The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-09-27
Press kilograms
Boiler Explosion.

PITTsBURG, Sept. 20-This after
noon the battery boilers at the iron
mill of Lyon, Short & Co., Southside
exploded with terrific force, killing
and iDjuring large number of per
sons. Particulars were not received,
on account of the wires being down.
The mill is now burning. The fire
department and large force of police
have been dispatched to the scene.
LATER.-The disaster resulted in
the instant death of three men, and
the serious and possibly fatal injury
of twelve others. Between 1 and 2
o'clock this afternoon shock was
felt throughout the city, shaking
many buildings to their foundations,
smashing windows and frightning the
residents OF Southside from their
houses into the streets. The boilers
in the fiaging department of the
Sligo iron works had exploded with
fearful violence, scattering flying
fragments in every direction, setting
fire to the Lake Erie railroad shops
and a number of dwelling houses in
the vicinity. The news spread like
were on their way to the scene of de-
OIL uCGlOn. ~ pun cbll4fdl GuOlO IL 1OGtI-
full sight met their gaze. The boiler
department, brick structure, was a
complete wreck, as were also num-
Der of passenger and freight cars, and
the master mechanics shops of the
Lake Erie railroad, while a row of
dwellings on the opposite side OF the
street were in flames. Men, women
and children were running about
wringing their hands and calling for
friends whom they supposed were
either killed or wounded in the ruins
of the planeing department. Scattered
around were dead and dying, some
with arms and legs off, some diSfgured
almost beyond recognition, and others
suffering from painful bruises and
scalds. By this time the police had ar
rived in force, and the work of remov-
ing the killed and injured was begun.
At the time of the explosion twenty
men were at WORK. Of these nine
are reported all right, three killed and
eight badly injured, four fatally.
Four children of Chas. Douglass, who
lived across the way, were also badly
hurt. The following is the list
of the killed: John w. Allen,
top of head blown off; Chas.
Douglass, side of head blown off;
John McGavigan, scalded and side
crushed and otherwise injured; Louis
House, leg and arm broken and other
wise injured, probably fatally hurt;
VIM. Stewart, both legs broken, inju-
ries believed to be fatal; Thos. Smith,
hand blown off and other injuries,
probably fatal; Christ Miller, badly
scalded; Edward Malley, head hurt by
falling debris; Patrick Lee, leg and
arm blown off. seriously injured;
Patrick Welsh, shoulder blade frac-
tured; John Douglass (boy), seriously
scalded; Jessie Douglass Qittle girl),
seriously scalded; Willie Douglass,
scalded with steam. The neighbors did
all they could to relieve the sufferers.
The boiler was an upright one, six
feet in diameter, and was split into
four fragments, the largest being
blown 200 feet, landing in the middle
of the Monongahela river. The cause
of the explosion is unknown. A
thorough Investigation will be made.
The Sligo Iron Works was formerly
owned by Lyon, Schorb & Co., but
now by Phillip Merrick s. Co. Loss,
$4,000. Loss to Lake Erie road and
| dwellings. $4,000.