The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-31
DISASTER.

Particulars of the Explosion at PhmnixviIIe
observation-disclosures and Incidents The Killed
and Wounded.
In addition to our dispatches of yesterday
announcing in brief the details of the er-
plosion at Phonixyille, we have the follow
ing
PHGNIxvTLLE, Pa, Aug. GO.--Afew minutes
before o'clock this morning boiler No. 90
on the south side of the north mill of the
Phoenix Iron Company, at this place, exploded
with terrific force, causing loss of life to those
in the vicinity and destruction to the neigh
boring property. The boiler was q double
one, the steam boiler being uppermost, and
underneath, a smaller one, designated as a
mud drum. The steam boiler was 40 inches
in diameter, and the mud drum 2S inches.
Both were 90 feet long
The head of the steam boiler was wrenched
from it's position, and thrown in a contrary
direction to the force for distance of over
one hundred feet through the air, striking a
blacksmith's shop and rebounding some feet.
Part of the wall of the shop was knocked
down by the fragment, which weighs probably
six hundred pounds. This piece is gnarled,
twisted and battered in such a manner as to
be scarcely recognizable. Several men who
were in the shop made narrow escapes.
The remainder of the double boiler was
blown up into the air and then in horizontal
direction for distance of sixty feet lodging
in or on a large pile Of lumber, one end
thrusting through the roof of the mill. The
heavy beams and masses of brickwork and
masonry in its path were broken up and scat
tered in a style to show that they impeded the
terrific force of the explosion in but slight
degree. The bricks and other material around
the boiler were thrown in all directions, in
| flicting slight wounds on number of persons
Samuel Ortlip, laborer, who was working
near by the boiler, was terribly scalded inter
nally, and died of his injuries about -
| o'clock.
Augustus Pohl a German, was driving a
cart in the immediate vicinity of the spot,
and was struck by the stream of the escaping
steam, and also by the debris, being scalded
| outwardly and inwardly, and having both legs
| broken The flesh was literally stripped off
one leg, thus exhibiting a heart-sickening
| spectacle. He fingered until midday, when
| death relieved him from his excrucating
| agonies.
Charles McDermott, puddler, was seri-
ously injured by being crushed by the falling
| ruins. He was also scalded badly. John
! Henry, puddlers helper, was injured in a
like manner. Both are in a very critical con-
dition, and although hopes are entertained OF
their recovery, yet the probabilities are that
they will not survive The latter was sent to
| the PENNSYLVANIA Hospital in Philadelphia.
Besides these the following hands were
somewhat iniured;-John p. Jones, Abran
Mordy. and Francis Radfun. Several Others
were injured but their wounds were not OF
such character as to occasion them much
pain or hinder them from work after a short
time.
The exploded boiler shows every indication
of being red hot at the time of the disaster
and such is reported to have been the case
but although many theories are rife in regard
to the cause, it is not probable that the true
one will ever be definitely ascertained
The boiler has been in operation for several
wears. and is said to have been perfectly
sound. and, indeed, the iron bears no appear
ance of flaw 1t was blown out about hive
days ago and thoroughly examined, and n'
thought was entertained that any acclden
could possibly occur to it.
The mill is a very large one, and employs
present about 1900 men, and 1t is almost
miracle that more were not hurt, as the errati'
course of the boilerin its fight led it to wher
large number of hands are almost CONSTANT,
employed.
The mill is run both night and day, and the
different gangs change at seven CLOCK, AM
as it was near this hour when the explosion
occurred, many of the night hands mad lei
their labors and were preparing TO depart
To this can be asclibed the fortunate escap
, of many. large number of the men wer
I thrown to the ground, as it was, and sewers
: described their sensation as tL4.t o. cAoAlhs
Q Had it not been for this, probably it would b