The New York herald., 1870-05-06
TERRIFIC BOILER EXPLOSION.
Destruction Of the Silver Spring Paper Mill, at
Bloomfield, N. J.-Estimated Loss Over
,0o0-scenes Incidents, Acoi-
dents and Narrow Escapes

Bloomfield delightfully."- situated rurality of New
Jersey distant about fourteen miles from this CITY ON
the line OF the Morris and Essex Railroad was the
scene, late on Wednesday night OF fire. followed by
terrific boiler explosion whereby property to the
extent OF over $780, 600 was destroyed In the twink
ling OF an eye. Happily no lives were lost though
twenty or thirty were immlnently jeopardIzed.
Just about midnight it was discovered by the
workmcn in the extensive silver Spring paper min,
located about u mile west OF the village, that fire
had broken out alongside ofthe steam generating
boilers fixed In a section of from the main building.
Everything was going on In full blast at the time
the night gang OF men being all on post The
alarm was at once given, and ell hands
stopped work and proceeded TO take mea-
sures for the extinction OF the fire. Bat little
apparatus for such purpose was on hand, ana the
building being constructed OF wood, the flames In.
creased in violence with rapldty. Within half an
hour from the sounding OF the alarm, and While the
villagers were crowdng to the spot,
wHrz BANG cRAsnlil
went the entire structure with report equal TO
that caused by a ship Of the lines broadslde,
filing the air with monster fragments of
boilers machinery timber and thousands OF bricks,
parayziDg temporarily every one within radius or
at least mali mile. An iron receiving tank, nav
caustlc soda, was shot INTO the air least huii-
dred feet. it landed on the other side o. the water
min. The two main boilers, measuring each seven
by twentyfour feet were hurled in duierent direc.
tons, one Q! them having been blown into five or
six huge fragment. The large brick smoke srack,
seventy feet high, was hurled almost intact INTO the
ar in like manner, and fell in nyrlads OF pieces
ABOUT the place.
THE MAIN BUILDING
was two story frame. covering an area OF about
loAsqnare ieet,!snd was solldly constructed on
It tjne foundation. II had been In WORKING oldcr
about three years ald contained the finest ana cost
hest OF machinery, one pie;e a'one having recently
COST $4,000. IL was only last week that tne Insurance
Inspector visited the mill and remarked that il
one Of the finest risks in the countr,. There was
comparatively little stock stored on he premises-
not over lllt2en tons OF manufactured pspet. The
min could turn out two tons per day and was
at It's busiest when the Catastrophe lo,k place.
About thirty men were kept constantly employed
There was however, large quantity OF raw ma.
terial, such as bamboo pup. The mill was
nshea nsy of ' No. s. MaSsoS aenSe wS SS s8 e ety.
was Treasurer; +. G. Judson, Secretary, and G. W.
Goddard, Superintendent. MI. William ID. Judson
Is also a s0ckhoder.
MOST MIRACULOUS ESCAPES
workman Mr.. Jndson resides short dis.
ncc @ Wes' o' tne hln,n ml aaa m was aroused ny
he rusheI abroad end had reached within
stones throw OF the burning building when the ex-
bounding an immense piece OF the rotary bli e. some
seven leet in diameter. He droppel inseaslblc
senger Of death lying few feet In iroat
II him, The large steam drum was lying
not far OF in another direction. Mr.. jud.
son was not injured. The man Walters While
hurrying ont OF danger Immediately after tne explo-
sion, was struck by flying timber and pretty badly
hurt in the spine His clothes were taken clean on
his body and his face and neck painfully burned.
His injuries though serious are not considered iata
He is the only pc son known to have been badly III
jured.
THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE
IN the opinion Of Mr. G. w. Goddard, the sppern-
tenGent, as expires ell yesterday afternoon 10 he
HERALD reporter, may be explained In This Wisc:--
The betting ch connected the rotating part OF the
machinery having burned oil every thing came 10 o
staudsIl. The heat became intense In the region OF
the apparatus Tor subduing paper stock. Then the
se sss sspSsS 1's Mr MsapSGdSdq So 81 z !s
cnerates every one from blame as regards the charge
OF carelessness made In some quarters.
THE SCENE OF THE EXPLOSION,
as viewed by the HERALD reporter yesterday after
noon, was indeed deplOrable. Down on the margin
OF a eautllul pond was piled up an immense mass OF
debris, consisting OF boiler fragments twisted pieces
OF machinery and charred tlmbers. On the right, on
an eminence within few yards stands the
elegant suburban house OF Mr. ]. w. Potter. Nearer
still Is a house in which resides the fireman, James
Lafferiy, who in common with Albert Wood TIE
other foreman, had very narrow escape. Tire sur.
fOundfngs are Of the most picturesque character.
Several Of the neghbOrlng houses caught fire, but
luckily through the exertions Of the villagers were
saved.
Mr. Tenny was called upon last evening at his
residence by gentleman attached to the UEAALD In
order TO oh ain the LIST OF insurances bat being Sc
riOnsly ndispOsed, his lady declined disturbing him.
The assurances are considerably less than the loss
aud are mostly sustained by New York companies.