The Portland daily press., 1890-04-23
AN EXPLOSION RENT THE AIR,
While Men Were Fighting Fire In the
Cambo Powder Mills.
Two Men Seriously Hurt and TWO
Others Slightly Injured.
Seven of the Company's Mills En-
tireiy Consumed.
Especial to the Press.l


SOUTH WINDHAsf, April 22.-About
o'clock this afternoon fire broke out in the
saltpetre pulverizing mill of the Oriental
Powder COmpany's works at Gambo. This
mill was situated on the left bank of the
Presumpscot, and within short distance Of
it were six other mills, which perform vari-
GUS offices in the work of powder making.
They are known as the soda pulveriZer, the
mixing mills, Of which there were two, the
beaters. also two i'll number, and the dry
house. Thus there were seven buildings in
all, each 20x30 feet, and together covering
but small area. being quite close together.
The origin of the fire in the pulverizlng mill
is not known, though it is thought it may
have been due to slipping belt. AS soon
as the fire was discovered the men were as
sembled to try and subdue it. In spite of
their efforts. however. the flames spread to
the soda pulverizing mill. and from there to
the mixers. In one of the mixers there was
considerable powder and when the flames
reached it it exploded with a loud reports
throwing the timbers and machinery in all
directions. This was the only mill that ex-
ploded, the others were either destroyed en-
tlrely by fire, or partly by the fire and part
ly by this explosion.
When this mixer exploded there were men
at work near It trying to put out the fire in
the other buildings. Quite a number of
them were thrown down by the concussion
and four were struck by flying timbers or
pieces of machinery. The names of the in
lured are William Leavitt, Walter Leavitt,
his son, James Jordan and Thayer Logan.
Jordan was slightly burned and Logan was
struck in the back by. flying timber.
Neither OF them was seriously hurt. With
the Leavitts the case was otherwise. Mr..
Leavitt, senior, was struck by a heavy tim
Der in the abdomen, another flying missile
inflicted severe wound at the base of the
skull, his whiskers were burned off, and his
ankle sprained, besides some minor bruises.
Some idea can be gained of the force of the
er0sbs5 c0T on s the oa S9 % hs fact that M. it
shall of Portland, who formerly prac-
ttced here, and has attended the in
lured by explosions of these mills
in the past, came up on the evening train
and examined Mr.. Leayitts injuries. He
says that the danger lies chiefly In infiamma-
tion of the brain or the abdomen. 1t will be
impossible to determine until later just how
serious the case will prove. Mr.. Leavitt is a
man between 90 and 60 years of age, and has
been employed in these mills many years.
He has wife and several children. Walter
Leayitt, William Leavitys son, was severely
burned about the face and hands, and on his
head was flesh wound inflicted BY some fly
ing missile. His injuries, though severe, are
probably not dangerous. Young Leavitt is
about % years of age.
That more of the men were not injured is
surprising. Probably their escape was due
to the fact that they were quite near the
mixing mill when 1t blew up, so that the
debris was blown for the most part over
and beyond them.
After the explosion the fire quickly spread
to the remaining mills, and in a short
time they were all consumed. For
tunately the wind blew away from the river.
else the company's other mills.
which lie on the opposite bank
probably have caught fire and blown up,
Most of the powder was in these mills and
had the fire reached them there would have
been series of tremendous explosions.
The principal loss to the company is in the
machinery destroyed and the material. The
buildings were Oi little yalae y1 being simply
pail, the superintendent, roughly estimates
the loss at several thousand dollars. There
was some insurance-how much he did not
kn0W-0n the dry house, but the other build
lngs and their contents were uninsured. This
evening the men are at work playing on the
aeotis ae6 4, with hand engine. The grass is on
nre In places. but there is no danger of its
spreading The damage is virtually confined
70 the company's property, few broken
windows in the neighbOring houses being
tne sum total OF the injury outside Of it.
One Hundred Acres Burned ovir.
GRAFTON. Vt, April 22.-One hundred
acres belonging to the estate of Ira Blodgett
were burned over today, destroying a dwell
ing and its contents. No insurance.
Burned While Fighting Fire.
FRANKLIN. Mass, April 22.-Several forest
fires are raging in this vicinity and in the
past two days have burned over many acres.
While fighting the flames last evening, Jason
Tower fell and was severely burned.