Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-04-11
FATAL EXPLOSION.
John Daniels Kined-Erank Nelson and
Abuer Lee Seriously Injured.


Woodland Mail, April 10thl
Last evening at $50 o'clock terrific ex-
plosion occurred on portion of the Nelson
ranch. on Cache creek, that resulted in the
death of John Daniels, the well known
thrashing machine man, aud the injury OF
Frank Nelson and Abner Lee. As soon as
the news reached Woodland the Nail dis
patched reporter to the scene, and the
following facts were elected:
On the north bank of Cache creek, about
a mile south of the Italian garden, J. Z.
Card had built some years ago an engine.
house, and put therein an old thrashing
engine to drive a centrifugal pump. Up to
the time of the accident the boiler had
worked satisfactorily. although il was re-
garded as unsafe. Some time ago Card
failed, and Nelson assumed control of the
property. Yesterday it was decided TO put
the engine and pump in operation. John
Daniels and Abner Lee were taken from
Woodland to act respectively as engineer
and fireman.
Together with Frank Nelson, they went
to the engine-house during the afternoon
and got up steam The pump was oper-
ated tor short time and then stopped. AT
$50 o'clock Frank Nelson asked some
question about the steam shown by the
guage. Lee replied: There are eighty
pounds of steam up and we have plenty OF
water Just then, with terrific force, the
boiler exploded.
Frank Nelson was blown sixty feet.
He landed on the bank of the creek. with
cash IN his head, but was not otherwise
injured.
Abner Lee was blown about the same
distance and was injured on the left hip,
besides receiving other bruises. These two
men at once sprang to their feet, although
Treckage was still falling. They ran lo
where the engine house had stood but g
moment before, and there found Mr.
Daniels under the debris. breathing heav.
lily but giving no other sign of life. In 8
moment or two Tim Springer, who resides
near by, came up and the three men gently
picked up the unconscious man. They
placed him in blanket and carried him tC
Springer's house, while a messenger was
dispatched for the poor man S relatives and
q physician. Mrs. Daniels and her daugh-
ter, Mollie, were soon at his bedside, but be
died fifteen minutes after their arrival OF
Just two and one-half hours after the acci.
dent. He was not in the least disfgured
the injuries being all internal. The griei
of the wife and daughter was great, yet they
strove nobly to bear up. The dead man is
native of Tennessee, and aged about 5e
wears. He had lived in Yoio county fol-
several years.
Frank Nelson and Abner Lee were seer
last night by Mail reporter at the resi-.
dence of the later. Mr.. Lee was in bed, at.
tended by his wife, mother and sisters. He
was very pale and seemed dazed, yet cheer.
full over his escape. Frank Nelson was, as
usual, in a quiet frame Of mind and had
little to say, but it was evident he was
| thankful for his escape.
Tim Springer, who had been familiar
with the boiler for many years, said the ex-
| plosion was caused by the giving away Of
| the crown sheet OF the fire box This
caused the boiler to collapse. THAT boiler
| was twelve years old" said Ar Springer,
"and / have regarded it as unsafe II
| burned wood and has long been used tc
pump water from Cache creek
One Of the employees Of Mr.. Nelson, who
was at the home place on this side of Cache
creek about half mile from the scene oil
| the explosion, said he heard the noise and
| saw the escaping steam over the tree tops
| but as no news was brought in he had con
| cluded no damage had resulted. Mr. Nelson
| and his wife knew no more than this wher
| the 1iG3 reporter called at about O'Clock
last night. From the Nelson ranch tC
| where the accident occurred is hard ride
Much brush exists and Cache creek has tc
be torded. When there, however, a scene
of devastation is presented. The engine
! and boiler are in fragments, scattered aboui
among the trees, and the engine-house i.
reduced to kindling wood. Trees are
wrenched and torn and the bushes blown
away.
The Coroner has been notified of the &C
cident and will take proper steps in the
matter to-day. The accident caused great
excitement in town last night.