Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-22
IN A FIERY SHOWER,
Five Men Seriously Burned at
Spang'S Steel Works.
AN EXPLOSION OF METAL
Caused by Wet Clay on the Lower
Plate of the Iron Mold.
A SCENE CREATED 6Y WOMEN
AN EXPLOSION OF METAL
A SCENE CREATED BT WOMEN

An explosion occurred at Spang's Steel
and Iron Works yesterday afternoon about
O'Clock, which will result fatally. Five
men were csught In a shower of liquid steel,
and two are expected to die. The names oi
the injured are:
MATT RHINE, ladle man, badly burned about
the body arms and lower limbs. Taken to
Allegheny General Hospital He cannot
ALBERT DREsHNER, ladIe man, slightly
scorched, the metal burning his face and
PETER OsBURN, pitman, badly burned about
his body, the metal almost cooking his flesh.
Grave fears are entertained for his recovery.
JOHN ADAMS, pitman, seriously burned about
his body and face.
JANIS GRANT, test boy, burned about the face
and legs. He will recover.
CAUSED BY WET CLAY.
The explosion was caused by wet freclay
on the bottom plate, on which the mold
stands. When the hot metal was turned into
the mold about half full, the liquid mass
burst forth in the air and fell in fiery balls
on the men who were around the ladle.
Those who were caught in the liquid shower
rushed out into open air screaming with
pain. Everything that human hands could
do to alleviate the sufferings of the men was
quickly done.
Ihe news OF the ACCIDENT spread ike WllO-
fire through the village. Doctors were soon
on the scene and rendered whatever services
they could to ease the agonies of the men.
Women almost besieged the mill to learn if
their friends or relatives were caught in the
seething mass of metal.
SOME FEARFUL SCENES.
When Rhine's wife recognized him she
burst into tears, wringing her hands in de-
spair, until the neighbors had to remove her
from the scene. Other women acted like
wise. When poor Grants mother saw him
she clasped him in her arms and wept bit
terlY.
Such scene of sorrow has not been wit
messed in the village of Etna for years
Even strong men were moved to tears when
they saw their fellows, who but a few mo-
ments before were strong and robust, lying
on the ground moaning with intense pain.
They turned away deathly sick from the
sight. The skin of Rhine was actually
roasting and cracking just as if he was be-
ing slowly cooked before bot fire.
An inquiry was made last night at the
mill to ascertain the cause of the
accident, The Bessemer blower stated
that owing to the fire clay which
is laid on the bottom plate not having been
properly dried before the liquid metal was
poured into it, caused the explosion.
DRY THEM WITH GAS.
He said when the molds were laid on top
of the plate the pitmen always turn gas
into the. mold to dry the fire clay.
1t is evident, he said, that the gas was too
strong in the mold where the explosion
took place, the gas merely drying the sur
face of the ireclsy. When the molten
metal was pured into the mold, the wet
freclay and steam forced Its way through
the metal, sending a fiery pillar into the
air which burst into a spray over the un-
fortunate men.
The explosion was quiet and unexpected.
Nobody had time to get away from the
burning metal In a moment the horri bic
and possibly fatal accident was over.
The Spang Steel and Iron Company did
all they could to help the men, and it is re-
ported that they will deal generously with
the friends of tle unfortunate men. A sub
scription will be Immediately started among
the workmen for the benefit Of the injured.
1t is to be proportionately distributed &C.
cording to the needs and circumstances of
each.