The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-03-15

day afternoon last, the people about the square
were startled ~ q loud, fearful noise, which
shook the earth beneath thcirfcct Men and wo-
men in stores aud in Offices and upper room, on
tn sou''' Y9", % Tie square rushed out pel nell
thinking the buildings were falling On their
heads; and What il itg' where is it, were
heard everywhere All were hewildcrcu till men
were seen rUnnin. about 40 the foot of III sale
ST.. when the crowd suigcd towards the old Ohm.
stead warehouse now occupied by N. S,icfcl X
TO-, as a grain warehouse. Then it va. learned
that the boiler Of their engine had exploded, and
rumors filled the air of men killed and horribly
dying of torture A. in all cases where great dis
astors take place. the lirst thought was to rescue
the victims, as it wa, known some four or five at
least must have been ucdr the bo.c" when it
burst.
Mr. II. J. Logan and others happened 10 be
standing ncal thr city Mills when the explosion
took place First came to their eyes the shattcr-
iny OF the side Of the building, then q terrible
rush of steam, followed blythe terrible crash. I'm.
mcdiaicly after the steam cleared away the bod.
les of three victims were seen on the Ice Of the
basin, and all rushed TO save them. Al the edge
If the coping ON the bank opposite the ware
house lay Joseph French. \ man from the Starch
Works ran TO his assistance and tried to pick him
up, but 50 hot with steam wa, his clothing that
he was forced TO drop him. He was afterwards
taken to Mr.. Chester Martins where he has since
been cared for. He was badly scaded about the
face, hands and thigh,-So badly shat the skin
peeled of when touched. He will recover
Some - or 80 feet out on the ice lay John Rem,
amachincst, owner of the machine shops near
the Illinois RIVER bridge. He was perfectly con
.cous when assistance came, but unable 70 help
himself lie had evidently been blown through
the building for his arm had sustained COM
minuted fracture and his knee cap was broken,
He was also badly scadcd about the face, arms
and thighs down to the knees. When carried to
the street, his son came up TO him, to whom he
remarked, "ChtGcy If had taken your advice,
! would not he in this condition now For the
boy had come 70 him hardly three minutes be
fore and urged him TO come away. The boy said
they didn't need him near the boiler and 1t was
not safe. But he would not go immediately A.
the boy wanted. However, very shortly after the
boy left he started ont OF the room-had he started
Two seconds sooner his life would have been saved
The news of hi, injury wt- broken to the family
and he was taken to his home in South Ottawa.
His external injuries were not such TO take
his life but the inhalation Of the steam and the
tremendous shock to his system We're too much
iorhim and on Monday AZ noon he died, conscious
almost to the last, at the age of - years. HcI
was German by birth; by trade, machiuist;
and by hard, careful labor had built up for him |
self fine paying business. Another month |
would have seen it clear Of debt and himself and |
his idoizcd family on the high road to future !
competence. He was Il Woodworking God fear |
ing, noble man. In his family he was bclovcdb by |
ALL and his children were surrounded by all the
luXlIrc, and rctnemcnts his means could procure |
His parting with them was pathetic in the cx-
trctne and his efforts to comfort his heart broken
wife during his last hours, brought tears 70 the
eyes of the strongest men. In his business life |
and among men he was ever respected as man
of character honest and straightforward He |
was n member Of the Odd Fellows and A. O. L. |
W, from which last his family receive his only
life insurance. On "Wednesday he was buried by
Dean Terry, OF whose church lie was a faithful
and consistent member.
James Ncrrola, farmer living near Covil
Creek, was also blown out on the ice; but he was
able TO help himself and to walk over 10 We'll * K
Tcller's store. He had finger broken and was
badly scaldcd. He was not considered badly hurt,
and was taken to his home; hut it appears that
his side and his vitals were badly burned, 50 that
at our last adyiccs he was in Il very prccari0ns |
condition with little hope Of recovery.
Owen Cotiey the boiler maker, was also badly |
Scalded and cut about the head, but will recover.
boy named Harrison was burned about the
neck and hands; not severely
Some narrow escapes are reported Of sam
DittenhOcfcr, Emmett skinner and Rcnz's son,
all of whom were barely out of the boiler room
when the explosion took place. The boiler itself
vas blown out of the building about 80 feet to
the north Of where it had stood.
The history of the ease is about this When VI.
Stiefcl & Co. took the warehouse and began TO
buy grain, in making the necessary repairs, they
bought portable engine from the Cutlery Works
20 set up 10 run their shelter and elevator. 1t
had not been used for a long time and was much
out Of repair; but they made q contract with
Messrs. Mitchell " Cohcy to repair it in thor
oughly workinsman like manner, KS Mr. Dit.
tenhoefcr testified before the corOncr's jury, hold
Ing an inquest on the body Of Mr.. REM: My
agreement with them was that they should put
in new frc.box, weld the nues, and those which
were not tit to weld should In replaced with new
ones, AMI that all should be made III a good and
workmanhkc manner, and that the boiler should
he tried with 80 lbs. cold water pressure Mr..
Cofiey was testing the boiler located between
the warehouse and corn cribs ut the time of the
explosion, On the day previous fire had been
built in the engine, but as the boiler leaked bad
lythe fire was taken on; and farther repairs made.
In regard to this test Mr.. Dittcnhocfcr tcstiics:
gave instructions to have no fire built unless
Mr.. Cooley was present Just before the explos.
ion Mr.. REM and Mr.. COttey were standing by,
and when the steam gauge reached 20 Tbs. they
seemed to regard the boiler as all right. At the
time the explosion occurred the boiler had not
been accepted by me and was not being run un-
der my direction. Mr.. Mitchell assured me that
the boiler would be entirely safe if repaired in
the manner agreed upon between myself and
Messrs Mitchell IL Cocy ID