The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-07
A TERRIFIC BLOW UP.
A BOILER ExPLoDEs WITH DIsAs.
TRous RESULTS
Five Persons Seriously Injured and a
Number OF Others Badly Bruised
Several Buildings Demolished or In.
jured by the Flying Debris.

PITTsBURG,! PA, July GA boiler ex.
plosion occurred at Groctzinger's tannery.
Allegheny City, about o'clock this after
noon. Five persons are reported injured.
several OF them, II is said, being fatally
hurt. Three horses were killed and the
tannery badly wrecked.
The following are the names of the
wounded:
Christ. Neidt, aged twenty-seven years.
bruised and scalded; injuries believed TO
be fatal.
l.. l.. Farbic, aged forty-three wears.
burned, bruised and scalded; death prob.
able.
Ottobcrg Ahendler, aged twenty-eight
years, bruised and scalded; will recover.
John Staab, about twenty-five years of
age, arms, face and body badly burned;
not fatally hurt.
Annie Myers, aged twelve years, crushed
and bruised very seriously.
A large number of others, mostly EN-.
ployes, were slightly bruised and cut bv
being hit by flying debris. The cause of
the explosion is believed tohave been high
pressure. A few minutes after 4 O'Clock
MIR. Wetzel, the engineer, noticed the
pressure was higher than usual. and he
started for the furnace to turn down tha
natural gas. Before he had time TO do so.
however, there was a terrible explosion.
and Wetzel was blown up through the
roof Of the tannery and landed in the yard
outside.
The conclusion was terrific. One side
oil the main building, brick and frame
structure, 100 feet long, was blown out,
ana a portion OF the front was badly
wrecked. The boiler-house, 50xI2 feet
built OF brick, was totally demolished, and
the office, which was situated across the
street, was completely shattered. A heavy
double wagon was blown against Wetzel's
residence, sixty feet away, and the side OF
tho house crushed in. Pieces of the
boiler tew in every direction. One sec.
ton was carried across the Allegheny
river, distance OF over 1000 feet. An
other piece struck the Third Ward school
house, loo feet away, and tore
out one end Of the building. A
third piece struck horse and killed
II, and fourth piece almost cut Grand
Rapids 4 Indiana freight car in two that
was standing on sidetrack near the scene
OF the accident. A scene OF the widest
excitement followed the explosion. Fully
sixty men were ut work in the tannery,
and all who were able to do so rushed
panic-stricken from the building. To add
to the horror OF the situation the building
caught fire, but before the flames got much
headway they were extinguished The
injured were then taken from the wreck
aud removed to their homes. They are
still living, but very slight hopes are en-
tcrtained for the recovery Of at least there
OF them.
The boilers that exploded were forty.
one feet long. They were made Of steel
and had been in use six years. The dam
age by the explosion will not exceed
$4,000.
Engineer Wetzel died at IL O'Clock
night, and Annie Myers is not cxpcCi.&
to live until morning The others are
resting easy. Mr. Croctzingcr, one Of the
owners Of the tannery, says that the boil.
ers were inspected last year and found
10 be in good condition.