New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-03
EXPLOSION IN WlLLIAMsB0RGh.
TWO MEN KILLED.


ipes, killing two and j. during several Others The
dis.ry occupies the emit ire block between First and
Se,ond and North Fc u1h and North Fifth streets
The boiler shed wber the expl osion took place, is sit
usted the north eide of the block on North Fifth
street As sooD as the boiler exploded it ascended
from it's bed tore away the ed Of the granary. caused
small sap on the opposite eide Of the yard TO give
way in 'sbch was the foreman of the vast stables
connected with the dstillery, and horse The name
Of the foreman was George Bell. He was taken out
of the ruins so dreadfuy crushed, that he soon after
expired. piece of the boiler, about nine feet square,
went in Dorth- westerly direction and cut through
aclsmhs shop at the north east corner Of North
Fifth street, and falling on the head of a man who
wss at work ciatey under it, split his head open
inflcting fatal wound. His name was Thomas SHAN
non He was at once removed to the office Of Messrs
Lawrence g. Foulke, where bis wound was dressed
by surgeon. He was then conveyed to his residence
in North Tenth street, between FIRST and Second
Streets in dying condition, aud expired at q o'clock
BE was about 80 years of age, and has wife and
eight children depending upon him for support.
The main portion of the boiler took another drec-
ton, and fell in Undergrad on the opposite aide OF
North Fifth street 10 the dstiIery.
Bricks were showered in every direction, and por-
tons of the splinered boiler thrown completely
| over the COW stables next TO the river.
Some of the flying bricks went in nor h-westerly
direction and one of them falling upon the head Of
Mr.. Millard, in shipyard between North Fifth and
| Sixth streets, Knocked him senseless.
John Collins, wstchmsn in the cow'sta5les of the
ds,ilery near the river, hit by brick, and some
| what inbred On the leg and arm.
| Lons Billsrd truckman, who was standing on the
l. L l..
on the head, bnt not seriously by falling brick.
| man named Southern, had his neck slightly hurt
| by some of the falling bricks.
| Charles Ewett a blacksmith in the employ Of Law
renee g. Foulle engaged in the blacksmith shop cor
ner of North Fifth and First streets snstained several
bruises by the al ing mbers Of the shop at the time
| Shannon was injured.
| Daniel Blsney, while walking along First street.
near the distilley bad hand and Of his legs
crushed by falling bricks.
Thomas SutbertOD a ship carpenters apprentice,
employed in the yard opposite the boiler, struck
on the head by brick, and knocked senseless. He
was taken to his home in Greenpoint
The bricks were thrown a great distance, come Of
them going as far as the of North Seventh and
First streets.
1t appears that the boiler which exploded was
Dir ling purposes 1t WAS about fifteen feet long, and
four feet in diameter, ard very old, and patched up
1t was not used for driving machinery as it not
considered safe with greater pressure than lbs to
the inch. TIE steam generated by it was conveyed
10 tie grain tank mash tub.
Tue portions of the boiler which have been seen in
deaie that ought not to have been used for any pu
pose whatever. 1t was d.cayed with rust, burned to
exfolatiop and might have exploded under pound
TO the square inch as readily under seven pounds.
The boiler which was beside il was indented by the
explt i ,n and looks az though it might follow its fe
low ere lorc 1t appta that these two boilers were
OF heated directly from fires under them, but by spare
heat conveyed from the fires of three other boilers used
for steam-power purposes by return fue connecting
with the circular fues of the two warming boilers
The lofts of tie dstilery slowed with grain,
large quantity of hich has been destroyed Pieces
machinery were also scattered in different directions.
The engineer and fireman escaped injury. The fore
man. John W. Wood states that the boilers were full
OF water, and that it had just been cleaned out.
The damage from loss of grain and TO the building,
lie estimated at about s., 900.
At the time when the rubbish fell on the stable in
which was George Bell, he was cleaning horse. He
was found in the ruins with stick of timber between
his legs, another across them below the knees, and
another across his head and the horse on top
of them. He was lying On his back, his arms
stretched ont, with a eurIy-comb in one hand
and brush in the other. When extricated no was
taken TO the Office of the dstiery, where DR.. Brady
used every in bis power TO resusctate him, but
the poor man expired. His wife, who was admitted
10 see him, was frantic with grief. He was 45 years
Of age, and has left wife and eight children. The
Coroner will bold inquest upon the deceased to-day
Yesterday afternoon and evening large force of men
employed clearing away the rubbish and gather
ing up the fragments.
large piece of iron some four feet 10 length and
weighing about one hundred ponnds, was Arown a
distance of five hundred feet falling through the roof
of house owned by Mrs. Shay, in North Sixth street.
near the corner of Second between Second and Third
streets, smashing the roof and lodging in hall bed
room.
Another portion Of the boiler was thrown directly
across North Fifth street. and landed City feet
from its bed, Two workmen were employed few
feet from where ii fell in saving log, and had il not
been for the force Of the having been stayed by
coming in contact with tree both these mist
have been killed or seriously injured
STATEMENT OF THE ENGINEER.
The boilers used in the dstilery consisted Of five
cylinder boilers used in generating steam for the
gines Two iue. boilers, one five feet two inches IN
diameter and the other four feet six inches, aud both
about ~ feet long, placed at the end OF these i've
cylinder boiler. There ueDollers were used IN heat
ing water to be converted into steam to be used III the
mashtubs. The steam from these boilers was co.,
Quoted by Of separate pipes 10 the wooden tanks
which contained the grain in process OF fermentation.
TIE smaller of these boilers was the one which
exploded. The Chief Engineer, Mr. John w. Wood,
states ID reference TO hem, that they employed
exclusively for the purpose abovenamed, and were
calculated TO carry bnt pounds of steam, that