The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-29
THE TERRIFIC EXPLOSION IN BUFFALO.
Dist Ilery Shattered to Fragments One
lLnn Killed md Four Others Iniured.


Shortly after ten O'Clock Saturday morning ter.
rinc explosion took place In the new distlery or
side OF Carroll street, below washington The BUILD %
ing ing, new three story brick, was shat
bolts aud in an instant presented the
appearance OF complete wreck The ex
which added to the horrors Of the scene for it was
known that several men were In the building at the
s 81 e tS I na nr 1 aen
aud then began the earnest work OF removing tho
showed that this effort was vaa for ali the PERSONS
in the building had got out In one shape another.
Frank Leese the foreman was discovered by Mr..
Briggs In the lot In the rear OF the building with his
clothing on ire from head to foot and trying to
crawl but pOwerless to help himself In any way.
and the torturng tires extnguished IN the mud in
which he was found The sunerer was promptly
removed to saloon on Exchange street where
who. upon examination, found that the body was
terribly burned over It's entire surface. Chloroform
done to alleviate his sufierlngs. He was SUISSE
quently conveyed to the General Hospital,
Old, unmarried ana came here from Madison,
Wisconsin. He is spoken OF as an estimaole and
competent young man, and fortunately he leaves no
wife 10 mourn hts untimely taking or He was
the first floor at the time OF the explosion, but how
he reached the spot where he was found is partial
mystery although it is not improbable he was car.
ried there by the force Of the explosion.
His brother, Joseph Leese, who was engaged as
Mr.. Lyman K. Knapp was In the basement In
front OF the boiler In making his escape he was
considerably but not seriously burned about the
head and lace, and was slightly Injured by the falling
brick.
+. r. Warren, who lives on Beak street, had en-
tered the building shortly before the explosion, in
quiring for work. He was on his way out and
within o few feet Of the doorway when the first
flash or the fire caught his eye. Alarmed, he started
on the keen run, but the explosion was quicker
than he and lifted HIM INTO Carroll street quicker
than he ever travelled by lightning express He was
nundth nj Nv n nj hadt q huru
on the neck, face and hands. Dr.. Edwin II. Barnes
attended to his hurt and anticipates no fatal con-
Mr.. william Eels, foreman Of the establishment
OF Messrs. Shaw h Kennedy, was engaged. with
three other coppersmiths from the same establish
He was somewhat injured about the hands, but his
companions escaped without being hurt.
Henry Kalbfeish, carpenter, was cut over the
eye and escaped from the second story with Joseph
Leese, BY means OF ladder.
The driver Of a team belonging TO Mr.. Laycock,
OF Black Rock, had halted his wagon, which was
loaded with lath, under one Of the walls OF the
building. while he went to the store Of Briggs Co.,
wall Killed his horses and had he been there he
would doubtless have shared the same fate.
estate. Briggs & Co had inst taken possessian of IT,
and had carried on operations only one week. The
explosion took place during the second running
and really before the new machinery had been
fairly tested. The third floor contained two tubs.
partially fllled-one q condenser and the othersa
worm tub-and an empty reducer.
On tue second floor was rev OF eighteen rectl-
ers placed along the walls opposite to that against
which the tubs on the third moor were placed In or
der 10 egualiZs the strain on the floors and timbers'
Preparations were being made for the introduce
ton Of ny Of these rectifers ana the building was
calculated to sustain their weight under all crcum
stances that the theory advanced upon the street
that the floor was overwhelmed and gave way so az
to cause pressure upon the stu below cannot be
sustained
On the lower floor were eight receivers, some OF
them partially filled, together with the still and en-
CINE. The still was filled with fifty barrels OF whs-
Kew twenty degrees below proof, and II is thought
that the accident originated with 1t, or with the
"columnn but at present there can be no decision
arrived at as to the exact cause.
The loss on the property OF Briggs Co. has not
been estimated. The insurance amounts to Sl3,50o,
divided as lolows:-
western OF Buialo, 1000; North British. $4,000;
Hide ana Leather, New York, $4,000: Merchants,
Chicago, 1000, and $4,000 In some company not
named How far the policies are good az against
the loss by explosion we have no means Of knowing.
The building was insured for $4,000.