Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-06-15
AN AWFUL CALAMITY.
Fearful Explosion or steam Boiler
SERIOUS LOSS OF LIFE.
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.

IN manufacturing establishment, near
Tenth and Chestnut streets, exploded, de-
molishing the entire building, five stories
high and over one hundred and fifty feet
deep. 1t is impossible, in the present con-
fusion, to ascertain the loss of life. Seven
men have been taken out--two dead. 1t
is reported that there were forty in the
building at the time; If go, all will perish,
except the seven Just rescued. The explo-
sion shook the buildings for squares around,
causing great fright.
The boiler exploded in the establishment
of Geasey g. Ward, sash and cabinet makers,
about six p. NJ, at 1,012 SAMSON street, de-
milishing the building. The boiler had
been complained of as not being in good
order. At four P. NJ. the mill was stopped
to pack the engine piston. The hands were
laying around idle and some had gone home
when the explosion occurred. n..t.
Thirteen have been dug out, six dead and
two who expired shortly afterwards.
The upper part of the building was occu-
pied by Miller & Reeder, calico print en-
gravers. Reeder is believed to be buried in
the ruins, as he was left in the building by
bis partner shortly before the explosion.
Twelve Others are thought to be buried in
the ruins
The following were rescued alive-much
injured It. W. jenkins, engineer; John
.Germain, fireman Jas. Todd, Geo. Clark
and John Cresback. 1t is now certain that
20 were in the building, so that 10 remain
under the ruins. The bodies of the dead
are much mutilated and cannot be recog-
nized. t. ...... ...... ..#
The following dead bodies have been
identified Harry Mealey, DIETRICH Endress,
Aug. Sweiger, John Grier, Jacob Heilman,
Harry Haddock. The following are amongst
the missing: Philip Sager, Aug. SINCE, w =.
r. Holloway, Mr.. Geasey and Mr.. Reeder.
PHILADELPHIA, June S.--During the en-
tire day yesterday the terrible boiler explo-
sion at Geasey & Wards steam saw mill and
the horrible results connected with it, were
the all engrossing topics of public considera-
tion. The search for additional bodies
among the ruins was continued during the
whole of Thursday night, and all day yes
terday, and resulted in adding seven Others
to the number published, making seventeen
5oGies in all.
| The fireman and others engaged in the
search for victims, deserve the greatest
credit for the untiring zeal, energy, and self
sacrificing spirit displayed by them in the
humane work.
During yesterday the scene of the dread
full event was visited by thousands of per-
sons, and numerous exaggerated and i'll
founded stories were afloat regarding the
occurrence, the number of lives lost, &c.,
all of which was devoured by the greedy
ears of the credulous multitude.
In Miller, Reeder & Co.'S. place five men
were employed. Messrs. Reeder, Miller l.
Moore, the members of the firm, ana James
Dunn, workman, were not on the premises
having left few minutes before the disaster
Thomas McCanland, another of the work.
men, escaped with but slight injuries. He
says that he felt q shock, saw the timbers
falling about him, and knew nothing more
until be found himself in the street. He got
into car and rode home The others in
the employ of the firm were named Jane:
Hamilton, George Dilkes and Frank Dubois
There arc undoubtedly other bodies under
the ruins, but the iron girders, heavy planks
machinery and other debris are so jammeC
together that it is very difficult to work.
The engineer, Thomas S. Jenkins, made
the following statement yesterday at tht
Pennsylvania Hospital:-
"About twenty. minutes to four O'Clock
} the packing wings of the cylinder got loose
and We stopped the engine Immediately
sent over to Mr.. Kings for man to hell
me fix them, Us we were in a hurry, ant
wanted to start again as soon as possible
While doing this we shut off the steam from
the engine. When we were nearly through
: we were ready to start up, although we die
: not want to start up that night, but wanted
to raise ten or fifteen pounds of steam, tt
see if the engine would work right, and t.
make sure for next morning, so as not t,
delay the hands any more The man VIII,
: was running the planning machine asked m
/ if it wouldn't be better to throw in few
i fnl i'm ha hact ),
I start few pounds of steam. He then aske,
0 me if he couldn't throw in some coal.
i told him no, that it wasn't necessary, ant
that the shavings would raise as much stean
n as We wanted. Shortly after he came int
e the engine room and informed me that sh
had one pound of steam on as yet. though
it somewhat strange that she did not hsv
u more, so l went to look. thought he wa
g mistaken, but on going to the steam gaug
;, l found that it was true. then went t
u work to stuff the packing box. Twas abou
doing 1t when she blew up. 1t was nea
$ six O'Clock, should Judge, at the time"
!, This statement was made at intervals, til
) narrator suffering SO greatly that he was frt
l. quently forced to pause. At the close b
!. was quite exhausted. Mr.. jenkins was
new hand in the establishment of Messr
K Geasy Il Ward, by whom he had been en-
q ployed only three days before, in consequence
a of the discharge of the former engineer.
Il Messrs. Geasy & Ward employed twenty
8 five men, eight of whom are known to l
alive. Five men were employed by Messr
q Miller, Reeder & Co., and only one by th
D Schumacher Company, he being absent {
the time of the explosion. ...
u Several persons were injured more or LEI
while putting out the fire and rescuing til
" bodies. Among Others was a young man b
81 the Dame of Fife. residing in Wyomin
street, who was run over by the hook an
"a ladder truck of the Weccacoe Engine Con
pany, in consequence of a collision with I'll
Southwark Engine apparatus.
ID The workingmen on the rear scaffoldin
at of Mr.. j. M. Hafleigh's large building to IL
7 east OF the st. Lawrence Hotel, were eth,
blown or jumped from the scaffold, and a
ID OF them, five or six in number, were moi
le or less injured, none of them, however, s.
" riously. The colored man working at I'll
K. mortar bed in the street, was injured in h
u right arm badly by piece of iron pipe, te
80 feet long, that was whirled into the morta
le His arm was larcerated and bruised fro
OF the ptbOW IN fhe yrict