Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-01
THE EGAS-MAIN BURSTS.
ONE NAN BADLY AND TEREE OTHERS
SLIGHTLY HURT.
A Part of ths street-Lamps TO be Cut OH
Until Temporary Arrangements
are Made.

Until Temporary Arrangements
are Made.
An accident occurred Mt the lower gas
works yesterday morning at few minutes
plst 10 o'clock, in which one Of the operatives
was quite seriously injured aud three others
received slight burns
Il was the bursting OF one Of the four large
hydraulic mains into which the gas passes as
soon as Il is generated in the retorts and
which had Just been cleaned ont.
MT. George Beck was so badly stunned
that he could not spesb FOR nearly an hour.
and J. Z. tayedo. Elijah Throcmorton, and
J. W. Minson bad their arms and hands
slightly scorched, but they were able TO re-
turn 10 work IN a very few minutes.
The explosion caused considerable con-
s'ernstion in the works. and when Beck fell
motionless and speecbless there was great
fear among bis co-workmen that he was fa-
tally hurt. The intelligence soon spread
over town and caused a ripple Of excitement
and anxiety. Many people telephoned TO the
works TO satisfy themselves IS to the extent
Of the damage.
THE FIRsT ONE.
4 Dispatch reporter visited the works
shortly after the explosion, which was the
tir.t one that ever occurred at this place.
There are four OF these hydraulic mains
which rest Immediately on top OK the re-
torts. They are - shaped, with the flat side
up, are tWenty.l0ur inches in depth, and
iortv.fyo feet long. They are in 1--WE sections,
each nine feet long, and the one which burst
receives the gas generated from i've benches,
each Of which has i've ret0rts. When
tBe gas is produced from burning coal IL
passes up stand.pipes from the doors OF the
rc,ort 10 brdgepipcs and down through Dip
pipes into these mains, which are gept more
than bali flll OF water and tar. These DIP
pipes are made to penetrate the mains about
bali their depth and b. dip in the water and
tar about three quarters OF an inch. This Is
Intended a. sort OF sealing process. e.,
the -as il drawn through the pipes and into
tine main bv means Of an hydraulic engine,
and when It gets there the water and tar pre-
vent it from passing back Into the retorts.
THE PROCESS.
It nav be interesting to many readers who
have never given The matter careful con>ld-
erat.on to explain the process through which
the ga, passes after being made. IL goes
from these mains into washers and scrub
through the exhauster, from there to the
condensers, next to another scrubbcr,
through the puriiying-hOuse. through the
metre. and thence into the gas-holder,
whence it flows through mains and pipes TO
all parts Of the city where it Is consumed.
HOW IT OCCURRED.
Just how the accident occurred is some.
what q mystery. These MAINS are cleaned
H.. frnr.. .Faf he Iff
condition NAV require and fresh water and
tar substituted for that which has become
tbick With dirt aud accumulated matter. IA
is usual on the night before a main is to be
cleaned these retorts while heated were not
in operation after midnight. llch section
II the mains has three hand-hOes, six by
eight inches IN size, and these were opened
yesterday morning at ! O'Clock, as Is
customary on such occasions, so a.
% allow all 81 the gas TO escape.
The pipe had been entirely emptied aud all
n these holes closed save one, which was TO
be used for pumping in the water. and this
was about o. bee done when tue hr-t Joint or
section very UNEXPECTEDLY exploded. At
I1i, time Beck was descending ladder, and
d is thought he WAS struck in The chest by
nity-p0uud scli-hoiding cap which few of
the too or one Oi the dlp-pipes. 10 r sup
That the heat, or perhaps the blaze from the
ret)ri-fre. icnted the little sas that bad ac-
inundated in The main. causing the trouble.
THa DAMAGE.
The actual damage resulting from the ac-
.idearis mere trIllc except tuat temp0rari-
ly one fourth OF The producing capacity OF
the plant is cut off and to this extent the
.uprjIv viii Doe affected. Superintendent W.
g.. ADAMS went 20 work directly 10 remedy
the trouble. and hopes by Monday afternoon
ID resume the use o. the remaining four sec
t.ons OF the broken main. Mean while, how
ever, be thinks be VIII be able 20 furnish
consumers without any serious interference.
IIe Yesterday directed thai all OF the gas-
LAMPS on the parallel streets from
Canal on The south 10 Leigh on
,he north be no at night, but that
those on the other parallel and all OF the
cross streets be not nc. lie does not think
be will have to reduce the lighted territory
any further, as the remaining part OF the
works viii be taxed 20 their utmost capacty
both day and night, and he will work con-
iuuously until the damage Is repaired. Mr..
Adams has been az the gas-works for twen.
ty.three Years. aud this IS the only accident
that has ever happened, and he congratu-
lles himself that 10 was not more serious.
bECk mi IaES.
Mr.. Beck was taken TO the residence OF his
mother, 40. l04 Maple street, where Dis
patch reporter called later IN the day. He
was entirely conscious, but bad been en-
Joined 10y Dr. Ross, his family physician not
90 talk. The Doctor did not think his III
juries were Of character at al calculated to
alarm ms friends. lie was hunt IN the
breast. but to just what extent is not yet
known.
Mr.. Mn.on was seen at work. lie could
say nothug more about the accident than is
rclsted above, and could not see why tn, eX-
plosl0u should have occurred when the same
process 81 cleaning bad been followed since
The establishment II the works.
Mr. Walsh, the foreman, very kindly gave
the scribe all OF the information be had, and
showed him through the entire establish
ment,