of the affair we were
called upon to witness was the anguish of Mrs
Eckhard. The poor woman was not aware that
her husband and son had been horribly scalded and
crushed and those about her, who were 10th to tell
her the worst, induced her to believe that the miss
ing oaes were still under the ruins.