The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-01-20
From the Burlington Free Press.
FrigAtfiyL Calamity.

SEVEN MEN KILLED AND FOUR WOUNDED.
One of the worst accidents ever known
happened here this morning in the eXplo-
sion of the boilers of the Pioneer Mechan-
les Shops and the consequent death of
seven persons.
At half past six this morning many
citizens were startled by the apparent re-
port of cannon; those near the shops
knew it could not be that, for their houses
were shaken violently. There was but
single sharp report. Two of the set of
three boilers that supply the engines of
the Pioneer Shops had exploded, complete
ly destroying the engine house. The third
boiler did not burst, but was thrown up
on end at one side of the ruins. The
steam-dome, weighing about 22O0 pounds,
was thrown completely over the shops
striking the railroad track on the other
side, fifty feet from the building. The
two boilers were completely rent to pieces,
the engine was torn and broken all up,
nothing being left whole unless possibly
the cylinders, and the fiy-wheel which lies
half buried. The force of the explosion
seems to have been upward and toward
the south side, so that the surrounding
buildings were not damaged except 10y
breakage of glass, and shaking of loose
articles The tall chimney was not hurt.
except for crack in one side; but the
place where the engine house was. is a
mass of broken iron. boiler-flueS. bricks
and rubbish.
One of the wOrkmen, named Epson,
who witnessed the explosion says ii
was the work Of an instant, and came
without warning-The air being instantly
filled with bricks, pieces of iron and bro
ken timbers, as if the engine house hat
been blown up with gunpowder.
AT the time of the explosion, which
was just before commencing work for the
week, there were in the fire room, a mum
Der of the workmen warming themselves
as their custom is, before going to work
How many were there besides the fireman
and stoker, is not known. Four were
found wounded, and up TO eleven o'clock.
the dead bodies of several had been takel
from the ruins. Their names are rs fol
lows:
hHled-Patrick Farrel. fireman. JOIN
Sheen, Edward f. Fletcher. Eugune c
Fletcher, Antoine Alapa, Geo Garricl
and Edward Jeulle
Woumle,i-Cha> Welch, color bone
broken. Chas Dimond and his son.
Exactly why the boiler exploded. vii
probably never be known. The englnee
went down Sunday to see that all Wa
right. and left plenty of water in the boil
erS There are some indications that tn
water was low, and one or two of tn
tlues are collapsed 1t is Surmised that il
some way a leak had sprung over night
and let the water nearly all out of tn
boilers. and that Farrell failed to diScove
it. but fired up as usual.
The loss by this sad disaster Is Yer
great. Probably $4,000 would lardl
replace the engine room rs il was: tn
damage to the les>ecs of the shops in tn
interruption of their business cannot l.
, accurately estimated. hut will hardly h
less than 100000 or 100000. Ne:,rl
80 men are thrown out OF employment
! from the shops of Gates. kilburn n Co
Chase Il Smith. Crombie Il kimball. i
L. Flanders and other occupants. TheI
was no insurance Oh the enwinc.
The shops are owned bv Lawrenc
Barnes & Co. who Immediately set me
at work clearing away the rubbish an
will have the shop running As soon aS p"
Sible. Temporary engines will be set VI
and every thing done As rapidly As III.
l be. to enable the firms mentioned TO Sta
again.