The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-10
The Powdor NIilI EIploslon nt IIarnrdvL1ls.

The Powder MIL Explosion az HaERrdville.
FOUR MEN KuLED-THRIR BODIES BLOWN TO
OF POWDER DBsTRoYED - CARELEssNBss, m
DUcBD By MToxICLTIoH, THE PROBABLE CAUSE
OF THE ACCIDENT "ri
From the Hartford Courier, Mays. tf So
About halfpast two O'Clock yesterday after
noon the water screw press mill connected with
the Hazard Powder Companys works at Hazard
vile exploded. The explosion was distinctly
heard In this city, and in some places, particu-
larly near the river, buildings were shaken to q
considerable extent, pieces of furniture being
knocked down. A cloud of smoke rose immedi-
ately above the ruins to q height of over one
hundred ieet It's spiral form, widening and
jet black and light, presented a strange and
awful vet beautiful appearance from distance.
It was seen by persons near Trinity College and
on other eleva vations hereabouts.
The cause of the explosion is not known. In
the press mill four men we're employed, and all
were killed outright. The process of pressing
powder is crushing IL in machinery from Jumps,
and It is comparatively safe. work, provided the
powder is kept damp; If 1t is permitted to be-
come dry, particles of sand or other substances
which may possibly have become mixed with il
are liable to occasion friction, and, II moisture
has been pressed out, an explosion is of course
inevitable. That there was some difficulty or
neglect of this kind may be true, though care
lessness In other directions which would pro-
duce the same result, is not improbable. The
question Is one of conjecture entirely.
Tie names of the men killed were:-Edmund
Parker, aged forty; John Keesehan, aged thirty
hve; William Agnew, aged fifty; and Patrick
Bailey, young man, who arrived last month
from the old country. The three former we're
married and have large families. Agnew was
for many years fireman for the Hartford Carpet
Company, and was known as a steady, indus
trious man; Bailey was quiet, modest, and but
little Is known of him; the other two, so we
were informed at Thompsonvile, we're given at
times to indulgence in Intoxicating drinks, and,
as last Saturday was pay day, there are some
the influence of liquor, which led them to be
careless. Their conduct on previous occasions
after pay day is the reason for this suspicion.
In the press mill we're fifteen tons of powder,
and in q building adjoining, which also ex-
ploded, two tons. The fire communicated to
piece OF woods near by, and about two acres
were burned over. The flames spread In the
direction of two other buildings, in which a
considerable quantity Of powder was stored,
and their explosion was supposed to be inevita-
BILE. But strong efforts we're made to stay the
progress of the fire. and just at a time when
further resistance seemed useless, one man,
whose name we did not learn, remained at his
post in the advance of the burning timber, while
Others had judlciously retreated, and by his
bodness SO encouraged the rest that all re-
turned, and their united efforts once more
proved successful, the buildings being saved.
That is running more risk than several people
we know of would run for Ticn powder COM
pany. Human life in the scale against dollars
and cents of corporation is giving too many
o0ds.
After the smoke had cleared away the large
crowd OF people who had collected from the sur
rounding country viewed a scene not only of de-
ISOLATION, but of the most horrible description.
The four unfortunate human beings who had been
ushered into eternity were now to be thought
OF, and search soon revealed o terrible sight,
Their bodies had been literally blown to atoms.
For several rods around the ground In places
was covered with pieces of flesh and bones. Not
a single portion of either body was preserved in
shape, or sufficiently large to tell that the re-
mains were those of men. Tufts of hair were
discovered here, and blackened Jumps OF flesh
there; the largest thing found being piece OF
bone not more than ten or twelve inches long.
The last explosion OF their works occurred
about year and half ago, but no lives were
lost 1t seems strange to an ordinary observer
OF men and their avocations that men can be
found to work in such place, and stranger
still when it is stated that the wages paid are
far below what is obtained in nonhazardous or
moderately hazardous pursuits; yet we are told
that after each explosion the applications for
positions greatly exceed the wants of the COM
pany, whose prices, it may be proper to state,
range from one dollar and twenty-five cents to
three dollars per day. An explanation of this
may be found perhaps, in the fact that intelli-
gent men-those who are careful and would pre-
vent explosions 80 far as human foresight
would avail-value, first, their services above the
rate paid, do not consider the premium at all
adapted 10 the hazard, as underwriters would
say; and, secondly, value their lives above any
amount of money which might be offered them
TO assume the risk. Taking this view of the
case, the company would seem to be forced to
take such as they can get;" and, being obliged
thus to do, they introduce, in human form, sui
phur and phosphorus into their establish
ments, which, sooner or later, will set fire to
the powder. Explosions, therefore, are to be
expected; and the company, by fair reasoning
should pay their employees good wages-reserv.
ing liberal sum as a SPECIAL life deposit for
their families. The Hazard Company, we be-
lieve, have made provision in the Travellers
Insurance Company for their workmen, and the
men just killed are probably included.
Paris consumed last year 3O7a million pints
of wine,