Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-09-21
DEADLY EXPLOSION.
onnAr pIs,srrn IN a steel Mill
rive People Almost INSTANTLY kiiied ana
Ten BADLY injured-Raiitoad
station on fire

Ten Badly tnjured-kaiitosd
station on tIre.
la PIttsburg, between one and two
o'clock yesterday afternoon, a shock was
felt throughout the city which shook many
buildings To their foundations, smashed
windows aud terribly frightened the resi-.
dents of the south side, who rushed from
their houses in terror. Immediately after
the shock an alarm OF fire was struck, and,
upon investigation, it was found that a
large boiler in the Hanging department OF
the Sligo iron works mad exploded with
fearful violence, scattering fragments in
every direction and setting fire to the
Lake Erie railroad shops and n number OF
dwelling houses IN the vicinity.
The news OF the disaster spread rapidly
and soon thousands of people were on
their way to the scene. Upon their ar.
rival terrible sight met their gaze. The
boiler department, brick structure, was
a complete wreck, rs were also number
Of passenger and freight cars, and the
master mechanics shop Of the Lake Eric
railroad, while \ row of dwellings on the
opposite street were in danes.
The time that elapsed before tho ruins
could be searched was terribly distressing
to those who had relatives or friends EN-.
ployed in or about the mills. Men and
women, pale faced and crying, rushed
brcathlcSs through the vast crowd iOI
their husbands or friends. Children of all
ages pleaded for information concerning
their parents, and the whole presented q
scene of dismal and awe inspiring con-
fusion which was sad and sickenng.
Above the shouts of the distracted crowd
could be heard the groaus Of the dying,
some pleading for assistance and others
begging to be killed. Among the latter
was a man named Lewis House. He had
been partially covered by the ruins and
was terribly scalded by the hot water from
the exploded boiler.
Kill me. Kill me, for God : sake So
he shriekcd, and even when extrcated
from the mass of brick and timbers he
begged to be put 10 death. He lived only
a few minutes after he was removed.
-Four Little Victims.
When the accident occurred four children
named Douglas were on q high board fence
surrounding the engine house. The oldest
was eight years OF age. \ heavy pece OF
iron struck the wooden gate Of the mill-
yare, knocking il OIL the fastening. 1t
fell directly on the group OF little ones. a
portion Of the brick wall fell on it, holding
the children down. Tie gate took lire
ENltdll ALI AtAlu1u- hiLGl diSb lpNltNl II
under the gate, and the little ones were
being roasted alive when they were dscov
cred. Before they were removed two,
Henderson, aged eight years. and Jessie
aged six years, were fatally burned. The
others were also terribly injured, and are
not expected TO recover.
Although the fire that followed the eN
plosion was quickly extingutShed, there
was considerable loss, and while hundred:
were trying t. assist those who were in
ured, other hundreds were compelled &c
make great exertions 10 stay tho flames
The buildings in which the explosion oc
Cured took fire Immediately. A heavy
piece of red hot pipe was thrown 100
yards and set fire to the supply warehouse
Of the Pittsburg u Lake Erie railroad.
This building was stocked with innimml E
bic material and was quickly destroyed. i
hot brick thrown a distance of three
squares set fire to a row of tenement
house, but these were not badly damaged.
Other buildings were also slightly dana yed
by fire