The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-12
The Terrible Boiler Explosion at Fall
River-Fun Particulars.

The Fall (Aass.) News gives long account of
the terrific boiler explosion which occurred on
Thursday morning, and was partially reported in
cur telegraphic columns. The News says:
One of the b ,iers of the Globe Print Works, at
II River, exploded about half-past o'clock, en-
tirely demolishng the boiler-house which con-
tanned seven boilers and setting hre to the print
works which were completely destroyed.
Two of the boilers were thrown into the air, and
in descending struck upon the roof OF the madder
dye-house, making complete wreck OF that build
ing-bollers, reels, timber, machinery and steam
pipes being mingled IN one confused mass. Aplece
Of another boiler weighing over three tons, struck
the stone wall of the main building (Which was
two feet IN thickness) and went through it, open
ing breach forty or fifty feet wide the entire
height OF the building, four stories.
portion of the eXplooed boiler, with large
number OF the tubes weighing about half ton
struck the cottage occupied by MI. Borden, on
the opposite side of the street, with such force as
to smash in the upper part OF the 'front.', tearing
off the Jet and thoroughly demolshlng the WIN
dows and doors. AS soon as the noise was heard
in the house, young man visiting there instinc-
lively pushed Mrs. Borden out OF doors, but she,
exclaiming, 'My child! my child!" attempted to
rush back into the house to recover her child, who
was in the cradle near the stove. But the young
man prevented her, and going IN himself found
the three kerosene lamps which stood on the men
te!piece had been knocked over on the stove and
exploded, SO tnat the flames almost enveloped the
baby's cradle. He carried the child to its mother
safe and sound. This was an almost miraculous
escape, for in an instant alter q large tube from
the boiler came crashing through the house and
spent its Iorce on the very spot where moment
before the young babe lay in its cradle NO dam
age was done 10 the house by the flames OF the
burning oil.
Another large piece of the same boiler, weighing
about three-quarte-s of q ton, with considerable
number of the tubes passed over the same cottage
knoe king down the chimney and lodging itself In
garden some two hundred and fifty or three
hundred yards from the boilerhouse, and ploughing
INTO the hard frozen ground to the depth OF foot
or more. Tubes and bricks were scattered III
great profusion all along the path Of the flying
missiles, and we think it safe to say that tubes
and bricks could be found IN large Quantities any
where within radius OF three hundred yards from
the boiler-house, windows and doors in every
quarter were demolished.
In the madder dye-houso where the two boilers
lay, some sixteen hands were at work at the time
OF the explosion, yet not one Of them was serious
ly injured. Thomas McKale, the person who was
most injured in this room, says that the workmen
there we're tossed about and thrown down like
mere toys. He was at work close to the place were
one OF the boilers fell, and would have been crush
ed to death had it not been for the support which
the large REEFS gave to the falling lmbers. he
was injured in the right shoulder aud lett leg, and
received slight cut on the head. Patrick Law.
ney, VINO was at work in the same place, received
slight injury In the back. Four persons Were AZ
work where the other boiler fell, yet all escaped
without injury. On hearing the rip of the explod-
ing boiler, and seeing the gas lights extlngulshed
they thought something WAS wrong and rushed
out Just III time to save them from q horrible
death. Hiram Pierce, the fireman, was seriously
injured about the head and chest. There was
large cut upon his head, some four inches In
length, and his left ear was slit HIS head was
bruised in shocking manner, the perlosteum or
the membrane investing the skull being denuded
to 6 considerable extent.
About two hundred hands are thrown out Of en-
ployment by this catastrophe.