Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-10-22
BOILER EXPLOSION.
King, Shober & Co.'S. Foundry
and Machine Shop Wrecked.

1
dry and machine shop of Killing
SHoBER & Co., had exploded wit
fearful result.
We repaired to the spot and wit
messed q spectacle in the shape
destruction of property rarely seen
The nerth corner of the build
ing was blown entirely out, and thir
teen feet of the boiler was found on,
hundred and forty yards from tn
building. 1t had passed over tre'
forty feet high, through an orchard
severing large limbs from the trees
knocked off the corner of dwellin:
on Grape street, occupied by Mr.. RI
DENoUR, and injuring the side of th'
house adjacent. Bricks, timbers
stones, ETC., were scattered promiscu
ously over the lower end of the square
To return to the building. The explo
sion demolished the engine house,
leaving the roof resting upon a
crumblino corner of the wall, dis
tributed bricks over the moulding
room like chips in chip yard, broke
off timbers six inches in thickness,
smashed machinery without limit,
knocked out the glass in the build
ing and created general destruction.
So great was the explosion that win
dows in neighboring buildings were
shattered to fragments.
So great destruction of property
must have been accompanied with
loss of life. Even so it was in
this case. Mr.. JOHN Killing, brother
of one of the proprietors, was
at the throttle at the time of the
explosion, and lived just eight min
utes after being extricated from the
He had fearful cut in the
head, one of his arms was broken in
several places, and the ribs discon-
nected with the vertebrae.
WESLEY MAYHUGH was in the
room. at the time and re-
ceived severe cut in the head, and
had an elbow joint separated. Un-
der good medical treatment he will,
in all probability recover. Mr.. FRED.
Killing was in the finishing room and
was struck in the back of the head
with some flying missile. His inju-
ries are not serious. Mr.. Noah SIM
MONS, who was in the cupola weigh
ing metal, was blown twenty feet and
thrown upon scrap pile. His in
uries are slight, and to him the pub
ic is indebted for an authentic ac-
count of the unfortunate accident.
Now for the cause. There are va
ions theories. but the common opin
on is that there was not enough wa
er in the boiler. The engine had
lot been running for some time be-
ore the accident, when Mr.. JOHN
King went back to start it. When
he engine started, and the fly wheel
lad made two or three revolutions,
he explosion took place. Three en-
yineers of experience, Mr.. FRANK
roRRENcE, Mr.. A. F.: MOORE and Mr..
Jas. WARD, examined the boiler.
They found no SCOT in the fues and
10 scales on the inside of the shell,
md agreed that the boiler was red
lot at the time the engine was start
ID. Our readers are, perhaps, aware
hat starting an engine starts the
pump which supplies the boiler with
water. This water pumped in upon
| red hot boiler is converted instantly
@ steam, and must escape; if not by
valves, by some other means as in
this case.
There were in the Foundry at the /
ime of the explosion seven persons,
md the escape with the loss of but
me life is providential. Messrs.
King, SHoBER & Co. say that their
oss will not fall short of $4,000. |
The building, which was brick and
hree stories high, is badly dam
Iged. 1t was comparatively new,
having been built about two years
since by Killing, MuENz & Co.
Mr.. JOHN Killing, the unfortunate
young man, was a son of the late
ADAM Killing, known to many of our
readers. He was a steady, industri-
ous young man of nearly twenty one
years, and unmarried. He was a
of the Fire Department of
Dur city, and on Sunday the Depart
nent turned out in full uniform and
paid their last duties in the burial of
their friend and companion. 1t made
a fine appearance, and was accom-
panied by the Naomi Brass Band, led
by its teacher, Mr.. NoURsE. The
funeral was the largest ever seen in
this city, showing in unmistakable
language the sympathy of our peo-
pie for the bereaved family.
T.