Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-03
SEVENTEEN MEN SCALDED
THE BOILER BATTERY OF AN
IRON WORKS EXPLODEs.

THE BOILER BATTERY OF AN
IRON WORKS EXPLODES.
Lat of the Injured and the Nature OF
AheIr WOunds-The Night Watch just
ReIIeved when the Explosion occur
rea-Rush OF Frenzied Relatives TO the
Scene.
PITTsBURG. PA, Oct. 2.-Shortly after
So'clOck this morning the battery Of boil
ers at the Solar iron works of Clarke 4
Co., on Thirty-sixth street, exploded VITA
disastrous effect The night turn had just
been relieved by the day force when the
explosion occurred. That portion OF the
works in the vicinity OF the boilers was
lilled with 3 cloud Of steam. Through the
dausemist came sLrIeks and grOans which
told the employees beyond reach OF danger
ta1t d frightul calamity had oTertaken
number of their fellow workmon. AS
soon as the steam cleared away a rush
was made for the spot where the explosion
occurred when IL was ascertained that
the mud-drum OF the boilers had exploded
and thai the escaping steam had scalCed
Il men. closer investigation showed
that Of this number fourteen were badly
burned and three fatally injured.
LIST OF TIRE VICTIMS.
The names Of the injured are:
Frank Martin, badly scslded about the
face and arms. He will not live.
James CattOe, terribly burned. The
ton of his head was crushed by piece OF
eying iron. He Will die.
Franc MURRAY, a boy, fatally injured.
Thomas stein, n BOY, badly scalded.
William Daniels, a boy, scalded and in
jured by flying debris.
David Richards, "A boy, scalded and an
arm broken.
William Ortiz, & roller, badly scalded
Frank Good, boy, badly cut on the
head.
Patrick Henderson, shearsman, seri-
ouely scalded and injured by flying debris.
David Smith, shearsman, badly
Joseph Getze, a boy, scalded, but not
seriously.
william Simpson, a boy, scalded and
iniured by debris.
Charles Haywood. a puddler, seriously
hurt by flying debris.
Joseph Steiner, assistant engineer,
badly bruised and slightly cut.
J0hn NeH. boy, badly scalded.
Frank y q, badly scalded.
Barth Anderson, a gauger, terribly
burned. He viii probably not recover.
FRRNZIED RELATIVES.
Scarcely had the hills along the Allie
gheny ceased to reverberate the sounds
OF The explosion, when frenzied and fright
ened wives, mothers and children began
70 rush upon the scene and peer anxious
~ into the faces OF the gasping, diving
men, seeking to identify their loved ones,
or inquiring, in agoniZed tones, If they
had escaped. Women hah-dressed. others
putting on their clothing as they ran,
almost nude, screaming at the top of their
voices, crowded and jOstled each other in
a mad rush for the mill. Arriving there
they were silent for a moment Then
a woman's wall was heard, and another
and another, until there was nothing but
discOrdant chorus of feminine shrieks
and means and cries OF anguish. The
cries and grOans of parbOiled men would
occasionally rise above the wOmen's
voices. 1t was an awful scene, and the
physicians, who arrived at this time, said
that they were almost unnerved at the
sight and in the presence of so much
human suffering. Tue physically and
mentally injured were found lying in all
positions. Some Of them were so far
away from the battery that IL seemed I'm
possible that they could have been injur-
ed by the explosion.
THE INJURED BOYS.
The large number OF boys hurt is ac-
counted for by the fact that they were en-
plOyed TO handle the hoop iron. which was
rolled in the mill nearest the boilers. 1t
was fully 20 minutes after the explosion
before the boy, Frank Murray, was taken
out from under a truck where he was
thrown. la addition to being scalded, he
was terribly crushed by the weight Of
iron that was piled on top Of him. James
4
from escaping steam. No hopes are en-
tertained Of the recovery of any one Of the
three named. The others are expected TO
recover, bat the majority will carry marks
to remind them OF their experience as
long as they live. Those most seriously
injured were taken to a hospital, while
the others were removed TO their homes.
WITHIN THE MILL.
The interior of the finishing mill pre-
sented a terrible sight of desOlation after
the accident. Things were badly wrecked.
The boilers, six In number, form battery
which is located in the extreme southwest
corner Of the mills. The mud drum runs
lengthwise under all six boilers. Ii was
the end Of this which blew out. With
such fearful force did it explode as to
scatter destruction on all sides. All the
boilers were unseated. Two Of them we're
tilted back, and some OF them are on end
in the rear. Toe whole wall OF masonry
was moved outward.
REMARKABLE FEATURE.
A very remarkable feature was the
jamming Of the mud drums against one
OF the engines. This engine was situated
few yards north Of the boilers. The
bursted Iron was blown directly against
the cylinder-head Of the engine, MASKING
II to pieces, and blowing the whole head
inward. From this the steam rushed out
with "A loud, Kissing sound. Large stacks
oi hoop iron were blown all over the mill.
Machines were upset, rolls turned over,
and ia one instance wheel-barrow was
lumbled through a door. The iron ma
chimes and benches We're all thrown to-
gether In ineXtricable masses under which
several Of the men were buried
TWO or THE VICTIMS DIE.
PITTsBuRG, oct. ., 10 =. M.-Two Of the
victims, Cattoe and Murray, died at the
West Pennsylvania Hospital this morn
ing. Three or four others are not eN-
pectod to recover. The explosion was
caused by mud eating through the coat
lng Of the mud drum. Some pieces OF the
drum that we're picked up arc not more
IMAM one thirly-seeoudth part of an inch i'm
Thickness. w. Powers. the chief engineer.
says that the boilers and mud drums
were inspected by the Hartford Boiler
Insurance Company TWO mOnths ago and
were then pronounced safe. Twice before
accidents OF this nature have occurred At
the mill The first one took place i've