The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-09-27
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.

FrightfuI Effects of Boiler Explosion in a
Pittsburgh Steel Mill - Five Persons
Killed, Eleven Seriously Injured, Some
Morta1Iy, and Immense Destruction of
Property by the Explosion and Fire.
PITTSBURGH, PA, Sept 20.
The Steel Mill of Phillips, Nimick & Co.
was the scene this afternoon of the most
disastrous boiler explosion that has &C.
CURED in this city for many years. Five
persons were killed almost instantly, and
eleven more are injured, three so seriously
that they are expected to die before morn
ing. The mill at which the explosion &C.
CURED is situated on the south side of the
Monongahela River surrounded by the
shops and depot of the Pittsburgh & Lake
Erie Railroad, and the homes of the work
men, and is nearly opposite the business
portion of the city. Shortly after one
o'clock a sharp, deafening sound was
heard, followed by conclusion which
shook heavy buildings that were squares
away from the scene of the disaster.
Heavy pieces of iron and timber and bricks
innumerable were hurled in every direc-
ton and fell like vigorous hail-storm.
Then flames were seen to shoot from the
mill, the railroad buildings and a row Of
dwelling houses near by, and from across
the river women and children could be
seen rushing hither and thlther, lg-
norant of the effect of the disaster,
but conscious that the lives of husbands
and fathers were lost or in peril. An i'm
mense crowd gathered about the place ana
the fire was quickly eXtinguished, but for
long time it was impossible to learn how
many persons were killed or injured. All
that was known was that brick building
in which twenty men were employed was
in ruins. Above the shouts of the distract
IL H. floac nor1c of 10
dying, some pleading for assistance and
others begging to be killed. Among the
latter was man named Lewis House. be
had been partly covered by the ruins and
was terribly scalded by the hot water from
the exploded boiler "Kill me J kill me, for
Gods sakei" he Shrieked, and even when
extricated from the mass of brick and tim
Der he begged to be put to death. He lived
only few minutes after he was removed.
When the explosion occurred four children
named Douglas were playing behind the
high board fence surrounding the engine
house. The eldest was eight years of age.
Their playhouse was against the heavy
wooden gate of the mill yard. A heavy
piece of iron struck this gate, knock
ing it off its fastenings. 1t fell directly on
the group of little ones. A portion OF the
brick wall fell on it, holding the children
down. The gate took fire. Steam and
scalding water also poured in under the |
gate, and the little ones were in the process
of being roasted alive when they were dis |
covered. Before they were removed two of |
them were fatally burned The others were
also terribly injured and are not expected |
to recover. There were other scenes equally |
distressing, and many miraculous escapes. |
Although the fire that followed the explo- |
sion was quickly eXtinguiShed there was |
considerable loss, and while hundreds were
irving to assist those who were injured, |
other hundreds were compelled to make |
great exertions to stay the flames. The !
building in which the explosion occurred |
took fire Immediately. A heavy piece of
red-hot pipe was thrown one hundred yards
and set fire to the supply warehouse of the
Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad. This
building was stocked with infiammable ma
terial, and was quickly destroyed. A hot
brick, thrown distance of three squares,
set fire to a row of tenement houses, but
these were not badly damaged. Other
buildings were slightly damaged by fire.
The building in which the explosion occur
red, substantial, twO-story brick struct-
ure, known as the fange department, was
completely wrecked. The main part of the
boiler was thrown into the river, a distance
of three hundred feet, and another large
piece struck the round-house of the Pitts
burgh q Lake Erie Railroad, several hun
dre1 yards distant. A large iron tank,
weighing ton, was thrown ten feet from
the wreck. Another large tank was blown
high in the air and came crashing down
through the slate roof, through a ton of hay,
and lodged on a floor, wrecking the build
ing completely. A row of tenement houses,
occupied by employees of the mill, were also
wrecked, and railroad cars and mills and
glass factories, located near by, were
more or less damaged. In one instance
a brick wall, two feet thick, was
battered through as though it had
been paper. The damage to property
will not fall short of 900. The boiler
which caused this destruction of life and
property was an upright cylinder of I'M
usual proportions AMI capacity, being six
feet in diameter The prOprietOrs of the
mill say they considered the boiler entirely
safe, and can not assign any cause for the
explosion. Practical engineers who have
examined pieces of the iron this evening
are of the opinion that the explosion was
caused by a Superabundance of steam, gem
Grated while the engineer i'll charge was at
dinner. They also incline to the belief that
the boiler was defective Ill some respects,
but the pieces found are so twisted that
they are not positive in this assertion. A
searching investigation will be commenced
tomorrow.
The following is list of the killed:
John w. Allen, top of his head blown off.
Chas. Douglas, side of the head blown off.
John McGavigan, scalded and side crush
ed in.
Louis House, leg and arm broken and
otherwise injured.
The injured: VIM. Stewart, both legs
broken; injuries believed to be fatal.
w. Nj. Rodeman, compound fracture of
the right leg and other injuries; probably
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 of;
serious.
Patrick Welsh, shoulder-blade fractured.
lob how IaI
Jessie Douglass, little girl, scalded;
serious.
Willie Douglass, injured about the head.
Baby Douglass. scalded with steam; very
serious.