Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-10-07

SIesSioiIdl biStllCt, Will duufcSS our CItl-
zens at fremont Hall, on Friday even
ing, at : o'clock. Let the Union voters
of Muscatine turn out in their strength.
\ Lincoln and Johnson Club will be Or
ganized during the evening, and the ex-
ercises interspersed with music.
.
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION AND CoSFLA-
GHATIoN.-On Saturday evening at 20
minutes past 6 O'Clock the boiler in the
Nevada Mill, situated at the corner OF
Iowa Avenue and Sd street, exploded
with terrific force. We were passing up
the Avenue at the time, and saw dense
cloud OF steam, or hot air, mingled with
bricks, mortar, iron, wood, &c, ascend
ing, accompanied with Il report like that
Of a heavily charged 10-pounder. We
started at Il rapid gait and by the time
we reached the front of this office dis
covered fire in the rear of Worsham l.
Phelps Livery Stable, Immediately op.
posite the mill. Upon reaching the
ground, we discovered that the boiler
and engine room was entirely demolish-
ed and the ground adjacent filed with
the q dris of the demolished building.
The front end of The boiler was resting
against the wall of the main building
and elevated a distance of about 90 feet.
BY the time we had taken a glance at
thpcn riljnS tho tfaI,,nc hoI f.lx
enveloped the Livery Stable. By the
prompt action of our citizens all the
horses, carriages, harness, robes and
books We're rescued. Fortunately for
Messrs. w. & p, the fire commenced in
the rear of the stable, otherwise the en-
tire stock would have probably been de-
stroyed. This peculiar fact is account
ed for by gentleman, who was instant
ly on the ground, by the forcing OF
PARTICLES of the boiler through the
stable, one of which, when he saw it,
was at a white heat. There was nc
wind at the time, else there must have
been sweeping conflagration. Occur
ring, as the explosion did, at the supper
hour, but few persons were injured.
Mr.. Charles Lilley, in the employ o.
Messrs. w. & p. was blown down and
one leg badly broken. A little son o,
d. Rothschild was badly injured, and
died few hours afterwards. Mr..
fred. Phelps was blown down and bad
~ bruised, though we do not learn seri-
ously injured. We heard report that
DR.. Austin was riding by at the time
and was blown from his horse and badly
injured.
This accident requires a careful ex.
animation and its true cause ferreted
out. Steam boilers in the heart of d
populous town ought to be carefully
watched and attended, and any neglect
in this particular is not only dangerous
but criminal. AS for fire engines, our
people are probably satisfied that they
are worse than useless.
The loss in the mill is estimated at
1000 or 5000. 1t was insured against
fire, but not against damage of the
character received. 1t did not take fire
at all. The contents of the furnace, it
appears, were thrown across the street
into the livery stable. The main build
ing is still standing, but is much in
jured. The smoke stack was but slight
ly damaged. The mill belongs to par
ties in Boston, and was leased by Brown
& Heaton.
The loss in the livery stable is about
-, 500. About four tons of hay and
seventy-five bushels of oats were con-
sumed; also, a number of valuable
robes.