The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-23

infant son of young DIR. McManus were in the
building The police warned them of their
danger and they left the house without taking
time to carry anything with them.
wIDE-AwAKE BOY.
The valuable establishment of Norris q Bald
win was no doubt saved by the presence of mind
and courage of a lad about fifteen years of age,
employed in the store, named Tommy Turner.
He was sleeping at his home, corner of Howard
and Lombard streets, and hearing the alarm of
fire jumped out of bed gathered up his bunch
of keys, and started for the store. When he saw
the condition of affairs be thought of the cotton
on the third floor, and hurrying up the stairs he
found some of the bundles already burning; he
tossed them out of the window as fast as he was
able and soon the fremen got their ladders up
and assisted him in the good work.
In few seconds there were some hundreds of
dollars worth of cotton lying on the pavement
in damaged condition, but the fine building
was saved.
BURSTING OF THE BOILER OF THE ALPHA ENGINE.
Thus far no mention has been made of the
terrible accident by which an intelligent and
much respected young man was suddenly hur-
ried into eternity. Mr.. Harry Weaver a men,
Der of the City Council, had returned from visit
to Philadelphia, by the early morning train and
was on his way home when his attention was
attracted to the fire, and he stopped at the
corner of Howard and German streets, in front
of the Commercial and Farmers Bank to see
what was going on. The Alpha Engine was at
work on the opposite corner, with suction tube
attached to the fire-plug that is there located.
Mr.. Weaver had been in the locality but few
minutes when the boiler exploded turning the
engine over on its side, and spreading conster-
nation among the crowd that were hurrying past
in the direction of the fire. A flying bolt struck
Mr.. Weaver on the forehead, fracturing the
skull and causing confusion of the brain. He
was taken into house near by, and died in the
course of an hour.
Charles King, No. 108 North Schroeder street,
a substitute member of No 8, was at the engine
1A1n RS 60 haI Ilxr 1nI
and lower limbs paralyzed. He was attended
by DIR. Todd, and then removed home. His
condition is dangerous.
THE WRECKED ENGINE.
At this writing C2 NJ. the wrecked engine is
lying at the corner of Howard and German
streets, on the spot where it was thrown by the
force of the explosion. 1t does not seem to be
much injured except that it has been wrenched
from the trucks that carried it, and the springs
and some of the fastenings are broken. 1t was
the interior shell of the fire-box that gave way.
By the expansion of the steam, or some other
force, the interior shell was forced loose from
the multitude of screw-bolts that held it to the
exterior, fractured through the middle, and
rolled up as strong man would roll up a thin
sheet of lead. The iron of which the shell was
made appears to be exceedingly tough, and
there is nothing in the edges of the fracture to
indicate the least flaw or defect. non-scien-
tfc observer upon looking at it would say that
the screw bolts were too small, or the. heles in
the plates in which they were fastened we're too
large. The plate was torn away from them
without breaking the threads.
The Alpha one of the reserve engines,
and on account of its great weight was only
used upon extraordinary occasions. 1t was
supposed to be in perfect repair and had been
SO pronounced by the Chief Inspector few days
since. II was considered a most powerful and
effective engine, 1t was manufactured by
Reaney, Neafe 81 Co., Philadelphia, and was
purchased in 1856 or 1857 for the volunteer fire
department
Mr.. Thompson, engineer of No. s. was run
ming the Alpha when it exploded, but was not
injured. He says the gauge showed 81 pounds
pressure of steam, and that engines are fire.
quently run under pressure of 80 or 80 pounds
INSURANCE OF BROWN & BRO.
The stock of Brown 81 Bro. was insured as
follows, and the loss falls entirely upon Balti-
more Offices -Fireman's, $15,000 Baltimore
Fire, Maryland, Washington, Merchants and
Mechanics, Howard, Peabody, Union, Peoples,
German, Hartford, Potomac, Home, Franklin,
and American, each $4,000, and in the Associated
for $4,000, making total upon the stock of
$685. On the building the insurance was
$4,000 in the Equitable, and $4,000 each in the
Fireman's and Baltimore Fire Company.
INSURANCE OF sTELLMAN, HINRIoHs & co.
The stock of stellman, Hinrichs & Co. was
insured as follows: Mechanics, Brooklyn,
$5OOO Fulton, New York, $4,000; Merchants,
Hartford, $4,000; Etna, Hartford, $4,000; Con-
necticut, Hartford, $4,000; Phoenix, Hartford,
| $4,000; National, Boston, $5000 North British,
London, $4,000; Liverpool, London, and Globe,
| $4,000; Market New York, $4,000; Union, Balti-
| more, $4,000; Home, Baltimore, $4,000; National,
Baltimore, $4,000; Maryland, Baltimore, 900;
| Peoples, Baltimore, $4,000; Howard, Bati-
more, SIC, 900; Peabody, Baltimore, $5000 Hart
| ford, Baltimore, $4,000.
The damage sustained to the building will
| amount to $25, 600. The greater portion of the
structure will have to be taken down, the walls
in some places being bulged out fully twelve
| inches beyond the proper line.
The Fire Inspector at noon to-day estimated
| the loss at $3.50, 600.