Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-08-09
Terrible ExpIosion of a Furnace.


tFrum the Chicago Tribune oi July a.
At4 o'clock yesterday afternoon ter
rible explosion occurred at the North
Chicago Rolling Mills, which will proba-
bly, result fatally to three employees. Az
the hour named, residents in the vicinity
were startled from their summer drowsi-
ness by loud report like that Of bat
terry of artillery, which was quickly fol-
lowed by dense volumes OF white smoke
issuing from the doors and windows OF
the furnace room. Everybody ru 1cd to
the mills, and in few minutes after the
report was heard a dense crowd of excited
and curious people thronged about the
mills, Everybody asked of his neighbOr
with bated breath, concerning the cause CT
the loud report, and the volume of smoke,
but for little while there were no salts
factory answers given. But in a few
minutes it became noised through the
crowd that an explosion had occurred at
one of the blast furnaces, and that nine
workmen had been more or less burned,
some fatally. Then there was more ex-
citemeut, as many of the crowd had very
near relations or friends employed in the
mills. Every eye was strained TO see
who the unfortunate beings were, as they
were brought out from the midst of TIE
| burning Goals, and streams of motion
| iron, to the air. Two or three of the
victims were unable to walk, but the rest
needed only medical attention, and could
assist themselves. 1t was discovered that
nine workmen had been made victims by
the explosion.
A reporter visited the rolling mills last
evening, and received Il detailed account
of the catastrophe. The accident oc-
CURED at the west furnace. II appears
that the trough through which the molten
iron flows from the furnace to the mOudt
had become partially stopped up with
cold iron and clinkers. Around the base
of the furnace there had also collected q
large quantity of tue same material
The workmen were instructed to remove
this with crowbars. Twelve men were
assigned to the job. They had beer
working perhaps two hours, when, whil'
the greater portion of them were digging
at the trough and around II, suddenly :
large portion of the furnace wall arounc
the trough gave way.
over the groun1, making il extremely
perilous to be close to the furnace. Tit
: injured men were speedily removed int
the fresh air, aud Drs. Parks and Gun
nipgham called to alleviate their suffer
: ings. They were not slow In coming
and did what they could under the cir
+ culnstanees. They were not agreed "a
to how fatal the injuries would result
but il seemed TO be their opinion that tw
/ of the victims, at least, would not SUI
/ vive the accident.
Fortunately, the gas which precede
! the now of the molten iron, lifted IN
men from their perilous positions, an
. saved them from horrible death. Blu
5 il also burned them very severely, an
scattered them over the ground liz
straws before wind. Some of theI
? had their clothes torn to shieds by til
3 force of the explosion and lay on IN
o ground; others were taken TO their homei
! The burns are mainly confined TO III
body aud limbs. Mack and Hea'y, bot
c Of them young MN, present a frighth
e appearance Their suiierings are pa
s expression.
d The loss TO the mill proprietors will
c very great, and many weeks will be CO.
e sumed in repairing the furnace.
a Ir;,a oorn n1ione nra found amDup II