Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-17
HIGHER THAN A KITE.
A Battery of 60-HOrse Power Boilers
Quickly Sent Flying.
WRECK OF A PUMPING STATION.
Part of Allegheny City Without Water for
Several Hours.
MR.. ARMsTRONG'S LITTLE ADVENTURE

Shortly before o'clock yesterday morn
ing an explosion occurred at the Howard
street pumping station of the Allegheny
Water Works, which completely ruined the
building. A battery of 60-horse power boil
ers gave way, leaving scarcely vestige of
the building to show where the boiler room
was located.
At the time of the explosion, A. L. Arm
strong, who is son of Superintendent Arm
strong, was in the engine room, and the
force of the explosion knocked him down.
He managed to regain his feet, and ran out
into the street. By this time the natural
gas, which was still burning, set fire to the
roof of the building. Young Armstrong re-
entered the engine room, and. securing the
fire alarm key. ran down to Madison avenue
and sent in an alarm from box 124.
OVERCOME BY EXHAUSTION.
Armstrong then started back for the build
ing, but was overcome and sank exhausted on
Howard street. where he was found and carried
into a nearby house, and was afterward re-
moved to his home. The young man Is injured
somewhat about the body, but his condition is
not serious. He was the only person on duty
at the time of the explosion
Three of the bricks from the wrecked build
ing were sent whirl1ng through the side
wall of the frame residence of John Klein
which is located just cross the street from the
wrecked building. One of the bricks entered
the bedroom where Mr. and Mrs. Klein were
sleeping and buryinG itself in the floor, set fire
to the room. The fam es were soon eXtinguished
with bucket or water.
Superintendent Armstrong, who was early
on hand with a force of men to clear away the
wreck, stated that the battery of boilers was
put in by firm named Bowman i'll 1883. and
each boiler was G0horse power. At time of the
explosion but so pounds pressure OF steam was
on; this was all they were allowed to carry. and
could not get any more, as the pressure of
natural gas was not strong enough.
THE BOILERS WEAK.
Mr.. Armstrong has not clearly made up his
mind as to the cause of the explosion. but
thinks it was occasioned by the boilers being
weak. The damage done by the explosion, he
thinks. will amount to about S5,OOO on which
there is not a cent of insurance. AS the city
does not insure its water works property. the
loss will therefore have to be sustained by the
city.
AS a result of the explosion, the hill portion
of Allegheny that was supplied by the Howard
street station was without water yesterday.
This caused considerable inconvenience. par
ticularly to the Pleasant Valley electric lines,
as they lost fully two hours time from the
want of water.
The force of the explosion was very great
and shook all the houses for two squares about.
and caused a great deal of fright and excite
ment
Superintendent Armstrong stated yesterday
that he thought he would have things In shape
so that they would be pumping water to-day.
The engines, which were located in rear
room, suffered no injury whatever, and can be
put in use as soon as the new boilers are con-
structed.