The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-03-16
4 Dreadful Disaster.


BuFFALo, y. Y, March l1.-rhis
afternoon a large boiler in the PhG-
nix Boiler Works. owned by Dom
aldson q Patterson, exploded, in.
lstantly killing six men. and wound
ing several Others, one of the propri-
etors, Mr.. Patterson, being among
the former. The business of the
firnl was very large, the manufac-
ture OF boilers being carried on to a
great extent, while the firm made
speciality of testing old boilers by
steam, and making the necessary
repairs to them An old boiler be-
lonaingto the tugboat Mary 5. Pierce
which had been in use nearly IS
years, was being tested, when, with
out any apparent cause, it burst,
literally leveling the works, which
were 100 feet long, By 40'wide, and
I SO high. Mr.. Patterson, together
with aponderous mass Of the explod-
cd boiler, was hurled across the
street and through solid board
fence, leveling a portion Of it to the
ground. His body was terribly mu-
tilated, his entrails and some of his
limbs hanging to the wrecked fence,
while one leg was found fifty yards
away from the building. The bo-
dies of the other men killed were
sea.tered in every direction The
force of the explosion was 50 great
that,windows Of buildings half mile
distant were demolished, and, in the
immediate vicinity, people were
thrown to the floor in their houses,
and tables were overturned The
| adjoining buildings were shaken to
their foundations. The noise of the
explosion resembled an earthquake.
4 large piece Of the boiler was blown
hundreds of feet into the air, and
went crashing through the roof Of
the Mills elevator, situated nearly
800 feet away, and the dome OF the
boiler was thrown over 100 feet into
the air, and landed half a mile dis
tant.
LIST or CASUALTIES.
Those known to be killed are
Robert Patterson, aged. 56 years
leaves a wife aud 6 children. John
Iangenfield, aged IS years, unmar-
ried, was found under the remains
of the boiler, bleached and burned
almost beyond recognition. Francis
Chadwick, aged 81 years, engineer,
in charge of the boiler, had his side
blown away and bled to death: leaves
a wife and three children. William
Wager was blown to pieces leaves
q wife and four children. William
Gibson, nephew of Patterson was
blown to pieces leaves wife and
two children. An unknown man
was so badly burned as to be un-
recognizable. The injured are as
follows: Henry Mackey, left leg
broken, head cut, and injured inter-
nally'; win probably die. Carlotto
Voltz, both legs blown of, and cut
in the back and chest cannot recov-
er. George Renner, boy, about l6
years old, leg broken, head cut, and
injured internally; will probably
die. Alex Rupert, right leg broken,
also injured internally; is uncon-
scious and will probably die. Rob
Mexyieh, left side body and face
badly cut was standing twenty feet
from the boiler when struck will re-
cover. Michael May, hurt in stotn=
ach and left side of face. VIM.
knorr, right foot smashed will re-
cover. Sixteen of the men were
employed in the works at the time
of the accident, six of whom escaped
unhurt. Theregular force is twenty
five, but 9 of the men and bows had /
been laid off Mr.. Donaldson one
of the propfietors, had driven from |
the works but q few minutes before
the accident happened, and was only /
Il few squares away. The loss will |
probably foot up $1,000; insured |
for 81 90 against loss by fire only.I