New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-12
FATAL EXPLOSION OF FLASH POWDER
THE SENIOR PARTNER OF PHILADELPHIA
CHEMICAL FIRM AND TWO OF HIS
EMPLOYEES BLOWN TO PIECES.

Philadelphia, Nov 11.-An explosion of flash powder
occurred at the chemical manufacturing establishment;
Of Wiley & Wallace No 1913 North SeventhSt, shortly
beSore o'clock this afternoon, by which three men
were instantly killed, fatally injured and another
seriously injured large bottle of fash powder hal
Teen standing shelf in the works for long time,
and Joseph Wiley, a member of the firm. determined
TO get rid of it on account of its dangerous nature
He took the bottle a sink in the of the base
-nent and calling to his assistance Charles Rhine
dollar a chemist, and Rudolph Lppman, an employe,
lroceeded to pour the stuff down the sink. Rhine
dollar held hose and played water on the compound
as il ran from the bottle and Lippman assisted Mr.
Wiley William Kidd another employe, stood watch
ing the work Exactly how the explosion occurred
viii never be known, but it IS believed that The
powder, on account of its age wa slow in running
from the bottle, and that Mr Wiley must haze struck
IL against the sink to loosen It.
Immediately there was terrible explosion, accom-
naned by a deafening report, the force Oh when
shook the houses in the neighborhood Wiley,
Iinpmaa and Rhlnedoar instantly killed. their
bodies being dashed against the walls Of the base
nent and literally to pieces. Kidd was frghfully
,irod and cannot live Alfred Mofett, the engineer
had been close to the sink, but moment before th'
cxploon occurred he walked to his engine. located II
be centre of the basement and thus escaped the ful
,c Of tbe shock He is badly hurt, but his injuries
are not believed TO be fatal. Thomas Haslan' th'
tookkeeper. was slightly injured. As soon as th'
cvnloslon occurred alarm OF fire was sounded ant
tho fremen did good service in the way OF helping
the injured and removing the dead Thirteen g.iH
and a number of men were employed on tho upper
floors and they panc-stricken Is the SHOCK
The girls attempted to jump from The Windows ana
some of them fanted thus adding TO the excitement
Tho building and stock we're badly damaged all OF
the windows and bottles being smashed, the lower
floors were torn up and the walls damaged Mr
Wiley was thty eight years old. and lives In German
town He was the senior membor OF the firm, anc
leaves a wife and several children. The chemist, Mr.
Rttncdollar, was twenty-nine years DID, ard nn
married Lippman was nineteen and Kidd in twenty
une
The explosion IS probably indirectly due to sui
brought against the firm by the father of John
Crce sixteen-year-old boy, who lost his life aoou
a wear ago by an explosion Of flash powder Yount
Cruce was employed in the laboratory. and while h
mas handling some Of the powder II exploded, kllln
lin The father sued for damages, alleging that tn
firm was negligent In allowing boy to handle s.
dangerous a compound. The case was up for tria
nm from court declared that he would get rid OF tb
,,nuder then in the cellar, which was some left o
bsrd after the explosion which killed Cruce. Ill
nroceeded to destroy the powder, with result relates
above.