The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-09-30
AWFUL BOILER EXPLOSION.
Three Men Instantly Killed-The Boiler
in Berlin's Mill, Bear Greek,
ExplOdes With Fearful
Results.

A frigbtful explosion occurred at
Berlin & Ellithorpe's saw mill on
Bear Creek, Kingsley township, Thurs.
day morning of last week. Three men
lost their lives, and the mill was blown
to pieces. The victims of the disaster
we're j. Elva Berlin, Charles B. Grove,
and James d. Conger.
The mill was situated on Bear
Creek about two miles from where it
empties into Tionesta Creek. 1t had
been running, and on this morning the
men who worked on the mill had gone
there as usual to work. Grove, who
was fireman, had built fire under tAe
boiler and from the fact that none of
the bodies bore marks of being scalded
in the least it is quito evident that
there was little or no water in the
boiler at the time. The explosion oc.
Cured at 7:15 and is supposed to have
been caused by turning water into the
heated empty boiler, and seems to have
occurred at the instant it was done.
Grove, it is more than likely, was
standing with his hand on the inspi.
rator, having just turned the water in
when the boiler blew up. Groves
head was torn off just as if by a dull
instrument drawn from close under
the upper lip backward and upward
with irresistible force. His body was
hurled 100 ieet from where he had
been standing. Nothing has been
found of his head. Conger, who was
standing near Grove, was blown in a
direction at right angles to that in
which Grove was thrown aud fully as
far. When found he showed slight
signs of life. There were no deep cuts
on his body and not many severe
bruises; he bled but little. But in.
ternally he was complete wreck.
Berlin was working on the runway
fully 60 feet away from the mill when
it blew up. His body was found easily
100 feet from where he had been
working His tight arm was torn
from the body, and was afterwards
found. Some missile had struck him
as it few tearing and lnangling his
body in frightful manner, and one
Of the fues from the boiler was bent
around the body in q loop.
John Matha, the sawyer, who was
in the mill, was blown outside some
distance, and though unconscious for
moment, was not injured. A boy
named Bert Slower, who worked in the
mill, was 10 the mill al the time stand.
ing beside lumber truck. The force
of the explosion turned the car up Oh
end beside him. The supports of the
roof were all blown out and the roof
fell, but the up.ended cart caught the
roof as it fell and he clambered out
from under soon after, little dazed
but with no injuries.
The mill was a complete wreck. Of
engine and boiler there is little left,
and little can be found and that only
10 small pieces Mr.. Berlin's life was
insured for $4,000. Neither of the
other men were insured, neither was
there any insurance on the mill.
Mr. Berlin was son of Eli Berlin
of Whig Hill, aud was married,
leaving wife and one child. Mr..
Grove was son of Welsh Grove of
Hickory, was also married aud leaves
a wife and four children. Mr.. Conger
was married man also, aud leaves
wife and eight children.
The accident was a terrible affair,
aud seemed too shocking to be he,
lieved when first reported.
The REPUBLICAN uuites with AT
entire community in expressing its
sympathy with the friends of those SO
suddenly and awfully called away,
The interment of Mr.. Grove took
place at Whig Hill on Friday last.
, Mr. Conger's remains were buried in
the Evangelical Church cemetery on
German Hill on the same day. Mr.,
: Berlin's body was also laid to rest in
the Evangelical cemetery, on Saturday
= last. All the funerals we're largely
g attended.