The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-07-29
The Columbia Water Works Blown to
Atoms.

a terrible accident occurred at the
new Water Works at $50 o'clock this
afternoon. The boiler of the works
exploded, wrecking the building, killing
one man and wounding seriously or pain.
fully six others. The works, it will be
remembered, were washed away by the
May freshet.
# The boiler and machinery were recov.
cred from the river when the waters sub.
sided and placed upon q new site on the
inner bank of the canal. The location
and arrangement were improved, and the
reconstructed works were believed to be
In excellent condition. The boiler was
of sixty horse power, and was made two
years ago by Tozer & Dial, of this city.
The opinion of the experts who have
examined it aimee the explosion is that it
was faithfully constructed and was sound
up to the time of the accident. The
works were tested q week ago, but had
only been In actual operation for day
or two. They we're very satisfactory and
had filled the reservoir. Capt. w. b.
Lowrauce, the chairman of the Water
Works committee, had gone down to
inspect its operations. He had been
on the spot but q few moments, and was
sitting Just In front Of the building con-
vering with Superintendent Alexander.
IA force of hands was about the works
completing the building which covered
them. Some conyicts we're working on
the Canal near by. The works had been
idle for about fifteen minutes Mr..
Alexander volunteered to start the ma
chinery for Capt. Lowrance's inspection.
He started to enter the works and Capt.
.Lowrance rcse to follow him.
At this moment the explosion occurred.
The huge boiler MAS thrown bodily into
the air and fell seventy yards away. The
brick work about it vas widely scattered
and the building was torn to pieces. Pink
Kennedy, the colored fireman, was buried
in the debris and terribly scalded by
steam. He lived but few minutes. Mr..
Joe Frazer, the engineer, was badly
scalded and otherwise seriously injured.
Capt. Lowrance was struck on the back
BY falling beam and very seriously
hurt. The extent of his injuries cannot
be determined yet. -Four colored hands,
engaged in completing the building, were
injured. Louis Hines and Moses Gibbs,
colored convicts, were seriously scalded
and confused and other convicts were
more slightly injured.
Capt. Sigh Of the Penitentiary hurried
to the scene of explosion, which was near
that institution, and had all the injured,
except Messrs. Fraser, Lowrance and
Alexander, conveyed to the Penitentiary,
where they were promptly treated by Drs.
Pope and Miller, and afterwards sent to
their homes. The body of Kennedy was
conveyed 10 hiB family. Superintendent
Alexander received two scalp wounds
and severe burns on the head. He, Capt
Lowrance and Mr.. Fraser are the most
seriously hurt of the survivors.
1t is impossible to tell the cause Of II :hss5
explosion. One eKPes7t- expert thinks It due to
high beaad0 bead 81 steam and not from low
supply of water, while another takes just
the opposite view. Both acquit the boiler
of weakness.
The wreck of the works this evening
Was a sight worth seeing, so complete was
it. The pumping machinery, which was
sunk in pit below the level of the boiler
Was unipjured. It will cost several
thousand dollars to replace the boiler
and building. For the present the half
rations of water, 80 long endured, must
be resnmed.-Colum6ia Correspondence
News and Courier, july %.