The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-05
BLOWN THROUGH A ROOF
HENNESsY's GRIsr MILL WRECKED
BY AK ExPL oDIEG BoILzR.

J. 3. Hennessy Hurled into Hay Pile.
and Boy sne Mule Lifted from the
Earth and Dropped Among the
Debris OF the Ruined Building
Thea colorsd People Injured, and
Several Have Narrow Escapes-The
Cause Of the Explosion.
The boiler in J. Il. Hennsssy's grist mill,
az No. 5 Hull street. exploded at ESQ O'Clock
yesterday morning, conn letely wrecking
tie northern end Of the mill and injuring
several people
The engine was located in the northwest
corner of the mill, and was run by Mr..
Hsanessey himself. He had just ex-
auained the gauges OF the boiler and
had stepped 10 the left side of
the engine TO put TIE betting on the saw
pulley. Before be succeeded In doing so the
explosion took place, and be was hurried
about ten feet. landing in pile of hay.
coiored boy, Tom White, was backing
out horse and cart from the woodshed at
the time, and he aud the horse and cart
were thrown in an upward direction and
fell among the debris. Strange TO say,
neither White nor the horse were at all
injured.
TIE BOILER SHATIEhED.
The lower sheet Of the boiler was COM
pletely blown out, and the ponderous ma
chine went through the roof, turned itself
wrong side up and fell back in the store
house among a lot Of meal tags. This
strange Fl eak Of the boiler was fortunate
thing for the people in the neigh borhood
Tor had il continued In the direction it
started unit, Ia damage and probably loss of
life would have resulted The smokestack
fell back among the ruins.
Mr.. Hennessy extrcated himself in few
moments and went 10 mis- home, No. IS East
Broad street, where DR.. Dunn attended
him. Mr.. HennesSy was badly scalded on
the left side and on his neck and face, and
received lacerated wound on the right
arm. While the wounds are painful no
serious results are feared
SOME OF THE INJURED.
A colored girl, Lila Harris, who lived in
house in the rear Of the mill, was slightly
scaled, and a co.ored woman, Emma
Grant. was struck on the back with piece
Of flying timber, but was not badly hurt.
Another negro, Proctor, who was work
ing in the mill, received slight cut In the
head.
The explosion was heard for several
blocks aud attracted large crowd Of peo-
pie. Boards and bricks and pieces Of the
boiler were thrown into South Broad street
lane.
As soon as the explosion occurred Alder
man Reed turned IN a fire alarm from box
No. II, to which the department responded
just in time to prevent serious fire. The
mill was filed with inf immable material
hay, bagging. etc.. and as the engine fell
among a lot of the baggng, 1t started a
blaze. A stream from the chemical was
turned on aud extinguIshed II.
CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION.
The explosion was caused by the boiler
being worn out, and unable to stand the
pressure TO which it was subjected. The
damage TO the property is estimated at
| $3.50.
All sorts of wild rumors were set afioat
about the explosion and caused people to
come from every direction to view the
ruins One rumor had 1t that
the boiler of McDonough & Ballantyne's
| foundry had exploded, wrecked the build
| ing and killed all the workmsn, and this
rumor brought crowds of people to the
| scene,
1t is a mystery that some of the attaches
of the mill were not killed, and Mr.. Hon
nessy's escape from instant death was truly
marvellous.