Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-07-08
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CA last Saturday afternoon. the people
of this city was startled by a loud eXplo-
ion which Jared the buildings for miles
around. All were alarmed. and those with
iu view on turning their eyes in the direc-
lion OF Ntaudish & Pierces Foundry on the
West end Of the river. saw a shower of
timber, boards. and mortar partly STROUD
ed by smoke aud steam. falling for many
rods around the Foundry. They at once
rightly judged that the boiler had explod-
ed, and a soon as the debris stopped de-
scendius fastened to the spot 10 render as
>i~tauee. \ terrible wreck met their gaze.
The building in which was the boiler was
40 where to be found. and the adjoining
wood sheds had been raised from the foun-
dations and thrown several feet to the East.
and were completely shattered.
Some idea of the Tremendous force of
the explosion may be gained. when we
state. a rafter 2l feet long and > wide OF
the engine building was carried 80 feet
di>tant over the top OF Crafts store 80
feet high and completely -hirered into
>p.iuters. OaIy few >plinters ofthe wood
work Of his builin. can nov be found
Masses OF timber and iron, weighing near
ly a ton, were hurled Ike feathers in every
direction. and the boiler was found in the
main buiiding.with both ends blown out.
and split its entire length on one side and
III several places OH the opposite side.
L was at first feared that many lives
We're lost. a. the workmen were all en-
pioyed as usual. One after another they
made their appearance. blachened with
ashes and smoke. and ulhurt. with the eN-
cep;ioH OF one man. SIR. Samuel Moore.
who was at work on the roof OF the boiler
building. Search was at once made for
him. and he was found beside the broken
smoke-stack. covered with splntered
boards, mortar and brick; when taking out.
he was found TO be alive but unsconscous.
and 50 disfigured about the face from
smoke and steam and bruises as TO be
hardly recognizable. On examination il
was found that no bones were broken and
aside from a deep cut on the head. a burn
upon the loins and the severe shock TO his
system, there were no other serious inju-
ries. During most OF the time (for two
days. he was either unconscious or wand
ering. but at present writing is improving
and it is thought he may recover. The
fireman Jordan whose hand was on the
engine at the instant of the explosion. was
blown some twenty feet into the main
building with broken iron shafts, iron
lathes and machinery and partly covered
with them and wonderful to relate, came
out alive and at the time apparently little
injured. Mr. Barker in the second
story. standing near the partition of the
engine room was for the moment stunned, |
but otherwise unframed.
The other workmen. employed in dis
rant part of the foundry, were unhurt. A
little daughter of James t. Cushman,
some rods distant on the street. was struck
by a falling brick upon her head, and
Knocked senseless. She is now recovering.
That more men were not killed or injur-
ed is certainly marvellous. The loss will
probably amount to $500. The boiler was
new, having been in use for only seven
DAYS. 1t was from the shop of Daniel Sull-
ivan of Bangor. 1t is thought there was
some defect in its construction. but what