National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-18
A BOILER EXPLOSION.
serious Damage Done ana Many Lives
I.oaa.


NEW YoRK, Feb. 17.--A terrible explosion with
loss oflfo occurred yesterday morning in Brooklyn.
AZ 11:i3 o. m the boiler IN Jewell Bros Brooklyn
City Mills exploded, destroying the lower floor Of
the building and doing some damage 10 the office
of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, as well as
shattering windows. The engineer and fireman
were killed, and IL is probable that several lives
were lost among the workmen employed on the
dfst floor The injured as far MS can be learned up
to this writing, are Of those who were
passengers on the boat, which had just
arrived from Jersey City and passers-by ON their
way TO the ferry. A lady who had Just stepped on
the boat was struck on the shoulder by falling
brick and seriously burt; she was taken to the
hospital Several others were more or less Injured
by the falling debris, Gilbert Stevens, the engi-
neer. aged twenty-five years, was killed. Gideon
q. Baldwin, the pilot of the Fulton ferry-boet
Fulton, had his leg broken by flying piece OF
timber, and Q truckman named Kohn had his scalp
The explosion occurred about ll.45, o'clock,
mud shook the lower part OF brooklyn.
Fragments OF largo boiler were seen
TO shoot up in the air to distance of sixty feet.
One boiler was hurled against tho main building,
tearing an immense hole in the brickwork, and
another was forced sTuight up In the air. Inc
widest excitement prevailed inside the mill and
the employees, eighty in number, climbed out OF
the windows and down the tte escapes q. A. 80,
cum, who is connected with the firm, states that
ut the time of explosion the engines were being
run on thirty.ive- pound pressure, There were
several narrow escapes from death. Scotch
man named James Robertson. who was ut work
on the second floor OF the building. on the side
facing the river and directly over the engine was
found under q heavy beam covered with Hour,
aud was lined out by the iremen His right arm
and back were badly bruised. The firm were not
prepared to give any estimate of their loss as
yet, they said as the greatest lrss
would be the stoppage Of work caused
by the explosion and their Inability
TO fill q quantity VI orders. The mill was six
story structure facing Fulton street, the west
side opening on the river. A force OF men are en-
| gagged clearing away the wreck to get at the body
of the unfortunate engineer who, Mr. Jewell stated,
had been in his employ for n number Of years, was
! sober and trustworthy, aud resided in Brooklyn.
! where he leaves o wife and four children. The
Jewell Bros say they took oil the precautions they
| could to avoid the accident, but It is n fact
they were notified by the boiler inspectors
of the police department between Two and three
years ago that the boilers were defective and they
should not use them. The firm then had them
| insured by the Hartford Steam boiler Inspectors
Insurance. This of course took the control from
the Brooklyn boiler inspector. he having no
| further power to interfere. John Titus, thirty
| seven years old, was injured severely about the
| head; John Nelson, captain of n canal bont
which lay Mt the dock, sustained several severe
contusions of the head while standing ON the deck
| OF his boat. Cownn, Titus, and Nelson were re-
moved 10 the hospital.