Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1886-01-21
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.
Harpers Iron and Steoi Works
Newport. KY, In Ruins.
miraculous Escape OF the Employees nom
pesth-ssvsrsl seriopsiy injured.

CINCINNATI, o., January l5-About five
O'Clock this afternoon the engineer In the
new mill at Harpers Iron and Steel Works
In Newport, Ky, startled the employees by
rushing through the mill aud shouting 20
them TO "ty for their lives as something
was about Go happen" Gverythinr was
dropped on the instant, and half the men
had not quilted tho place when there was .
terrific explosion, which blew the building
70 atoms and shook the houses in the neigh.
borhood for squares around. Tn. utmos,
sonrusion prevailed, aud u was some time
could be ascertained PeopIe in
the neighborhood rushed 10 the
scene, aud those who had had time IN re-.
cover from the shock immediately set 10
work 70 rescue any who may have been
caught by tho debris II being very dnrh'
thelr work, OF course, was slow A num.
Der or tho tmbers caught fire and A tele-
phone message was Immediately sent 10 the
engine house summoning the department
The boys arrived on short notice and soon
eNtinguished the flames The bows then
started i'm - look FOR the injured Their
attepption was directed To the west side OF the
mill 10y the moans of man After a few min
utes' work they found living on the ground
and held down by large piece of timber
MIR James Swift and son. They were ex-
treated The latter being only slightly
bruised, was able TO walk off Mr. Swift
was conveyed TO his home on Elm street
when, upon an examination, IL was found
that his right leg was broken between knee
aud ankle and the left between tho knee and
mp. lie also sustained several severe cuts
about the head Drs. r. A Davis and ] ID
jenkins rendered surgical skill Mr. Swift
was the boss muck-mill roller Mr. Chris
hsch was also badly hurt about the neck
and head. He was also taken 10 his home ON
Elm street Two men by the namo OF
kearney were also severely injured one OF
them having his arm broken just above the
elbow. A number OF other, were slightly
injured by being struck with pieces OF fly-
ing tmbers. A man named 'fim shelly is
missing, and IL II thought he mi ight possibly
be under the debris. II being almost dark
but litte could be seen OF the disaster The
new mlil is entirely gone. and part of the
annealing house il also gone The old mill
was also badly injured by flying pieces OF
the boiler and iinbers Tho cylinder-head a
OF the new engine was blown clear through
the old mill and al lighted on the bank of the
Licking, ON the Covington side A large
portion Of the fly-whcel was thrown over
in the old milf and wedged itself in
the bar-mill. Three large smoke stacks
were also thrown down by fyinu
pieces of boiler and timbers. The en-
glneer, who gave the warning states
that shortly after . o'clock one Of the large
belts was thrown from the journal OF his
engine, and this threw the large band from
the fly-wheel, which weighs thirty tons
As matter OF course the engine started
OIL az lightning speed, and seeing that he
could not stop Il he gave the warning to
the employes some l5O in number Tho
fIy-wheel by this time had attained
such terrific velocity that II broke
20 pieces. portion Of e struck the large
boiler, causing IL and an adjoining boiler
70 explode almost simultaneously This
was followed 10y loud report aud the es-
cape OF steam, and after the smoke had
cleared away there was nothing left but "a
few posts standing mp and a large pile Of
debris lying over near tho old mill The
damage viii amount 90 not less than s25 OOO
and probably more