Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-11
EXPLOSION AT THE NAVY YARD.
Bioving Out Of an Expansion Joint In 9
Steam Pipe.
LIEUT.. COMMANDER PESDLrroS AND ENGINE
TENDER HARDEsrER skRIoUsLY INJURED
MARROW EscAPE OF SEVERAL orHERs-How
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.

The blowing out Of an expansion joint in Q
steam pipe in the main boiler house at the
navy yard properly the Washington gun
foundry resulted in a serious injury to Lieu
tenant Commander Pendletou Of the navy and
John [. Hardester, an engine tender.
The trouble which eliminated in the disaster
commenced this morning. when q leak became
apparent in the steam pipe which conveys
power to the projectile shop. This
leak vas Immediately over the Office in
the shop, and 30 serious was il that
the machinery in that subdivision Of the
foundry could not be operated and the en-
pioyes consequently did no work. A force
OF steam filters at once started in to
make the necessary repairs, the connec-
ton with the boiler house being
cut Oh. Then il was evident that something
was wrong with an expansion joint in the boiler
house and near the junction with the projectile
shop pipe.
HOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
number Of men know Just what
was being done, but when a STAR
reporter tried to get the story from
them they were unanimously silent; they had
been ordered to keep their mouths closed
ami SO exact were they in their obedience that
not even their fellow-workmen, who crowded
into the boiler house after the disaster could OBJ
tain anything like precise information. The best
testimony available is TO the effect that a Jack
was being operated beneath the joint, the
foundation Of the jack resting upon the great
brick hue which leads from the fire boxes
horizontally to the gigantic smokestack.
THE MEN IN DANGER.
At about 1850 there were standing this
fue Lieut.. Com. Pendleton, John c. Hardester,
Benjamin McCathran and John McCathran.
machinists, and Frank Moore, steam filter.
A minute later and Lieut. Commander Pen
dieton was unconscious on top of the fiue; Jno.
c. Hsrdester was bruised, bleeding and sense
less on the ground. twelve fee. below: the
McCathrans aud Moore had escaped without
injury.
There had been no warming. Just q mo-
mentary hiss. then an explosion that was noisy
enough TO threaten the safety Of the building.
followed by deafening roar as steam under a
pressure OF eighty-hve pounds TO the square
inch poured out Of fourteen-inch pipe.
EXCITEMENT AMONG THE MEN.
The boiler house was filled with the escaped
vapor, and for little while it seemed to those
in the immediate vicinity a. though all the
workers must have been killed. Doors
unceremoniously kicked out by some. while
others shut OF the supply of steam. Fireman
William Bell climbed the ladder TO the fue top
| and after taking Commander Pendlcton to the
moor carried him into the outer air. Three men
Messra Ballinger, Littieford and Summers,
employees in the yard, broke open a door be-
hind the fue and picked up what they believed
to be the dead body of Hardester.
THE WOUNDED MEN CARED FOR.
The uopndea mon u.r. ., once ,.lon a. ,ha
;" '-e
oispensary where Aedlcai director >. u.
Beardsley attended to their injuries. Com
mander Pendleton was found to have suf-
fered n severe scsldiny ON the ri,bt
.ide of his face and esnecialIy in The