Savannah morning news., 1886-03-07
AUGUSTUS HORROR.
A Belief that Rosin was ignited by the
Heat From the Gas.

s O'Clock, detailed in the dispatches in
yesterday mornings NEWS, the Augusta
Chronicle says;
The ravages of the flames were insig-
nifcant, but the angel Of death lowered
over the crumbling building.
The fire was found TO be in the gas
house OF the Augusta factory, just back
/ of Superintendent COgin's yard, ana
across the canal back OF the factory. Its
! origin is a matter OF supposition at best,
but those informed OF the circumstances
and situation gave Il as their opinion
that the rOsiH employed in the manufac-
ture OF the gas was ignited by the heat.
Mr.. Crocker, who was in charge Of the
gas house, had locked up and gone. He
had made gas sufficient to last till Mon
dav.
A reporter saw Mr.. George W. Hutch
ms, assistant foreman OF the carding
room, VINO gave the following account of
the accident: 81 was standing on the
corner below the factory about s O'Clock,
when | heard cries of fire, and saw the
glare behind the factory. / Immediately
ran through the yard to the gas house,
which | saw was on fire. The watchman
and myself attached hose TO the plug in
the yard and in few minutes had a
stream upon the fire. In a short time y
crowd began to collect, and some one
suggested that the door be forced open.
Mr.. Hill, Mr.. Allen and a number Of
others Immediately procured long stick
of wood from a pile near by and com
menced pounding against the door. They
uad only struck few times when the
iron root fell in, forcing off about five feet
of the brick wall upon the men below. |
Immediately rushed up and, assisted by
few men who were near commenced remOv
ing the debris and rescuing the men who
were buried beneath it. 1t was terrible
to hear the cries of the wounded plead.
ing to be removed. AS quickly as possi-
bic they were carried and laid upon the
canal bank near by. You know the
rest"
Chronicle reporters arrived on the scene
in time to see the helpless men lying COW
cred under huge piles of brick, and de-
m0raliZed men standing by, not knowing
what to do, while the cooler and more col
lected were hard at work extracting the
mutilated bodies from beneath the ruins.
The situation was horrible. Their groans
could be heard. but the darkness pre-
vented the sufferers being seen. But in a
short while lanterns were obtained and
an agOnlzing sight was presented 10 those
at hand. The almost lifeless body of Hon.
M. h. Hill, terribly mItIlated, was first dis
covered. Near by him, covered over with
bricks, were men piled in every conceiv-
able position. Some only scratched or
bruised, others gTOanlng and APP
pealing with agoniZing cries for
help. 1t was but the work of a few min
utes to eXtricate them from the ruins and
carry them TO the canal bank. where they
We're lain in row. The cries of the
wounded men were heartrending. "FOr
God sake take us Off the wet ground"
they cried, and cooler heads set to work
to learn the names Of the suffering men
and have them moved to their homes, or
to the factory office, If the distance TO
their residences was too great or their in-
juries too severe. In 5 minutes after the
accident Mr.. III. K. Hill breathed his last.
not having spoken or had q moments
consciousness.
SCENES AFTER THE DISASTER.
The scenes after the disaster were heart
reuding. On all sides women were crying
and wrinRing their hands and sending up
prayers for their loved ones. Crowds fol-
lowed each litter as il left the factory gate,
the distressed women each fearing it was
their best loved.
At the home of Hon. NJ. Il. Hill q sad
scene presented itself. The almost frantic
wife, with her six little ones hanging
about her, was crying and wailing for the
loved one who was no more.
Two doors below an anxious wife and
five children hoped and prayed for Mr..
Aliens recovery, but of no avail. He
breathed his last, surrounded by his bro
ken-hearted family, at 10:05 p. IN.
The scenes at the other homes as the
wounded men were taken in were terri
BILE. Women screamed and tore their hair
in the extremity Of their sorrow.
At the scene of the disaster a picture OF
sadness prevailed. Men we're standing
about in groups discussing the shocking
affair, and all lamenting the loss of two
such men as Messrs. NJ. K. Hill and w.
G. Allen. No man could be more loved
than was Mr.. Hill by all who were under
him, as well as by his associates. and
from the lips of all words of sorrow for
''pOor Mr.. Hip could be heard. The
death Of both of the above gentlemen VIII
cast gloom for a long time to come over
the Augusta factory and its employees and
surroundings.
THE DEAD AND WOUNDED.
Mr.. NJ. E. Hill died OF internal injuries.
Mr.. Hill was the superintendent OF the
wood department and of the yard.
Master Machinist w. g. Allen was put
upon litter and carried to his residence,
No. 922 Marbury street, two doors from
where the lifeless body of Supt Hill had
been taken. On examination il was as
certained that Mr.. Allen was injured in
ternally and grave fears were entertain
ed. He gradually sank ard at 1905
O'Clock breathed his last. He was at
tended by Drs. Geddings, Green and May.
bury. Mr.. Allen leaves a widow and five
children.
Mr.. John Edwards was removed to the
Office OF the Augusta factory. Edwards
is a weaver at the King mill He COM
plained OF his ribs being broken. His
scalp 10 turned back from the forehead as
II cut by sabre, and be has q compound
cOmminuted fracture Of the right leg.
The doctors fear that be will die before
morning. Drs. Wright, Doughty, Good
rich, Washington and several others were
caring for him with little hope OF his liv.
ing the night through. Mr. Edwards is a
single man. who has been in Augusta but
a short while.
Mr.. G.. Stapleton was taken to the resi-
dence OF his widowed mother, opposite
the factory. He has a slight scalp wound
and bis right ankle Is dislocated. DIR.
Goodrich says he is unwilling 10 say posi-
lively at present, but does not think be is
hurt internally, though 1t Is impossible to
tell.
Mr.. W. Frierson was removed TO his
residence, first brick row, No. Is. lie has
a bad scalp wound and is severely bruised,
but not dangerously. He was resting
well under the influence OF oplAtes at 10.
Mr.James Rooney, truck hand at the
Georgia railroad, received a severe scalp
wound-not serious.
Mr.. James w. Mears. a hand in the