New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-10
KILLING TWO SPECTATORS.
A BURSTING CENTRIFUGAL MACHINEl
FLYING IRON DEALS DEATH AND WOUNDS N
CREAM OF TARTAR FACTORY.

1AAAso 4hO$ DS&a1<c DEdLA AMI WOS~1C -
CREAM OF TARTAR FACTORY.
An accident causing tho death Of two men and thd
injury of three others occurred yesterday afternoon
in the factory of the New-York Tertar Company -
Nnth-st and the Gowanus Canal, 10 South Brooklyns
The works connected with the Royal Baking Pow-
der Companys management, and formerly In
the Eastern District Of Brooklyn, but many com<
plants were made of the nuisance caused by the smell
that the factory removed TO South Brooklyn The
people there have frequently complained OF it.
About 80 p. m. yesterday new centrifugal ms
chine for drying taltaric acid crystals was put n
operation. score or more Of the workmen cmi
ployed In the factory and mechanics who were 81
work the new building which Is being erected
stood about to witness the operation. The oentris
ugal machine had been running only few
minutes, and was revolving at high rate OF speed
when IL suddenly burst with loud report Tho two
largo pieces few in opposite directions. and each
killed q spectator. Emil Weber, ago forty, Of No
492 sxthavc the foreman of the tartac scid departs
ment Of the works, had the top OF his head cut
clear of, aad he was killed nstantaneously. Robert
p King. age eighteen, lead burners assistant, Of
No. 452 Thrdave., was struck In tho head and bis
skull was split open. HIS death was instantaneousl
The smaller pieces Of the brass of the machine and
the acid crystals in II flew in all directions George
Bradshaw. ago twenty-five, OF No. 145 Twenty eighth
ST., was struck In the left thigh by piece Of the
metal and severely hurt Peter zwItlowitscb,
age forty two Of No. 236 Fiftcenths. received severe
contusons Of the right leg Charles Meyer ago thirty,
Of No 434 FolTth-ave, was struck In thd
eyes with the acid and was badly burnsd.
Instead Of informing the police the company sent fog
physicians, who attended to tho injured mon. and
they were sent homo In coaches instead OF ambu<
lances. Coroner Rooney sont for, and he gave
permission to remove the bodies of the dead mon
to undertaker's Office When the police finally
learned of the matter In roundabout way, poljco<
man was sent TO sae place and all information waa
refused.
At later aour the names Of the injured men wert
reported. Tribune reporter visited tho factory
and Superintendent Frederick NJ. stevens said thae
the centrifugal machine which burst sruilar ia
five others which were In In the factory. They
had been in use for years, and accident had oc}
CURED before. Tho machine was similar to thoss
used in sugar refneres, and abou. thirty inches
in height and of the diameter. 1t stood on
platform about high a mans head. Edwsr0
Oliver, Of Astoria, who manufactures the machines
under Hepworths patent was experimenting tho
putting Of 1t in place and stood close
to II with his hand on the brake when tho acct
dent occurred He escaped uninjurcd. The cause
Of the accident Is supposed to have been flaw In tho
metal which caused tho pieces to separate when high
rate OF speed was reached Superintendent stevens
said he had theory account for the bursting Of the
machine. 1t not tested 1T was supposed to be
perfectly safe. The loss to the company VII Be small
pieces OF which few forty feet and sono panes =
glass were broken.