Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-11-14
A ,EKRinDE sxplostoS.

r'hree r1en ktiIed mad Others
TvHumded by n Flash Powder Ex-
ilpiD>iDm.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 12 An explosion
OF Hash powder occurred Mt the ehemioRl
manufacturing establishment Of Wiley IL
Wallace, 1913 North Seventh street,
shortly before A O'Clock y0sterday after
noon, by which thee msn were instantly
killed, one fatally injured, and another
seriously Injured.
A large bottle OF fash powder had been
standing on shelf In the establishment
for a long time, and Mr.. Joseph Wiley,
member of the Arm, determined to get
rid OF it on account OF its dangerous
nature. He took the bottle to sink in
the rear of the basement and calling to
his assistance Charles Rhinedollar, o
chemist, and Rudolph Lippmsn, an en-
| ploSe, began to pour the stuff down the
| sink. Rhinedollar held q hose and
played water on the powder "a II ran
| from the bottle, and Lippman assisted
| MIR. Wiley. William Kidd, another eni-
ploye, stood by and watched the pro.
ceedings.
Just how tho explosion occurred will
never DO known, but it Ia believed tnat
the powder OH account of its age, was
slow in running from the bottle, and that
Mr.. Wiley must have struck 1t against
the sink to loosen 1t. Immediately there
was terrific explosion, accompanied by
u deafenirg report, the force OF which
snook the houses in the neighborhood.
Wiley. Lippman and Rhinedollar were
instantly killed, their bodies being dashed
against the walls Of the basement and
literally torn to pieces, Kidd was fright
fnllv injured aud cannot live. Alfred
Moffett, the engineer, had been close 10
the Sink, but moment before the explo
SIGN hs walked to his engine in the centre
of the basement, and thus escaped the
full force thereof He 10 badly hurt but
his injuries ave not believed to be fatal.
rhomss Hsslam, the bookkseper, was
slightly injured.
AS soon as the explosion occurred an
alarm OF DIRE WAS sounded, and the fire,
men did good service 10 the way OF help
ing tbs injured and removing the dead.
Thirteen girls aud q number of men were
employed on tho upper floors, and they
were panio.stricksn by the shock. The
girls attempted to jump from the win
dows. and solue of them tainted, thus
adding to the excitement. The building
and stock we're badly damaged, all OF tht
windows and bottles being smashed, the
lower floors torn up and the walls dam
eged. Mr. Wiley was SO years cid and
lived in Germantown. He was the Geniol
member of the firm, and leaves a wife
sud several children. The chemist, Mr.
Rhihedollar, was 20 years old, and I'M
. married. L,ppmen was 10, and Kidd is a
The explosion is indirectly due to Q
suit brought against the firm by thu
! father of John ID. Uruice, lG-yeGrs
. oidboy, who lost his life abou
/ q year ago by an explosion o
t flash powder. Young CruIce was EN-
: ployed in the laboratory, aud while h
, was handling some of the powder it ex
, plodei, killing him. The father sue'
for damages, alleging that the firm wa
' negligent in allowing a boy to handle 81
l dangerous compound. The case wa
: up for trial yesterday but was postponed
t aud Mr.. Wiley on his return from cour
' declared that he would get rid of III
2 powder then in the cellar, which wa
! some left on hand after the explosion
a which killed Oruice.