Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-01-16

William Ross, coloted, Joshua Williams,
colored, and julius Hummel, the three
victiIps who inhaled the poisonous fumes
OF the Walton II WhRnn Company's works
ON Tuesday week. The same iuriez we're
sworn over each body, aud after viewing
the bodies the jusy adjourned to the
Walton IS Whann Company works.
The jury was shown the place in which
che men received their fatal sickness. Il
b large metal chamber about 10 feet
square and about as high and contains
three man. holes. This chamber when in
use ia connected with : furnace in which
iron ore is burned, generating sulphur
fumes. This vapor is conveyed to tbs
chamber where it Is condensed into sui,
phuric acid which is OF course, usel In
the manufacture Of phosphate. Theresi-
due OF the iron becomes into oxide Of
iron which is used for commercial rur-
poses. After five or siI months, o Ae6i,
ment gradually COLLECTS IN the bottom OF
the chamber to the depth of ave or Six
inches and it was i'll cleaning thss out
shst the men forfeited theiE lives.
This sediment is soft, semi-liqrid
mess containing poisonous nitroU gas,
which Is generated when it ia stirred no
when removing il. The chamber had
been disconnected from the furnace fer
al least four days to allow some Necessary
Fepairs to the connections and there was
no possible negligence from that source.
The testimony showed that the ohamaer
contained about six inches Of sediment
before it was cleaned out on Monday and
tuesday weer, Which Was probably half
inch more than the average. Il vas the
third time within Is months that the
shamber had been cleaned and the opera
tion was performed as usual and, accord.
ing to the testimony, under similar ccndi-
tions, yet thele was no evidence or cir
eumstRnces to show Why II should have
proven fatal on this occasion bu! never
before.
Captain LsMaistre Of the Walton 4
Whsnn Company was rather backward Ia
expressing the opinion that tine deadly ae
feet Of the fumes at this time was probably
due to the deteriorated physical condition
otthemen caused by tbs recent stats Of the
weather, causing grippe and similar ais-
orders. He is inclined to this belief Tie
more because mon were seldom taken
sick except temporarily on previous ocua-
sions.
Theodore NJ. Smedley who had charge
of the work, testified that they began the
work of cleaning this chambsr on Mon
day morning week and finished Tues lay
night wesk. When at this work the men are
allowed to come out at their pleasure.
There were II or Is men employed at the
chamber who took their turns about,
usually in squads Of three. These squads
were relieved every 10 or is minutes, and
the men then generally remained in the
oiN 4pN hnl EaFn
returned again. The fumes from the
sediment always choked up the men.
The work is not considered dangerous, az
the men are not allowed to stay in there
too long. No deaths have ever occurred
from this cause before, although meu
have been taken SICK. The men are
warned to come out 40 soon as they fee
the effects Of tho ges.
John O. Blair, who said that he hat
charge OF the acid works, testified that hi
Was present during part of the time thu
the chamber was cleaned. Ross ha,
helped to clean ont tie chamber before
and nsd remained in the chamber 10
two hourG or more Of 8 time. On thi
day Ross only worked two @spells' OF Il
or II minutes each between and lob
q. m, and then went houa. Tie fut
nscas had been out week and the con
neoEions separated for neatly the ssm
tins.
Benjamin Lamborn coleFed, said Tia
he was one Of tie gang who startod (
work in the chamber emily on Monds
weeE. He remained inside the ohaI
Der 10 OF Is minutes at time and il
stopped work Of $50 p N. when he La
been in the chamber about Rtven timGl
II was his first experience ia clsgpiaS 81
the vat and he wore o rag over biz uCss
He felt sick when he stopped WORT br
remained there for the balance d tia
day, but did not return to 6orkR mt
Thursday. Ho hadStGlt tightaeas 81 X
breast and was annoyed by cOush.
George Monroe, cOlOred, WORKED in ii
gang with Lamborn and corro boreted u
lettef's testimony
Tie jutymen then adjourned TO ms
FEidayEnight when the testimony OF oth
witnesses will be heard, among viii,
Will be that Of the doctors who held Il
post moEtem examination on hoss.
post .mortem WAS held on the b0dy
Hummel Friday afternoon, The latter
said to have been we'll 6dloRtGd Germ
and hsd received thorough cole
training. lie lived alone with his Nj
and the latter In her poor, lowly hni
with no one but the corpse OF her ~
baud for companion, presented pit
bic and desolate picture. The heusB
one of two frames next to the rallra
which were originally designed for ssttt
but which wers etterwgrd convert
into what are called residences althou
they are much better adapted for 1
purpose for wlich they were Original
intended. The rooms are devoid Of Gyei
thing but the bnfe necsslafies Of Ii
Ascending o narrow winding stairs ftt
the first door leads into miserable 1T
room in which the body Of the dead NJ
lay. It is not over by ID feet Ia exte
The body lay on temporary frame ",
and WaH covered By shaet winch &
been taken from q straw mattress On I
bed which seemed to % about the o.
article OF furniture in the room.
pale, intellectual face Of the denaa
Was hair covered by a fan, black beG
The feet were bare and poverty !
apparent wherever ono looked
woman is nsbt and Intelligent but
esl6eatly believes inat her husband
Though somebody's negligence and
aeens anxious for soL1p redress.
WiiLams' body thy at nis homo No,
Jefferson gtrsot surrounded by his
rowing family and number Of iften
Undertaken Palmer shipped Rossi !,
20 lis former homel IA Virginia.
The cnroR rs Jury ii the case ol ii
men slppose3 hGHs tHal suSOGGti
Ryil fumes n thu VIZ & WhGuu q
yyGrkR resumed tts sHaslDL- tltGag ever
and reaehal d ysriict. wa n Collins
Aenty pleLaaL, two n2lJ-t! amr.9Se