The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-23

About half-past IL o'clock yesterday
morning the boiler at the saw-mill Of W.<M
Hall, in Henrico county, exploded, killing
John C. Thorp (white), Josie and Edgar
two little sons Of Mr.. Hall-and Gordor
Rollins and BinSy Thomas (coloredl, be
sides most seriously wounding George
Lowry and Charles Yancey (white), ant
slightly iniuring Mr. Hall and two or three
others. Information of the accident was
| received in the city between and O'Clock
Shortly after the latter hour represents
tive OF this paper, accompanied by friend
who knew the route well. and who was tc
act as guide, left the city for the scene oi
the accident. The way to Halls mill is
out OF the city by Cary street and West
ham turnpike, and thence on to the Carbon.
Hill Mine Ioad-a distance OF about eight
miles.
wEsTHAM HALL.
Mr.. Halls farm is known rs Westham
Hall. 1t was formerly the property OF Mrs.
Susan Patterson. The house is a roomy
and comfortable frame one, about half a
mile from the road. 1t sits OH a hill west
OF branch, which is the headwater OF
w eSLQalu CTeeh. dUOuC uuHlu GU
yards north of the house was the saw-mill.
1t was in ahollow, The branch running close
by it, and on one side bill covered by tall
pines; on the other, ploughed fields. Over
the engine and machinery there was q rough
shed, only intended to protect them and
the workmen from the weather. All around
the mill were logs and piles OF plank and
laths.
Mr.. Hall was associated with Robert A.
| Avis, Of this city, in the saw-mil business.
TIE DEBRIS.
When our reporter arrived at the spot
the saw-miil building had disappeared.
! The roof had been raised high into the air,
and then fell with 4 smash to the ground.
Pieces Of smoke-stack, boiler, engine, and
various tools were scattered about in the
woods or OH the banks OF the creek in all
directions. a colored man lay upon the
west bank OF the. creek, fifty yards from the
mill, dead. The dead body OF another CO.
lored man was out in the pines.
Around the ruins Of the saw-mill stood
about one or two dozen men who were dis
cussing the accident in an uneXcited man.
ner. The dead body OF Mr.. Thorp was at
the house of Mr.. Franklin, three or four
hundred yards northwest from the mill.
Mr.. Halls dead children and several OF
the wounded had been taken to Mr.. HalFs
house.
THE FIRST STORY.
There were current in the crowd several
stories as to how the tragedy occurred. NO
attempt had been made to sift the facts, and
up to that hour no official inquiry had been
instituted. A colored man (Jlm SMITH with
his head bandaged and his face somewhat
scaded or bruised was pointed out as one
who could give full details OF the dreadful
affair. Jim was sought and found to be a
willing but rather stupid informant.
He said: About II or II O'Clock was
standing under the shelter, when heard
the report of the explosion and was struck.
think the mill was not running at the
time, but am not sure about that. After
that the first thing I saw was dead men
lying about here. Mr.. Hall was near the
saw when the boiler exploded.
More than that Jim could not tell. lie
had been struck upon the head by piece
Of flying timber, but not hurt much. He
had no experiences to relate-could give no
picture Of the scene Immediately following
the eXplosion-and seemed not impressed
at all with the fact that something eXtraor-
dinary had occurred.
BYSTANDERS' TALK.
Several gentlemen in the crowd and a
number of persons employed on Mr. HalPs
place were next interviewed. From them
it was learned that the accident happened
about liz O'Clock. There were eleven or
twelve persons in or about the mill, and
nearly all OF them engaged at work. The
explosion made loud noise, which was
heard two or three miles of. The air was
filled with steam and flying timbers. The
shed was raised from the supports and fell
in regular mass upon the ground where the
boiler and engine had previously been. The
cries of the wounded pierced the air and re-
sounded through the hollow, and carried
dismay to the breasts OF those who, having
heard the explosion and felt the shock, were
approaching from all directions to see what
was the matter. ... .t