Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-02-04
Seven Killed and Thirty Wounded.

PITTsBURe, Feb. 3.-Four boilers in the
American Iron Works, Of Messrs. Jones q
Lsughlins, exploded at about 10 o'clock
this morning. The explosion was SO tre-
mendous that three sections of the building,
some fifteen feet each, were completely
shattered, the roof being carried entirely
away and scattered in all directions. There
were about three thousand laborers en-
ployed in the mill at the time of the explo-
sion, and for time it seemed as though
very large number had been either killed or
wounded by the steam or fragments OF boil
ers that were sent flying in all directions.
The greatest CONSERVATION prevailed and the
most extravagant rumors were at once set
afoat. Immediate steps were taken to re-
lieve the injured who were still alive, and
recover the bodies of the dead. Up to the
present time the following killed have been
extlicated from the debris: Pat HOwly,
Mike Reynolds, Chas. Fea, Thomas Nc
Carthy, Barney McAuley, Anton Bickus.
Some thirty were wounded, but few Of
the number seriously.
Further Details.
The accident at the American Iron Works
this morning surpassed in fatality anything
that has occurred in the city for sometime.
At 10 O'Clock battery Of boilers situated
at the upper or south side Of what is
known as the new mill of the American
Iron Works exploded, with terrific report
and resulted in the death of several men
and great destruction of property. The
boilers, which had been in place for about
year, although they had been some five
years in use, were located about midway
between the ends of the new mill
and were placed between the spike
and nail factories, about three hundred
feet from the river. They lay facing the
south and this seemed to be the direction in
which the force of the explosion principally
expended itself, although the batteries were
completely annihilsted and the destruction
was compete at the rear and OH all sides,
as well as in front. The ends of the spike
and nail factories were blown to the extent
of about twenty-five feet and the wall and
roof of the new mill were blown away.
Portions Of the boilers and brick and tim
bers from the ruined buildings we're thrown
In all directions and to great distances,
some of the fragments being thrown dis
tance Of three or four squares.
The cause of the explosion is mystery.
The engineer had examined the boiler gau-
ges only five minutes before the explosion
and found the water satisfactory. Follow
ing the explosion a most intense excitement
prevailed. Great crowds Immediately gath
cred st the scene of destruction and set TO
work to remove the debris. Seven dead
bodies have been extricated from the ruins,
all of which were more or less mutlated,
some to frightful extent. The bodies were
also blackened to degree, as though burned.
Two of the killed were found many feet
away from the accident in an adjoining mill.
They had been employed there and were
struck by flying missiles. One man was
bringing coal to the furnace of the battery
on an elevated railway which LAY over the
boilers, when the explosion occurred. He
was Just over the battery and was blown up
ward q considerable distance. The lower
Jaw of one of the workmen was found lying
considerable distance from the body. Five
bodies were partially buried under the ruins
and were removed with hard labor. The
killed were borne away on stretchers SO fast
as recovered and the scenes which followed
their recognition by friends was painful in
the extreme.
The following is a partial list of wounded:
Adam Yound was struck by piece of boil
er and had his legs and an arm broken;
Charles and James g. Ward were struck
by splinters and severely injured about the
head; John Carb, hurt about the head; -
Dalsell, head and legs, slight; Jacob Kinker,
slight about the legs; Tim Mahoney, leg
crushed; Jacob Brobeck, spine injured and
burned about back; Robert Nelson, hand,
face and body burned. Seriously injured:
Thos. Boyle, head and breast; Robt. Black
ford, internally; Nicholas Long, legs crush
ed and eye injured; Mrs. K. Reser, arm
broken by fragment Of iron; Henry Grant,
a boy, ear split and serious injury appre-
hended.
A Fortunate Strike.
The nail feeders were out on a strike at
the time of the explosion. Had they been
at work the loss Of life must have been
very great. These iron works are the most
extensive ofthe kind in the country, cover
ing some seven acres in area and employ
ing $500 workmen.
Another ExpIOsiOz-s Men buried.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 3.-This evening
boiler in Woods foundry at Coshockton,
exploded. 1t is reported that eight men
were buried in the ruins.