The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-07-27
FRIGHTFUL BOILER EXPLOSION
At the Alliance Excelsior Fertilizer WORK
Last Week.

|
Last Week.
On Thursday afternoon, about four
| O'Clock our citizens were startled by a
terrific explosion, and looking toward
the Excelsior Fertilizer establishment
they saw the air filed with dust, steam,
bricks and OtheI debris. The town bell
sounded the alarm and in a few moments
the fire department, together with hun
dreds of citizens were on the ground to
lend such assistance as they could. A
frightful scene of destruction met their
vision. A boiler had exploded, complete
ly demOliShing the engine room to the
very foundations. One of the boilers
had been carried out across the c. IL p.
r. R. track, passing through a car load
of lumber which stood on the side track,
and landed on the bank, from which it
rolled down into the ditch along side
the track. The other boiler was lifted
up to the top of the stack, turned COM
pletely end for end and fell, almost in
its old bed. The top of the brick stack
was blown off, the cOrnice of the entire
south end of the main building stripped
away and the windows caved in. Bricks
and pieces of lumber were carried to the
round house, j. I. Weybrecht's planning
mill, and as far south as Broadway. The
boiler room was brick structure at the
south end of the main building, and
scarce Yestige of it remains. That no
lives were lost seems almost miraculous.
MOrg. Anderson had been at the eleva-
tors, within few feet of the boilers,
but few seconds before, and had Just
gone to the floor above. He was almost
smOthered amid the steam and dust.
l.. Nj Jones, who had charge of the en-
gine, had just left the boiler room and
was adjusting belt in the main build
Ing when the shock came. He was
hurled clean across the room by its force,
but fortunately received no serious in
jury. Four little children of Mr.. Jacob
Zum6runn, who occupied a small tene-
ment house just across the street from
the boiler room, had just seated them
selves at the table to eat their supper
when storm of brick, mortar and steam
came bursting through the windows in
to the room. The children were all more
or less hurt, but fortunately none dan
gerOusly. Some of them were severely
cut and bruised, but were cared for by
the physicians, several of whom had
fastened to the spot. One little son of
Benz. johnson, who happened to be in
the neighbOrhOOd, was severely cut
about the head and face. The passenger
train for the south had Just passed, and
had the explosion occurred three min
utes sooner, the flying boiler would
have gone through the train with fright
full consequences.
The damage done to the main build
ing was slight. The stack was not de-
strOyed and it is thought that $4,000
will cover the entire loss. Messrs. ShiI-
ling & Webb Immediately set men to
work to clear away the debris, and tele-
graphed an order to Chicago for two new
boilers. Within very few days every
thing will be replaced and work re-
sumed. The accident could not have Oc-
CURED at a worse time for the prOprie-
tors. Their season had just commenced
and the works were taxed to their full
capacity to keep up with their orders.
The delay necessary to make repairs is
exceedingly unfortunate for them, but
being energetic, wide awake business
men, they will soon be in working order
again.
The accident is supposed to have Oc-
CURED from lack Of water in the boil
ers. We have not learned whether there
is an available insurance or not [Alli-
ance Review.