The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1867-08-14


iasty!-Erigh,tyi Havoc !-On last Wednes-
day, tho 7th inst, about one and q half
o'clock r. NJ, the monotony seemingly omi-
nous, that pervaded our town was broken by
report and shock that involuntariy brought
everybody to their feet. All eyes were d.
rected toward the planning mill, recently erect
ed and running, but cloud of steam and
dust rising in the air pointed to the foundry
of Mr.. Danl. Owen, on Greene st., as the
place of disaster. Hu-rying thither, scene
battling description was presented Shattered
lumber, iron and miscellaneous debris hurled
by The explosion lay scattered around Ter
ror stricken faces told the story. The bodies
of Mr. Owen and Frank, son of Simon
Rinehart Esq. about "A years of age lay IN
the road .blackened, torn and disfyure1.
They we're quickly removed and medical aid
summoned The boy, however, was beyond
assistance Stinding in the door of the build
Ing, fronting the boiler, he was blown sixty
feet, striking hoard fence fcetioremos., and
1t is supposed that piece of iron struck him
on the head scattering his brain, and other
wise breaking and mangling his body, the
steam and water completely broiling his flesh.
The poor fellow survived but two hours. Mr..
Owen was hurled about thirty feet and being
on the inside it i. supposed that he was forced
through the her-boarding. His clothing
was in tatters and the face and legs from the
thighs down, terribly scalded. The flying
m issiles had made several terrible gashes in
his limbs. Cinders We're hnbe,lded in the
flesh and the red hot furnace bars had scared
it, From the first he maintained his presence
of mind. which in connection with the in
domitable courage he displayed led to the be-
lief that he would survive his injuries This
was not to be, however. After lingering un-
til Thursday in intense agony, he expired,
about o'clock P. N.
The boiler WAS that Of 4 portable engine,
small with a single hur in which the fire was.
1t is claimed by those working at the estab-
lishmcrt to have been considered dangerous,
the ilie above, where the break occurred
having been bulgcd some lime Mr. o WAS
aware of this and is said to have been careful
in the management on this account. When
the explosion occurred the steam was high,
but the safety valve WAS not blowing of, ow-
ing to heavy beam being placed on it, and
the cumming Of the valve. Having blast
ready they were about to start the fan, and
the first few revolutions the accident happen
ed A greater loss of life and destruction of
property was saved fr'm the blowing out of
the ends, and not a lateral explosion, and
from the position of the boiler. The other
operatives were all in the building. The
storm Of fragments Of wood and iron, and
the hot water that swept across the road and
the whole length of Mr.. W. Gapcn's lot, a
distance Of 1870 feet tearing the ground, blight
Ing the grass and shrubbery, found but the
two victims. The children of the last named
gentleman had left the yard, very fortunately.
to play in the stable
The accident has cast shadow over the
community. deploring as it does the loss of a
child Of one of our citizens and the death of
Mr.. Owen, man whom it will be hard to
replace in our social and business circle.