The New York herald., 1869-01-16

A Twenty-One Foot Tubular Boiler Shot Two
Hundred Feet-Two Men Killed Outright,
and Two Others Fatally Injured, Besides
Others More or Less Hurt-The COronerss
Inquest.
Elizabethport an unusually quiet suburb Of Eliza
beth, New Jersey, was thrown into great state OF
excitement yesterday forenoon in consequence OF the
explosion Of boiler and Its appalling results, where
by two men were almost instantly rushed into eter-
nifty; two others injured severely that the slightest
hopes are not entertained OF their recovery and
seven or eight other persons moro or less seriously
injured. It appears that about halfpast nine O'Clock
in the morning, from some cause not yet explained.
tubular boiler, twenty feet long and about
three feet In diameter, used to work the machinery
in turning shop kept by one George Wade
at No. IS Clinton street, exploded with tremendous
noise, and was whrled in an easterly direction
across Livingston street crash into the stove and
hardware store OF Benjamin II. & Theodore w.
Winans at least 200 feet distant, and located the
corner OF Livingston and First streets, tearing
through the side of the frame building, making
an extensive breach, and settling in the work.
shop after its dreadfu work OF death and devasta.
iion had been accomplished. In the workshop, re-
pairing pump, were Mr. Benjamin ii. Winans and
r. G. Riggs captain Of the canal boat ]. S. Chaplin,
for whom Mr. Winans was working the pump.
The monster missile struck just their heads and
settled down on the unfortunate men. They were
quickly pulled out, but expired in few minutes
subsequently. few feet from them, partly covered
with the immense mass OF debTis was discovered the
unconscious form OF Stanley Miller, young man
who had served his apprenticeship With the
brothers Winans. On examination it was discovered
that his left arm was broken. aud that besides severe
cOntusons the head his face and body were badly
cut. He was removed TO his residence No. % Crane
street, and placed in charge OF his distracted mother
he was sil unconscious up to last evening and no
hope IS entertained OF his recovery. lie Is about
wenty:one years OF age ard had just completed his
term OF apprenticeship. Mr. Wnans about forty
three years OF age and leaves wife aud one child.
His neck was broken and his head severely frac-
tured. five minutes later, mad the explosion not
taken place, and he would have been on his
way to Elizabeth 10 Join his brother. Under
the same circumstances Captain Riggs,would
have escaped also. The Dookkceper a young man
named Bruin was also IN the store at the time, but
luckily escaped with few slight bruises from splin
| tefs about the head and face. The next person
/ most seriously injured, that will doubtless
prove fatal, is John Ritter. German cabinet maker
warming himself near the boiler Just at the critical
/ moment and was enyeloped IN the Kissing steam
! and water that were scattered in all directions
Ills entire person, face arms and limbs presented
shocking appearance, the skin having been boiled or
condition. The physicians gave min up at once. In
his intense suffering the vile OF his employer cared
for him very kindly and attended most assiduousy
90 hts wants Herman Miller, another empoye in
the turning shop had his feet and legs badly burned.
Ills was most miraculous escape from being blown
TO pieces. He was sitting on the front end OF the
boiler, fixing some pipes, and with the disappear
ance OF the boiler was left Standing among the red
hot Goals OF the now uncovered furnace. he was
rescued ere he was roasted alive The boots were
burned from HIS feet. There was even more SIN
gular case than this recently married lady named
Mrs. Charles Nye whose apartments were overhead
Wnans store, was passing from the dining room TO
the Kitchen and was crossing the hall simultaneous
ly with the sweeping away of the floor from under
her feet by the boiler. She was dashed against
the wall, but only stunned. Soon after she
collection Of stones, tinware, &c. into one CON
glomerate mass OF tin wood, iron and mortar. A
large crowd OF persons swarined around the vicinity
all day. Excellent order was preserved by Chief OF
Police John keron and a posse OF officers. In the
matter OF attention to the injured the Chief was
nobly aided by gentleman Of means named Ed
ward @. Brown, a resident d the "port.r Post
mortem examinations were made on tie bodies OF
the dead by Dr. j. 5. Martin, OF Elizabethport the
substance Of which has already been given.
AT two O'Clock In the afternoon the coroner,
DR.. Louis Drann, enpaneled q jury and com
menced an inquest the bodies OF the
Seceased persons IN the chamber overhead
tine First ward nfe engine house. The first witness
reviewed ana identified the body OF Captain Riggs,
whom he stated was the owner OF the canal boat J.
;. Chaplin, aud that deceased was resident OF Con-
stables Hook, Hudson county, n. ]. Dr. Joseph s.
Martin gave similar iniormrtion regarding the body
fracture Of the second cervica vertebrp dislocaton
of the neck, fracture Of the lower jaw and cheek
and examined the proprietor OF the turning shop
Christopher Wolf youth employed In the stove
store while In ne act Of hitching up the horse,
hurled into cellar BY the concussion and slightly
hurt The wagon was smashed to atoms. The horse
escaped. An elderly man named Charles q. Moore
with three or four other passersby. slightly in
jured. The scene OF the caamitous Affair." "a viewed
by HERALD reporter yesterday, told terrible tale
in ITSELF The turning shop was an old rickety frame
building that ought to have been torn down years
ago. The ceiling OF the second floor was completely
torn away In its progress through the air the boiler
carried away fence that bounded the premises on
Livingston street, and then, bounding across the
street, i swept away q portion OF Inc
square, turning the workshop In Its Heterogeneous
George Wade who deposed az follows:--llesides at
No. 80 Clinton street; had factory 20 make brush
handles; had been there for the last seven years.
employed two men, no boys; worked in the shop
regularly: about i've years ago introduced steam
himself lately; his son Augustus, twonty-one years
OF age, attended the engine nine months ago. tho
boiler was Inspected by an Inspector thought he
lived In New brunswick; Inspector came in July or
August last, but has since given certificate; In
spector SAID he found the boiler in first rate order:
witness understood engines and boilers ali his life
time: about seven O'Clock went into the
shop; found everything all right "a usual:
there was plenty oi water IN the boiler
on Thursday night; did not examine 1t yesterday
morning; did so Thursday night and lt was all right:
was lust going 10 start the engine when how cam,
the explosion took place; was about ten stems away
from boiler; had never more than eighty pounds Of
steam; generally did his work whit ffty pounds the
inspector tried 1t 10 eighty pounds; he requested
him to have new safety valve attached declined as
1t cost too nuch f1t0 had no steam gange on yes-
for repairs; safer with than without: ran the
engine the whole week without one: was sure ne put
water IN Thursday night had no idea how or why
an explosion took place.
After further examination OF several other wit.
ncsses the inquest was adjourned TN to-day.