The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-01-02

A fearful. boiler explosion took place at Mil
Ter, Defreese & Co.'S foundry in Williamsburg
on Thursday afternoon. There were several
persons, beside the engineer, in the boiler room
when the explosion took place, and some of
them narrowly escaped with their lives as the
ponderous boiler was suddenly propelled with
terrific velocity, One-half OF it flying in an
easterly and the other in a westerly direction !;
the first lodging in frame shanty occupied by
the widow Robinson, distance of three hum
dred feet, and partially demOlishing it, and the
other half lodging in Bushwick creek, about
the same distance. Nicholas Stephens, the
engineer, and Daniel Mulholland were killed,
three were injured and one is missing. Null
holland was on visit to the boiler room to see
one of the workmen when the accident hap
pened. The cause of this explosion is net
known.
Secretary Boutwell, received the other day
from normatte where in the West, curious
letter. The writer said he was the father of
triplets, and somebody had told him there was
fund set apart out of which was given a
bounty to parents having such run of luck.
He said he had two children besides, and, as
his means were not large, il there was such a
fund he hoped the Secretary would put him in
the way of receiving the benefit of it. To con-
firm and establish the truth of the story, pho
tographs Of three born at birth, were attach
ed to the letter. He was informed that al
though some governments had made sudh pro :
vision for the unfortunate it had thus far es-
capped the attention of our lawmakers.
Boston has pious policeman who arrested
T. B. Burnham, the well-known Washington
St., photographer, ON charge of doing work on
the 18th ult, which was Sunday. which was
not of charitable or necessitOus character
The evidence went to show that Mr.. Burnham
was engaged in erecting building, and that
ON Sunday last himself and another man work.
ed on the same for the purpose of inclosing
portion of the roof and thus protect it from any
storms that might arise. The evidence was
very clear on this point, and the defendant was
accordingly discharged.
The Marshall House situated on the west
end of the wire bridge over Allegheny river, in
Franklin, Pa, took fire Friday morning. The
flames communicated to the bridge,
and the cables soon becoming red hot
parted from their anchorage, precipitatiug the
bridge structure into the river. About twenty
persons were on the bridge at the time VIM.
Nell, farmer, and Mcintyre, toll keeper, and
removing furniture ON the BRIDGE were fatally
injured and their several bodies recovered.
Mary and George McIntire, John and Alexan.
der Mccartney, John T. Henry and two un-
known persons were seriously injured. Will
fred Glgore is supposed to be buried in the
ruins, as he was known to be on the bridge.
The weather was intensely cold, and the river
was frozen over to the second pier on each side.
and great difficulty was experienced in reach
ing the sufferers with skiffs. A boy named
tire of the bridge and swan ashore through the
slushy ice. The bridge was newly erected at a
a cost of $36, 1000, and the Marshall House $4,000.
There was no insurance on either.