Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-05-01
Roller Explosion.

The Toledo Blade, of Monday evening
gives the following account of the terrific
explosion in the factory of Raymond &
Hathaway of that city, which occurred about
I o'clock in tho morning:
TERRIFIC ExPLosroN.-Atabout o'clock
this morning, our citizens were alarmed by
the heavy shock of an explosion, followed
by a column of smoke and steam rising from
near the foot of Summit st. The alarm of
fire was given, and the Fire Department
wero on hand in good time but their servi-
ces were not required. The boiler of the
extensive Planning Mill of Raymond & Hath
away had exploded with awful force, max
ing an entire wreck of the building, and Sc
verely wounding three of the hands, James
Bolen, about IA, and his brother Patrick,
about IL years of age, were terribly scald-
ed and otherwise injured, and Henry Will
house severely wounded. One of the boys
was taken to DR.. Andrews office, and anoth-
er to the counting room, and the other to a
stable near by, but the two latter were soon
taken home. Medical assistance was prompt
y rendered, and everything done that could
be, to assuage their sufferings. Mr.. Ray
mond who was in the counting room, Ia
small building about 80 feet from the Mill, }
at the time of tho accident, had narrow
escape. The window by which he was stan
ding was blown in, the siding crushed by
the force of tho missiles, and the concus-
sion nearly cleaned the walls of their plas-
tering; it was an almost miraculous escape
He had Just returned from the engine room
where, the morning being cold, he found
nearly all the hands collected around the
boiler, and sent them off TO their work this
was not more than two minutes before the
explosion took place. AT that time the
steam was blowing off very strongly, bu
there was then water in the boiler at Tho
second cock, which is, we believe, about tn,
usual quantity. Tho effects of the explo
sion were terrific. Tho Mill was fairly Gu
in two. Large timbers were crushed anC
splintered, and one of the main posts of tn,
building on the side .farthsrst from the
boiler, was broken of, and the timbers anG
missiles projected by the steam were forced
through the building, tearing off the roof
and, rising to great height, were scattered
in all directions. The body of hot waite
and steam stained the lumber piles in tn,
largo yard, the vessels in Swan Creek, anc
the side of the Burnet House beyond, as
fell. The boiler went in three parts-on
lies about six rods from the Mill across De
pot ST., another just beyond the west corner
and the other lies in Swan ST., about ten o
twelve rods distant from the scene of tn
accident.
Several persons were slightly injured, anC
one man who was standing on board pil'
near the Mill, was carried across the lumbe
yard, and came down on the deck of YES
sci unloading in the creek, strange to re re
late, without any serious damage to hi
person.
The proprietors, we learn, will immedi
ately rebuild their establishment, and ex
pect in 80 days to be again in motion, doinI
a larger business than ever.
P. S.-One of the boys taken out of tn
ruins has since died, and another is in
very critical condition.