The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-04-05

TERRIBLE BOILER EXPLOSION IN NEW
HAVEN - FULL PARTICULARS. BY the
bursting of the boiler and the blowing up
of the folding-chair factoryin New Haven
on the LIST instant. three persons were kill
cd, two others will die, and thirty-ivc were
each more or less injured. When the ter
rible explosion took place, with the swift
ness of q fash Of lightning the men felt the
whole structure lift beneath their feet, and
then followed o tremendous crash, as forty
two human beings went down amid an in
extrcable mass of timbers, floors, walls,
benches, shafting, and material for chairs
in various stages of completion. Nothing
of the structure was left standing but the
front wall Fortunate it was SO for had
that fallen the result would have been far
more terrible. This wall prevented the
floors of the several stories from coming
together at the front end of the building,
and thus saved from wounds and death
many persons. Scarcely had the sound of
crashing timbers ceased when from out of
the ruins could be seen workmen escaping
from the fearful imprisonment of the de-
hris.
Those who worked at the front end of the
shop, protected from the crushing weight
Of the floors by the standing front wall,
gradually crawled out from under the
benches, flooring, and rimbers, and, cropping
their way through smoke and dust; almost
suffocating for the want of air, made their
way to the front doors and windows, and
from thence to the street, their faces palld
with the horror with which their terrible
situation and the suddennefs Of the crash
had filled them. All we're covered with the
powdered mortar of the walls, and bore
bruises upon various parts OF the body;
Some appeared with bloody visages, and
others limping and writhiug with pain,
which their COMMISSIONS caused. Fully two
thirds Of the workmen thus escaped, and q
few moments after three women were taken
out moe seriously injured. Then followed
efforts to rescue those buried under the
ruins.
Digging under the bricks lying beside the
railroad track. two feet beneath the bricks,
was found Il workman, an old man named
Horace Rice, Slightly bruised and cut, but
not dangerously injured. About the same
time Mr.. james Mullen was taken out very
badly cut about the head and face, and
burned very badly about the hands and
Legs. From the rcar portion of the build
ing, Mr.. John L. Whittemore was rescued.
lie was considerably bruised, and had q
terrible cash in the back of his head.
When first brought out he presented CORY
and sickenng appearance. Mcs. Samuel
y. Ucmond aud Miss Ellen Demon1 were
taken from the ruins. The latter was ter
ritly burned about the neck, face, and
hands. and she lad also bad cash in the
forehead.
Several men we're found with jaws and
other bones broken. 1t was universalre-
mark after the search among the ruins was
over, that it was marvellous that no larger
number were killed. Tho evidence Of the
strength of the explosion were plenty all
around the building. Those close by had
their window lights blown out.
The boiler was made of five sheets of sic
iron, and in exploding parted entirely
around on the line of the rircts at the third
; Joint from the front. The larger portion,
containing the fucs, Of which there were
forty-eight, three inches in diameter, was
driven through an old wood building ad-
Joining, landing in the northeast corner Of
the shop. There were two men at work IN
the room at the time. One was knocked
! down and prccipitated through hole in the
! floor, made by the boiler, into the base
ment below, and was severely inju7ed in
the knee. The other was also knocked
down, hut he Immediately sprang to his
| feet and jumped out Of the window un-
! harmed. The other half of the boiler was
tilted Upwards and driven through the
building, and landed at the front end of
the structure on the second floor. AS it
! landed it came into very close quarters
with several young men.