The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-10
ANOTHER EXPLOSION
One NAN KnIed and Four 1n,ur.d


another occurrence of this kind, which has re-
suited IN the instant death of one man and the
injury OF four others. The locality of this affair
was the Active Iron Foundry, situated at Nos
1872, 1924, and 1926 South Ninth street, below
d,s Sa Ihe pIoPrIetoTs ot THIS establish
Pollock. Matthew Mcknight, Charles Klein,
and Jacob Gibson, who Transacted business
four first named were moulders by trade, and
the last pattern-maker.
by the hrm about four months ago It was
one-stoTy building of brick, thirty-two by sixty
two feet in dimensions, with gravel roof The
structure ran back to a small street in the rear,
at which point the boiler was located This
secondhand one, Of the upright tubular pat
tern, fifteen feet In length, and is said TO have
been somewhat the worse for wear at the time
il was purchased by the firm The engine con-
nected with IL was one OF four horse power.
The partners had formed cooperative associa-
tion for the manufacture of all kinds of pres
sure, steam heating and drain pipes, branches,
and bends, and during few weeks past were
taking. No persons were employed in the es.
tablishment except the five ebove-named, none
lock had some knowledge of steam machinery,
and attended the engine the greater portion OF
the time although he was occasionally re-
lieved by the other members OF the firm.
The explosion took place about O'Clock yes
element throughout the southern section of
the city Some castings were about being made,
and a fire was accordingly started under the
boiler, Mr.. Gibson experimenting the opera
tion. He remarked to Mr.. Martin that although
the fire did not appear to burn as well as usual,
there would soon be plenty of steam. Mr.. Glib
son then assembled TO the cupola, which pro
jected through the roof, close to the boiler, for
the purpose of adjusting some of the arrange
ments. Mr.. Martin stepped into the back yard,
Mr.. Klein was standing within few feet of
the boiler, and Mr.. Pollock was near by. en-
gagged in cleaning pulley.
In this state Of affairs the boiler exploded
with great force the top OF it taking sou therly
direction from the building, and forcing its i'm
petuous way through the frame building No.
1928 South Ninth street, which was occupied by
Thn faf xyolx fOll In fIa
same direction, tearing through fence and
flight of stairs and lodging IN a starch box
The cupola and the engine, together with all
their immediate surroundings were completely
shattered, and levelled with the earth.
portion of the smoke e-stack, twenty feet in
length, was carried TO the southwest corner Of
the yard, while another portion, ten feet in
length, was carried about twenty feet to the
north and buried in the sand The demolished
engine was covered with fragments of bricks
and timber, A large tan-wheel, used TO blow
The side walls of the building, for distance of
twenty feet from the rear, were completely
Mr.. Gibson, who was in the cupola, as already
stated, was thrown upward into the air, and
terribly mangled, and his lifeless form fell
among some shrubbery in the yard of an ad-
joining dwelling. His skull was badly frac-
tured, and his legs, arms, and ribs broken,
residence, his wife could not recognize them at
first. The hy-wheel struck Mr.. Pollock, knock
ing him down, and then the flying bricks. iron,
and timbers almost covered him, while the
heavy wheel lay upon his person.
left leg by a fragment of iron, which inflicted
serious injury, and almost severed the limb
his life is despaired Of
Messrs. Pollock and Mcknight were removed
to the Pennsylvania Hospital, where their
wounds were properly attended to. They both
rested quite well during last night
the buildine was Wao oniy siishtiy Bruised In the
face, while MIR. Kline who was within short
distance Of the engine was fortunate enough to
son, a collector, was also in the foundry at the
time Of the explosion, having entered the
place for the purpose OF collecting a bill He
was in the act of accosting Mr. Klein, when
whole brick struck him in the back with such
force to send him reeling over the moulds.
All of Mr.. Lewis family, who were in the rear
portion of their dwelling when the fragments
without scratch. Tue stable in the rear of
Mr. Lewis house was entirely demolished, and
foundry fell thick and fast upon the house
tops in the neighborhood, but without intilct-
The timely arrival of the Reliance Steam Fire
| Engine on the spot caused the instant extin-
guishment of the flames, before the fire among
| Mr.. Gibson, who suffered instant death, re-
sided at No. 432 Wilder street, in the First Ward
| where he leaves wife and three children. He
was hard-working, industrious, and genial
| man. ..
Mr.. Mcknight, was a young unmarried
man, and resides in Evergreen street, above
| Twentieth.
Mr.. Pollock is married, and has q family of
| five children. He resides at No. 27 N. Twenty
second street. Mr. Anderson resides on South
| street, above Ninth.
After the explosion occurred, Sl09 in money
was picked up by Officer Charles +. Gillis, Of
| the First District He also found gold ring,
| which is believed to have been the property of
| Mr.. Gibson. The loss resulting from the explo-
| sion is estimated at S250O.
The explosion is supposed to have resulted
| from q deficiency OF water In the boiler II
| there had been much in 1t, some one would
| probably have been scalded. The remains OF
| Mr.. Gibson, when found, were covered with
ashes only, which Strengthens this supposition.
THE EXPECTED METBoRIc SHOWERS To-NIGHT.
| According to the predictions OF NJ Leverter,
| the Astronomer of the French Academy, mag
| night, which will be visible not only on the
| American continent but inlEurope as we'll. Ii
is TO be hoped that the weather will be
favorable for observing the display. M.
LeVerrter Is very positive as to the date ol
this promised exhibition, but other astronomers
calculate that the meteoric shower will not take
place until November, and is, indeed, the
complement ofthe one that was expected at the
same time last year. Nature already seems to
have made a spasmodic effort for carrying out
the prediction of the French astronomer, for
| yesterday morning hve passing meteors were
seen. Although the sky was cloudy, five large
| meteors were counted between the hours o.
| half-past twelve and four A. M and these were
| fully as bright in appearance as the planet Jupt
ter. At three A. M. the heavens had a most pc
culiar aspect, looking as II there were an Aurora
| Borealis In the northern sky. 1t remains to be
| seen what these fugitive stars will portend to-
night perhaps they are only the aUant courriery
of the greater show.
SUPPOSED PIe-IRoN THIEVES ARRESTED
The Harbor Police arrested two men, named
James Crozier and Frank Quinn, yesterday
under suspicious circumstances. These men
with another, were coming down the river IL
two boats called the Ironsdes and Arthur
Henry, each containing about one ton OF pig
iron, The third man escaped, and the other
! rfo fnu fha fF7ofa