Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-12
Steam at High Pressure Flags
John Lappan Alive.
PENT UP in THE FIRE BOX.
Son of a Wealthy Boiler Manufacturer
Scalded Horribly.
WORKMEN STOOD BY POWERLESS
While Locomotive Boiler Emptied Itself
On Their Friend,
SURGEONS NEVER SAW A WORSE CASE

John Lappan, aged q, son of James Lap
pen, the wealthy boiler manufacturer of
Lawrenceville, met with a terribly tragic
death yesterday morning, the result of an
accident while at work at Nhe Panhandle
roundhcuse. He was scalded to death by
steam at a pressure of 75 pounds to the
square inch, in such position that crowd
of grieved fellow workmen were powerless
to afford him the slightest aid.
Just before 10 o'clock Saturday night
Lappan climbed into the freboI of a loco
motive in the Panhandle roundhouse to
"plug flue," as the operation of tighten
ing the joints of the fue system is called.
FRIGHTFULLY SITUATED.
He gave the end of the fue a smart tap
with his hammer and the blow forced the
end of the f1ue into.the boiler, releasing the
steam through a two-inch hole, full upon
the n,dy of the young workman. He was
in a crsmped position, unable to move, and
the steam, at the pressure of IS pounds to
the square inch, fairly fayed him alive. the
noise of the escaping vapor drowning his
frantic screams for help.
The workmen in the roundhouse were
unable to get to the locomotive, on account
of the cloud of steam, and no help could be
afforded until the pressure in the boiler had
exhausted itself through the aperture made
by the lue. Lsppan was still alive when
taken from tine frebox. He was tenderly
taken to the West Penn Hospital, where,
despite all attention, he died at o'clock
yesterday morning in excruciating agony.
HIS WIFE FRUSTRATED.
He was married, and lived at Webster
avenue and Gum street. His wife was
away several miles in the country. The
young couple had recently lost child, and
when the sad news reached Mrs. Lappan she
became unconscious. She reached the hos
pital few moments before her husbands
death, and her condition was 90 alarming
that she remains under medical care.
Undertaken Moreland took the remains to
Mr.. James Lappan's home, No. 535 North
HiIand avenue, and notified Coroner Nc
Dowell, who will hold an inquest this
morning at IL o'clock. So terrible had been
the effect of the scalding that not particle
of skin adhered to the body.
The family of the victims father are all
at Atlsntic City for the summer. Mr.. Lap
pan was notified by telegraph, and answered
that the family would arrive in Pittsburg
this morning. The West Penn Hospital
surgeons stated that so severe a case of
scalding by steam had never before been
presented in their experience.
HEROIC TREATMENT IN VAIN.
When Lappan was brought to the hospital
his clothing was removed and he was envel-
oped from head to foot in cotton, smeared
with glycerine, and external opiates, which
somewhat alleviated his agony. His lungs,
however, had almost been destroyed by the
steam he had inhaled, and his efforts to
voice his sufferings were extremely pitiable.
When his weeping wife arrived he was con-
scious of her presence; but this lasted
only a few moments. Undertaken More
lands attaches had a difficult task in re-
storing the remains of the poor fellow to a
semblance of humanity