Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-01-07
An Old Boiler Sends Two Men
Into Eternity.

New PROVINCE, Pa, Dec. 29.-An
awful calamity startled this communi-
ty between and 9 this morning. On
the old Book farm now John Hide
brand'sl quarter of mile northwest
of this village, Christian Hildebrand
and Edwin Helm, both young. men,
were instantly killed; the barn and ad-
joining buildings. with contents, were
utterly destroyed by fire and the live
stock, to the number of between forty
and fifty head, perished in the flames,
In this Lancaster county.
This morning Hildebrand and Helm
proposed to begin cutting feed. Their
engine. an l1.horse power secondhand
one, was rugged up on the barn bridge
and Mr.. Hildebrand, with Wm. Eek
man, Edward Helm and an 1l-year-old
lad named Frank Edwards, were en-
gagged in the work. The engine had
been run up to l63 pounds of steam
pressure Helm and Hildebrand were
standing near it, with the Edwards hoy
between them young Eckman was in
the barn feeding the machine. Sud-
denly without moments warning the
boiler exploded.
Hildebrand seems to have incurred
the fullsforce of the momentum given
to the broken machine. His body was
hurled through the air and alighted on
top of the wagon-shed, 20 feet from
tie ground. Helm was dashed to the
earth, frightfully mangled and instant
ly killed. The little Edwards boy was
scalded by the boiling water and had
his clothes set on fire. Frightened al
most to death, he started on run to
the village, his clothes aflame and him.
self shrieking with pain. He was met
on the road by J. Calyin Helm, who
put out the fire and started him home
for relief.
Eckman, who had escaped serious iD-
jury, at once dragged the lifeless body
OF Helm from the wreck. He then
gave his attention to Christian Hide
brand, whose body was seen upon the
wagon-shed roof where the force OF the
explosion had thrown it.
Meanwhile the Goals which the ex-
plosion had scattered over the premises
set fire to the large barn in dozen
places. In the excitement little thought
was given either to the preservation OF
the property or the rescue of the i'm
prisoned live stock, and soon the barn
was in flames beyond any hope of res
cue. Thence the confagration readily
extended to and entirely destroyed the
wagon-shed. corn crib, chicken house
and other sheds, with all their con.
tents. Among the last property were
a pair of mules, two horses, five colts.
eight fat steers, fifteen head Of young
cattle, two cows and eight hogs.
Eighteen hundred bushels OF corn was
destroyed; all the hay, straw and grain
in.the barn; together with much val
liable machinery. The fodder cutter
and other implements were totally ru-
ined.
The dwelling house, which stands
near by the burned buildings, was on
fire several times and only by great ex-
ertion of the increasing crowd of neigh
bors was saved from destruction.
The fragments of the broken machin-
cry were scattered all over the place,
and some of the wheels of the engine
were found a hundred yards distant. A
very short time before the wreck Mr..
Hildebrand had been in Che house and
spoke to his wife. Two minutes later
the Mortified young widow saw her hus-
bands dead body flying through the
air. The skulls Of both men were
fractured. Helms neck. was broken,
and he was badly scalded and cut.
Hildebrand's one leg was cut /; he was
injured internally and had many bones
broken. DIR. Amos Helm made the
medical examination.