The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-12
MEN BLOWN TO PIECES.
A FATAL EXPLOSION IN A DRUG
HOUSE AT PHILADELPHIA.

One of the Proprietors and Two As
sistants Getting Rid OF Flash Powder.
A Suit for Damages on Account of a
Death from a Previous Explosion
the Indirect Cause of Yesterdays
Disaster.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Nov. 11.-An ex-
rlosion of flash powder occurred at the
chemical manufacturing establishment of
Wiley g. Wallace at o'clock this after
noon. by which three men were instantly
killed. one fatally injured, and another
seriously injured A large bottle of flash
nowder had been standing on shelf in the
establishment for a long time, and Joseph
Wiley. a member of the firm, determined to
get rid Of it on account of its dangerous
nature.
POURING 1T INTO A SINK.
He took the bottle TO q sink in the rear of
the basement, and calling to his assistance
Charles Reindollar, chemist, and Rudolph
Lippman. an employe, proceeded to pour
the stuff down the sink. Reindollar
held the hose and played water
On the compound as it ran from the
bottle and Lipmann assisted Mr.. Wiley.
William Kidd, another employe, stood by
and watched the proceedings. Just exactly
how the explosion occurred will never be
known, but it said that the powder, on
account of its age. was slow in running
have struck it against the sink to loosen it.
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.
Immediately there was a terrific ex-
plosion, accompanied by deafening re-
port, the force of which shook the houses in
the neighborhood. Wiley, Lipmann, and
Reindollar were instantly killed, their
bodies being dashed against the walls
Il the basement and literally torn
TO pieces. Kidd was frightfuIly in
jured and cannot live Alfred Moffett,
the engineer, had been close to the sink, but
moment before the explosion occurred he
walked to his engine, located in the center of
the basement, and thus escaped the full
force. He is very badly hurt, but his in
juries are not believed to be fatal. Thomas
Haslan, bookkeeper, is slightly injured.
FIREMEN TO THE RESCUE.
As soon as the explosion occurred an
alarm of fire was sounded, and the firemen
did good service in the way of helping the
injured and removing the dead.
Thirteen girls and a number of men were
employed on the upper floors, and they
were panic-stricken by the shock. The
girls attempted to jump from the windows
and some of them tainted, thus adding to
the excitement.
DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING.
The building and stock were badly dam
aged, all of the windows and bottles being
smashed. the lower floors torn up and the
walls damaged.
Mr.. Wiley was SS years old and lived in
Germantown. He was the senior member
Of the firm, and leaves a wife and several
children. Chemist Reindollar was 80 years
old and unmarried. Lipmann was 10, and
Kidd is 27. -
WHAT LED TO THE EXPLOSION
The explosion is probably indirectly due
to suit brought against the firm by the
father of John d. Cruice, a 16-year-old boy
who lost his life about year ago by an ex-
plosion of flash powder. Young Cruice was
employed in the laboratory, and while he
was handling some of the powder it ex-
ploded, killing him. His father sued for
damages, alleging that the firm was negli-
gent in allowing the boy to handle SO dan.
gerous compound.
THE CASE UP YESTERDAY.
The case was up for trial to-day but was
postponed, and Mr.. Wiley, on his return
from court, declared that he would get rid
OF the powder then in the cellar, which was
some left on hand after the explosion which
Killed Cruice. He proceeded TO destroy the
powder with tha raSult ralatad aboya