Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-10-25
THE PITTSBURGH HORROR.

THE PITTSBURGH HORROR.
Terrific Boiler ExpIosion-Severa
WOrkmen Killed and Many Others
Seriously Injured.
PITTSBURGH. Pa, Oct. IL.
The city was startled yesterday morn
ing ~ the report which spread like wild
fire that an explosion, attended with fright
ty, had taken place at one of our great
mills. The story Of the horrible and dis
Tessing occurrence was indeed IA true
one: A battery of boilers at Tugs mill,
in the Ninth Ward, from cause not vet
satisfactorily explained, had exploded
laying in ruins vast portion of the build
ing, and leaving PROSTATE in the ruins
fully sixty human beings, many of them
dead, others in the last mortal agonics,
and still more suffering from injuries to a
greater or less extent The most intense
excitement was created in every part of
the city by the news. There were scores
of people in every locality who had rela-
tons or friends among the 300-odd en-
ploycs in the mills Of Zug Il Co., and
these were soon hurrying frantically in
the direction of the scene of the dread
disaster
Directly after the explosion occurred
people began to crowd about the place,
and in less than half an hour not less than
5000 people had cOngrcgated. 1t lacked
just about five minutes Of nine o'clock
when the explosion took place, with a
shock distinctly heard at pointtwo miles
distant from the scene The battery of
three large boilers in the nail mill Of the
firm, which is located on the upper side of
Etna street, burst, the terrible force of the
conclusion lifting the roof and frame of
almost that entire building many feet into
the air, and dropping 1t, where it was
crushed and broken, upon the machinery
below until the whole was converted into
pieces inc nii'Joriiy of which were small
enough Tor the purpose of kindling wood.
The force Of the exploding power was
so great, and seems to have been 50 evenly
distributed upon all parts Of the boilers,
that they were broken into hundreds of
pieces. One of them was carried across
the river to Allegheny, and landed at
Beymer & Banman's lead-works, on the
River avenue. Another large piece, going
in the same direction, dashed through the
roof of the muck mill on the opposite side
of the street, tearing down two of the
furnaces, swapping giant timbers like
splinters, and breaking down the huge
crane which is used to lift tons of iron and
metal, The falling furnaces ignited the
mill, and it was partly consumed before
the flames could be checked.
The largest piece that was found Of the
bursted boilers entered through the side
of house and was deposited in a cham
Der by the bedside of a sick woman, who
escaped unframed. Other pieces were
blown high landing in the streets close by.
Bricks and sticks and pieces of the iron
roof, and all sorts of rubbish were blown
through walls and windows. 1t is be-
licved that the roof of the building was
lifted at least fifty feet high, and the
work OF destruction of human life was ac-
compHshed more by the crushing weight
OF this falling mass than by the scattering
pieces of the bursted boilers. The fifty-
five nall.machines saved many life yes
terday. Had the mill been as open as an
ordinary rolling mill it does not seem pos
sible that q single one of the inmates
would have escaped with his life
There were employed in the entire
mills of Zug Il Co, at the time of the ac-
cldent, about 300 persons. OF these $50
worked in the nail department, where the
explosion took place. Not less than eight
persons were killed outright and fifty in
jured. OF the wounded some six or more
have already died, and il is believed that
the injuries received by others are fatal
The bodies, mutilated and chastity, grimy
with the Showering dirt, and CORY with
the likelihood as they lay amid the debris
OF the fearful wreck, presented sight 10
make the stancheSt heart quail. Here
were headleSS trunks of men who a few
moments before moved and acted in the
full enjoyment of vigorous life. Here was
a corpse with no blood stain upon {,
but pallid in death which had come in
The twlnkhng of an eye in a great blow
administered by giant forces upon some
vital spot. The row of dead, and the
o!etulng, moaning, sgonized group
OF dying or seriously hurt upon
The floor OF the office hospital, pre-
Senied q Slckenng spectacle, and one
from which the SterneSt had to turn aside
70 repre>S the too eager tear. In the two
drug stores AZ the corner of Pennsylvania
anu thirteenth streets, the same scenes
were being enacted with other sufferers,
and IN several houses in the vicinity all
that could he done was being done 10 ale
yiate the SutteringS of the dying men. As
soon IS possible the dead and wounded
were taken TO their homes when practical
BILE, or TO the West Pennsylvania Hospital,
carriages for this purpose being furnished
by the proprletorS OF the mills.
Ii Is impossible 10 estimate at this time
how many more Of the wounded will die.
Ten died after being taken from the ruins,
and u score Of others are so frighuully in
)uret that 70 hope is entertained Of their
r,.Nbxfr.