The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-02-24
ANOTHER TERRIBLE DISASTER.
ANOTHER BOILER Ex9LODED.
7avendfrs Say NIL in Ruins.


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We are called upon TO again ehron-
icle one of those appalling accidents
which, Of late, have become so fear
fdlly,frequent, and for the prevention
of which no adequate preventive can,
it seems, be. devised.
t. At, a quarter after three o'clock
yesterday afternoon, the boiler in the
saw mill attached to Cavender's ship
yard, a short distance below the
mouth of Pigeon Creek, exploded,
carrying death and destruction in its
path The terrific force of the explo-
sion may be in part realized when it
is stated that the after head of the
boiler was, with portion of the fue,
blown completely off, and carried
distance of forty or fifty feet. and, with
the force of the steam, tearing out the
end and portion Of both sides of the
mill. 81 la
One section or ring of the boiler
was rent from the boiler, being torn
through the rivit holes, and carried
some twenty feet from where the
boiler had been situated, while the
balance of the boiler, some twenty
feet long. was blown forward towards
the river distance of seventy feet.
and was only stopped by striking the
end of large log which lay in its
way. This terrible destruction of
property, however, is of but little
consideration compared with the per-
sonal damage and loss of life in
llvolved. wan r
| Wm. Parsons, the log roller, had
just had a log hauled up, and was
about to roll it off the trucks when
the explosion took place. The log
| and trucks were knocked from the
track, onestrueks wheel being broken
| off, and Parsons was carried in the
same direction with the boiler some
20 feet or moro and instantly killed.
He was found at the outer entrance
to. the mill, with his head toward the
river, and within two feet of the
| boiler, horribly lacerated and con-
fused about the head. and one leg, it
was supposed, broken. Mr.. A. j.
Lavender, the proprietor Of the mill
and docks, was found lying, insensi-
BILE, on the saw dust, some % feet
from the furnace, aud in the direct
line the boiler had taken. lie was
taken up and conveyed to his house
near by, and medical aid Immediately
summoned. After brief period he
revived, and could speak, but is terri
bly, Injured. His right shoulder was
crushed down forward upon his
breast, producing one of the
worst forms of dislocation. A
long, deep cash is cut on his right
temple. along the edge Of the hair
from over his eye back horizontally
over his ear. and severing the tempo
raj artery. Above the right eye is a
severe confusion, which was badly
swollen, closingsth right eye com
pletely, but DR.. Ruucie, who had
been called in, could not tell whether
the eye itself was injured or not. The
eye lash is cut through. His face
was burned as if with hot ashes, and
he was badly scalded on the breast,
presenting a most shocking spectacle.
He was suffering the most excruciat-
ing pain. 1t will be almost a miracle
if hesrecovers.
Green B. Kellum suffered slight
confusion on the left leg and on the
right shoulder.
Francis Kellum had an incised
wound on the forehead, running down
to the nose, cutting an artery, and
causing profuse hemorrhage.
Harrison Kellum had his wrist
dislocated and received a singular
wound, as if a missile had passed
around his bowels without pene-
j trating. A missile had passed
through the calf of his leg, tearing
out portion of the muscle, two or
three inches long, which DIR. Runcie
removed.
] VIM Gurley, assistant engineer, re-
ceived an iucised wound on the head,
two inches long, the scalp being torn
up. He was also wounded in the
back, and his left leg is paralyzed.
| He is also burned under the chin
supposed to have been by hot brick.
Charles Strause was burned about
the neck and face, and is considerably
| bruised by fragments of timber. Jas.
Davis, lad, was caught under some
falling timber and lumber. but was
rescued with slight injuries. James
i Sweeny, tailman. is missing. He was
in the mill when the explosion took
4 place, aud has not since been seen.
Its supposed that he was blown into
the river and sunk.
Paul Mars had been talking to
Lavender not to exceed three min
4 utes before the explosion occurred,
and had just left the building. The
/ head engineer, Ed. Seward, and Mr..
In. V. Gonterman were by the engine.
Seward had just received the signal
to start the engine. He opened the
throttle valve, but the engine did not
start, being caught on the center. He
took hold of the drum to start it, and
Gonterman did the same, and imme-
diately the boiler exploded. Neither
of them were injured 1t was one OF
the most hoart-rending catastrOphies
L.. L.. orrn. nannrred In this CITY