Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-06-20
BY DYNAMITE.
A TERRIBLE EXPLOSION At THB RIVERSIDE
FURNACE, YESTERDAY.
One Man Instantly Killsd and Seven Others
Wounded, Two Ofths Lsttsr Seriously, and
One Probably Pstally-A Pre-
mature Blast.

ringfor some time in the vicinity Of this
city, was reported from Bsnwood about
hslf-past one o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The scene of Me casualty was at the
blast furnace ofthe Riverside Steel Works,
and the cause was q premature explosion
of blast.
One man was killed instantly, another
was perhaps fatally wounded, and third
suffered the temporary loss of his sight,
while five others were more or less serious
ly hurt.
Several weeko ago the blast furnace at
the Riverside plant at Bsnwood became
chilled, and for some time past force Of
men have been at work clearing out the &C
emulation Of iron, etc, with dynamite,
the frequent explosions of which, by night
as well as by day, have been plainly audi
BILE over the four miles separating the
plant from the main portion of this city.
The men had got the main portion OF
the furnace clear of the accumulation,
and yesterday they were engaged in
blasting out the "sslamander" in the
bottom, or hearth, using dynamite
cartridges for the work. Their labOrs
were approaching completion, and
little more time would have seen
the furnace entirely clear and ready for
refining. About one o'clock the men pre-
pared hole for the reception of blast,
and were in the act Of tamping down
cartridge which had been inserted when
the explosion occurred. One OF the work
men, Samuel Lanthran, was almost iPme-
diately over the hole, and received the
full force Of the blast. His body was
hurled into the air distance of twenty or
twenty-five feet, and struck scaffOld in
the furnace on coming down, hang
ing there few moments, and
then dropping to the bottom. His
brains were dashed about for distance OF
fifteen feet, and ne must have died in
stantly He was married man, leaving
wife ard three children. He had come
to Benwood from Braddock, Pa, and WAS
a good and popular workman. He had
been at BenwOod about five or six weeks.
The most seriously wounded OF those in-
iured was Thomas Blade. His right eye
was destroyed, his nose cut in two, and his
| left side and arm crushed. He was re-
ported in o very critical condition last
evening, and can hardly recover, from
present indications. He is married man,
having wife and three children. His
home is in BenwoOd.
William Crockard, formerly of this city,
the Superintendent OF the Furnace, aud
Robert Devine, of this city, the assistant
| chemist, were standing close to the scene
of the operations when the explosion came,
Mr.. Crockard having Just come in. Mr..
| Crockard was struck in the forehead by
heavy piece of metal, sustaining bad
| looking cash two inches long, which
had to be closed by stitches. There does
not appear to be any fracture Of the bone.
NJ. Dsviue caught the blast of the explO-
sion in his face, both eyes being seriously
affected.
Asa Gorby was struck by a number of
| fragments OF iron, etc, and was painfully
| Injured about the face and arms. John
Dixon, John McMahon and Charles Sa-
bright were all close by when the eXplo-
sion occurred, and were Frustrated by the
shock, being stunned and badly shocked
generally by the conclusion. Their ipju-
ries, however, were not serious.
The news of the explosion quickly
spread through BenwOod, and large crowd
soon gathered. Manager Frank Hearne
was at the scene in q few moments, and at
once devoted himself assidiously 70 doing
all that was possible for the victims Of the
accident. Drs. Ford and EStey, of Ben
wood, and Drs. Frissel and Stitel, of this
city, were at once summoned, and the
wounded men taken to the Office building OF
the plant, where they were made as conf
Portable as possible. When the physicians
arrived, the wounds of all were promptly
attended to, and then the men were re-
moved to their several homes. No serious
results are anticipated, save in the case OF
Mr. Blade, although it was stated last
evening thst Mr.. DeyIne's eyes were in
bad shape.
It was not easy, yesterday, to get at the
exact facts regarding the tamping Of the
charge, which exploded. With one or
two exceptions, the charges have been
fred under the personal supervision of
Superintendent Crockard. 1t is thought,
however, that the pick-handle which was
used as tamping rod was struck with a
hammer or something of the kind, by one
of the men, and that this blow was the
direct caufe of the explosion. Tubes of
Etna dynamite, six inches long, were
used, and little over two ofsuch tubes
were used in each blast, which were
ignited with fuse.
Reports of the accident were current in
this city during the afternoon and even
ing, ir very exaggerated forms, but hap
PLY none of the wild rumors were founh
ed on facts.
Thomas Blade was taken to the hospital
last night. He showed remarkable nerve
in the face of being injured 40 badly, and
when taken home he told his wife he was
worth dozen dead men and in other ways
tried to comfort her.