The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-10-03
SCALDED BY STEAM.
THE ExpLosloN OF A MUD DRUM
work. Ruin in tho Solar Iron Works EstaS'
li.hmont-sovsntoen Persons Killed and
Ipiared = HsartrendiOG scensS.
Stories OtsOmo of tho survivors.

PirrspvaeH, Oct. Mot since the ter
rible natural gas explosion at the Forks o
the Road, in Lawrenceville, has there
been the excitement that this. morning
was everywhere manifested in the city. Il
was another explosion, though not Of gas
and, unlike the other, was attended by
fatal results. At five minutes alter three
o'clock this morning, tho mud drum in .
battery Of boilers at the Solar Iron Works
OF VIM. Clark & Co., located at the coIneI
OF Thirty.fourth and smallmau streets
exploded with terrific force. Seventeen
men and boys were more or less injured,
and at noon to-day two Of them were dead,
with three others who will in all probGbif'
ity die. ~
The explosion occurred just when the
night turn was going Of. Thenen on the
day turn had not all taken their places al
the rolls, aud about the shears. Assistant
Engineer Steiner was at the engines. As
tho changein the turn was about to bs
made, he had stopped all the engines but
one. The steam gauge showed q pressure
OF 100 pounds, the amount the engineer
had been accustomed to carry. Suddenly
there was deep, swishing sound as OF es.
Gaping steam, only SO much louder, that
the men outside Of the mill rushed in. !:
a HORRIBLE SCENE,
Clouds Of dus. and steam filled the mill.
To their ears came the shrieks Of men and
boys, who had been caught in the terrific
discharge from the mud drum. Confusion
indescribable resulted. Messengers were
dispatched for physicians, for men who
had escaped unhurt knew that they would
be needed even while not yet they were
able TO see who was caught in the dis.
charge OF bricks, steam, water and scald-
ing mud that covered everything in line
a hundred feet from the drum head. Then
the crowd OF people, living near the mill,
came to the scene. Now and then some
poor, 6calded iron worker, or q little boy
helper, staggered out from the wreck and
ruin, which lay in among the steam clouds.
With cries OF pain and fright, they stag
gered out and fell burned with steam and
hurt by flying bricks; some Of them were
pitiable Sights. This search began amid
the ruins for these unfortunate ones, who
had b5en caught and held last under Q
losd of timbers, or those who were 90
badly scalded that they could not help
themselves.
BURNED TO CRISP.
In an irextricable mass Of debris little
John Murray was found. Under weight
Of iron he had been hurled, aud the hot,
scalding steam had burned in ashocking
manner. He was terribly crushed. Near
by lay another boy, Thomas Cato. lie
had been working directly in front Of the
drumhead. lie was picked up in a dying
condition. His face was literally burned
to crisp. Patrick EnwriRht, a shearer,
was gathered out from the pile Of debris.
lie had been scalded in q shocking mau-
ner. The other workmen had managed
to crawl out OF the wreck, and, assisted by
their friends, were taken TO the outside Of
the mill, where Drs Clark, Graham and
Schide were in waiting, ready To do what
they could for the injured men. When
all had been taken out, and had been re-
moved either 10 their homes or to the
West Penn Hospital, 1t was found that
the following persons bad been injured,
two OF whom died shortly after the explo-
sion: M
THE DEAD AND INJURED. III
JonN MURRAY, aged IA, living with his
parents on Twenty-eighth street, died
two hours after he was admitted to the
West Penn Hospital, X
THOMAS Caro-, aged II, living on Lafayette
alley, was horribly burned and inhaled
steam; died three hours after the ex-
plosion at his home. ~
DIyY THOMAS, aged II, single, living on
Thirty.eight street, burnt about the
neck, arms and legs; his recovery is
probable.
CHAs. HAYWOOD, aged 95, married, living
OH Thirty eightst!eet, very badly burned
about face, neck, arms and abdomen.
Injuries probably fatal.
WILLIAM BARTH, aged 20, single, Lafayette
alley, slightly burnt about the body.
JosRPH IMHoFF, aged 81, single, living on
Thirty.fourth street, burnt on the arms
and hip; will recover.
CHARLES RICHARDS, aged %, single, living
on Thirty. third street; only slightly
burned aboutthe back, arms and neck.
He will recover.
The above are in DR.. H. H. Olark's
charge.
Hospital: .......
PATRICK ENwRlGHT, aged 90, single, badly
bruised on arms and back; his condi-
ton is considered very critical.
JACOB BENDER, aged 50, single; Injuries
similar TO Enwfights, and may turn out
to be fatal. .-.f q
FRANK HoIT, aged IA; burns not serious
and he will certainly recover.
The following are at their homes: NJ.
O. srNE, aged 10, living on Thirty.fourth
street; very badly burned and bruised
all over badly. His death is expected
hourly. - ~.
street; not seriously but very painfully
The following were slightly injured:
Frank Good, William 0rth, D. LaVindet
John Mowry, David Richards, William
Daniels, David Thomas, AL. Macker, and
Engineer Steiner, were all more or less
severely but mono fatally burned, and
were able to walk TO their homes and
there bad their wounds dressed.
AFTER THE EXPLOSION, 4. !.
Crowds Of people stood around in The
drizling rain at the scene OF the wtecE
this forenoon. Inside were Mr.. Ed. Clark
manager Of the mill, Boiler Inspector Nc.
Mabon, Coroner Dresaler, Mr.. joseph
Lowry and number Of other gentlemen
mostly owners Of mills, or attaches Of til,
works where the explosion occurred. A
the entrance stood policemen, who will
difficulty kept back the crowd Of people
who would have entered. Mingling witt