Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-09-23
SERIOUS EXPLOSION.
THE FLUR OF A TOP MILL BOILER COL
LAPSES.
Engineer John Emory Fatally Hut-Narrow
Escape Of Other Employees Of the Works.
Details Of the Accident

just before one OclOck yesterday oi'oA
noon the business portion of the city be-
came prevailed with the rumor that a ter
rible explosion of natural gas had occurred
at the Top Mill, and that three men had
been killed and a number of others wound
ed, while much damage had resulted to
the works. This rumor was entirely mac
curate as to the origin of the explosion,
and was very far from the truth regarding
the casualties. The facts are as follows:
About a quarter after twelve O'Clock,
while the ,nailers and feeders were wash
ing up, eating their dinners or cleaning up
about their machines, n of the hues
in a boiler forming part of q battery
of four, situated on the east side Of the
factory building, and facing it, collapsed
while a high pressure of steam was on.
The explosion which resulted threw an
enormous mass of steam and boiling wa
ter directly into the factory building,
blowing out the coal bunkers In Its
course, and deluging the nail machines
with coal and water. The force of the ex-
plosion was terrific. Immediately IN
front of the boilers, and between them and
the building, was a large quantity OF coal,
probably fifty or one hundred bushels. This
coal, although fifteen or twenty feet from
the end of the collapsed flue, was blown
into the factory by the ton, large quanti-
titles flying clear across it and out of the
windows on the river front, a distance OF
one hundred and fifty feet from where it
originally lay. The impression, on look
ing at the scene of the accident, was that
several tons. of coal had been shot through
the building from some huge cannon.
The only casualty of moment resulting
from the explosion, was the fatal scald-
ing of John Emory, the engineer. MIR.
Emory was standing in front and a little
TO one side of the weak boiler, and thus
received a very considerable amount of the
discharge of steam and water, while es-
Gaping its full force. As it was he was
blown into the coal bunkers and when
rescued was in a horrible condition, black
as an African from coal dust, his face was
covered with blood, while the skin Of his
arms, hands, face and neck was hanging
in shreds from the blistered flesh. His
clothing was in tatters, and steaming hot
from the scalding water, and the unfOrtu-
nate man was writhing and moaning in
agony. Quickly a large number of the
employees of the mill were ut the scene,
and Mr.. Emory was removed to his home
No. 452 Main street, and ID. Ulrich sum-
moned. The physician made q careful ex-
animation of Mr.. EmrOy's wounds and
pronounced them very serious, but not
necessarily fatal. A piece of flesh had been
gouged from the corner of his left eye,
there was a severe cut OH the forehead,
while his body was scalded from head to
foot, the skin being nearly all loOsened
frem the flesh, neccssitating its removal.
The patients eyes were all right, and he
could talk and breath with comparative
ease although he was of the opinion that
he was burned internally. The Doctor eX-
amined Mr.. Emory's mouth and found the
tongue slightly burned, but aside from
that thought there was no other internal i'll
Jury. Proper dressing was applied, and
the patient seemed to be doing well, al
though suffering much pain. Toward
evening, however. he grew worse and died
+about 8 o'clock.
Had the explosion taken place twenty
minutes earlier, while the factory was run
ming there would have been a long list OF
casualties, as probably twenty men work
ed at machines directly in front OF the
boiler and in line with it. AS it was, one
or two trifing burns or bruises from flying
bits of coal was the extent of the wounds
inflicted.
The boilers composing the battery are
about thirty feet long by forty inches in
diameter, and are fitted with two fifteen
inch nues. They were inspected about a
week ago, and pronounced all right. The
pressure was limited to 100 pounds, and it
is supposed Ia have been considerably less
than that amount. The cause of the ex-
plosion is at present unknown, but it is
thought it may have been due to low
water. Natural gas had nothing whatever
to do with it.
The loss to the Mill Company will be
considerable, as, aside from the loss of
nails and nail plate, wet and rusted, the
factory will have to lay off several days
until repairs can be made.
Mr.. G.. r. Hubbard, President of the
Top Mill Company, stated that the boiler
had been recently inspected by the Ameri-
can Steam Boiler Insurance C%Ompany's
Agent, and pronounced safe and that the
Company took a certificate to that effect.
Mr.. Hubbard greatly regrets the death of
Mr.. Emory, saying that it was the only
feature of the accident which gave him the
least concern. Mr.. Emory had been q
faithful employe of the company for many
years. He was about'40 years of age, and
leaves 4 wife and several children.
LADIES solid leather fine kid button
shoes 81. so worth 500 at