Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-20
THE EXPLOSION
At THB BELMONT FURNACE, At MARTINS
FERRY.
No Reason Yet Known for the accident, but tbs
Boiler Was Twsnty-Six Years Old
Condition Of the Wounded.

The REGISTER yesterday morning
gave an extended account Of the disas-
trous boiler explosion at the Belmont
blast furnace, at Martins Ferry. Be-
low the complete details are given, as
gathered by our reporter yesterday:
The boiler was hurled violently
through the air by the force OF the
explosion, and struck the boat house
moored at the ferry landing. nearly one
hundred yards from wher q the expio-
sion occurred, tearing its way through
the boat and burying itself in the river
nearly seventy-ive yards beyond. IN
the boat at tho time OF the explosion
four men were sleeping. Philip Roush
and r. V. Glenn occupied the bed at
the upper end of the boat.
Glenn vas injured about the stomach
and bowels, and was taken TO the resi-
dence of Alexander Hood, where he is
being looked after by friends. He was
complaining considerably yesterday
morning Of mis- head hurting him, and
it was feared ne was suffering from CON
cuSSion of the brain. lie IS the
man who was the first TO rim 10
the top OF the bank at the landing and
give the alarm, where he fell exhausted
from loss OF blood. and was found by
friends later on in a helpless condition.
Phillip Roush, brother OF the young
man who vas killed, was uniniured.
Charley RouSh and his father were sleep
ing soundly in bed near the centre and
outside of the boat, and directly in the
course Of the flying boiler The father
was slightly hurt aboUt the head and
and face and also one OF his arms below
the elbow was slightly strained. His
son Charley, who was lying on the eX-
treme outer edge OF the bed, and di-
rectly In the course taken by the boiler,
did not escape so fortunately as his
father, but was frightfulsy injured by
the flying missile, his right arm being
torn out at the shoulder and carried
into the river, and is perhaps lying I'M
der the boiler which carried IL away.
He also sustained very serious injuries
of the head and face, one side Of his face
being entirely torn away. lie
was taken to the residence OF
Andy Kurtz, on Hanover street,
when Drs, HobenSack, 8lackfOrd, Shut
tleworth aud Hervy, attended him, who
did all they could 10 alleviate his suffer
ing mp until 10 o'clock yesterday morn
ing, when death came TO his relief.
The Manager, Mr.. Bird, could give no
cause for the explosion, unless 10 was
from long use: the boiler being one Of
the same that was in use tweDty-Six
years ago, when the furnace was first
started at the present location. The
engineer had tried the steam gauges
five minutes before the explosion, and
found that they showed water at the
top gauge, and that he was
carrying % pounds Of steam, the limit be-
ing 10 pounds. The fire had just been
started and the blast turned Oh, after a
stop Of several months. 1t has been de-
cided by the management 10 start the
furnace again as soon as possible. The
deceased was u member Of Wheeling
Lodge No. 8. l. O. o. F., member OF
which came over as soon as he heard OF
the accident and took charge or the
funeral arrangements. The funeral
will take place at two O'Clock this after
noon. Interment at Riverview Come
terry.