The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-29
AN EXPLOSION IN NEWARK.
A Cutlery EstnbiishBicnt In Ruins-Diaeina
the Victims Out OF tho Wreck.

The cutlery works of Henry Sauerbers
Sons, 81, "a, and gs Mechanic street, Newark,
were destroyed by the explosion OF steam
boiler under one OF the buildings yesterday
afternoon, One man was killed and Ave Others
were seriously wounded. The bulldogs were
opposite the ruins Of the Celluloid works, de-
stroyed by an explosion few months ago.
Sauerber's factory comprised four buildings,
three being altered dwellings fronting on Me-
chanic street, and the fourth an extension be-
hind these, extending to the wall OF the ceme-
terry, belong to the First Presbyterian Church In
Broad street Harness ornaments and iron work,
shoemakers' tools, and many kinds OF cutlery
were manufactured In the factory. and forty-nve
men were employed. Yesterday afternoon these
men we're employed as usual. In various parts OF
tho factory. and Henry Sauerbler and his soma,
Horny, Jr., and Theodore, were Ia tho front
once and the packing room adjoining. In the
boiler room. under the rear Of 70 Mechanic
s'ree. Louis Dcsch, the enciveer, ana several
blacksniths, whose forees were built alongside
tho boiler, were following their svoca-
ton. suddenly noiso Ike the popping
~ cork but thousand times intcnsined was
heard, and almost IN the same instant the build
ings we're lifted up and thrown back In their
places In total, wreck. steam and dust and
splint Jrs Of wood and metal cnyeloped the
blcoK. The nre bells were struck and three
steamers and two hook and ladder trucks ar
rived nj the scene In n few minutes. For nearly
ten minutes clouds OF escaping steam obscured
the factory and intmidated the nremen.
Through the steam workmen rushed frantically
into the street, their bodies covered with dust
mud their clothing torn, and In some cases their
hands and faces burned. Henry Lauerbier, tho
father OF tho proprictOrs Of tho factory was
among the nrst to escape. The sons followed
soon aftei ward All were too bewildered to
wildly from the but ding through the crowd
that was gathering and along the streets, many
oI them going straight TO their homes.
When the wind had carried the last OF the
steam and dust away the front Of the building
was seen to be cracked and broken, and the
roar, where many Of the lremen had already
begun to work, W IS i heAped up miro. rhe right
hand " lis OF "a and 20 had fallen, and the rear
wall Of 80 was leaning far out Of its peruendic-
ular. Under this latter building, where the
boiler had been, the right leg Of a human body
was seen pro'rudlng through the de6ris, man
the groans Of third person we're distinctly
heard. Nearly the entire interior OF
90, ssTus sgsn nad amsp in mo the n'oT ce6sTe ,
leaving he interior ike a funnel with machin-
cry, bricks, and lumber filling 1t half way up:
Under one side Of this funnel the bodies iay all
within ten feet of the dangerous rear wall. A few
brave hremen volunteered To enter aud rescue
those within. The heat there was intense, and
unIil water was thrown upon the bricks, work In
side was greatly hinderod. The body belon- ling
to the upraised leg was found to be that OF
Christian Sobel, a blscksmitn, who had been
employed In the factory ne rly nineteen years.
From over the poril III OF the boiler that re-
NAMED In its place, pinned down ny heavy jpists
anu hot bricks. GeuTco Denner, another black
smith, WAS rescued His legs were crushed and
a
temperer, was next removed. lie had been our
led neariy out Of -ght. and was at rtst supposed
10 be dead. The fourth peisou heid In this
scethluz furnace was Louis Desch, the engineer.
who WAS -lsO scaldcd and bruised but less seri-
uusiy than the others. From the upper windows
~ the other buildings number Of frightened
workmen. none OF them seriously injured, were
taken by tho nremen.
Tie wounce men were at nrst removed to a
neighburng beer saloon where Drs. NJ and A.
X. Baldwin attended them, binding their
scalded limos and washing aud dressing
Ga
homes, ono to the hospital, and the dead body
OF Christian SObel to ComptOn's mOrgue Sobrl
IVES % years Of age and lived In bis own house
la Nj rcer street. lie leaves wife and several
severe ut not fatal -calds and bruises ABOUT the
head aud arms. lie was removed TO his home
III Charlton street. George Denner was
&C lded on his head, right arm, and SIDE. His
left hand aud forearm aud bOtn his thighs we're
turned, and his right log . terribly burned
tn the supeincia. and deep tissues are believed
to be dead, circulation has ceased, ana amputa-
tion will probably be necessary.
JACOB kaupe, the tempcrer, u ad been at work
In sn upper story, and fell through I, the boiler
room. Tie sus aimed comminuted fracture OF
the bones OF hil right leg, AID was burned and
bruised about MS mead anu right forearm. He
WAS taken 10 -. Bafnabls Hospital. Christian
Schneider, the foreman. Ia said to have also
been on the third door. and to have fallen
and bruised, but was abls 20 90 home unassisted
Christopher kirschmHn, mechanic, was more
seriously hurt. The SauerbeIs, father and son,
and numher OF Others were slightly burned.
George L. Hart, who was driving past the fact
tory, was blown from his carriage, ana he lost
his watch. John HorstmGn, who was hanging
some goods in a closet IN "a Mechanic street,
was thrown out II window into the church
yard, ond a workman IN the same room was
thrown against the rear wall, which fell with
him on 1t, uninjured, into the churchyard.