Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-10-14

ing cinders and dirt, but none of them
was hurt. A second fragment of the
boiler, of about the same size as that
which carried off Desmond's body, took
flight in the opposite direction, going
across the road through the tops of
group of willow trees and landing POO
feet or more away. The steam dome, a
heavy casting, went a like distance and
substantially in the same direction. The
greater part of the boiler travelled north
ward something near 100 feet. The plate
forming the back end OF the boiler was
battered and left by the foot of the der
rick. The boiler house was smashed in
to llindling wood. and the cinders, coal
and broken particles of stone were driv-
en- all about, blackening everything
around. A large box, containing two
kegs of powder and stick of dynamite,
stood a few feet north of the boiler house.
contents were not exploded. A'common
lantern that was in the engine house was
found out IN the field more than 200 feet
away. The tin part of it was battered
out of shape, but the globe was as good
as ever.
Messrs, w. C. and A, W. Sturdevant
of Weybridge were witnesses of the ac-
cdent. At the time of the explosion
they were riding into Mddlebury and
were so to 100 rods north of the quarry,
on top of the hill, whence they could
look down upon the scene. They heard
tremendous explosion, so loud as to
cause one to remark to the other that it
was an extraordinarily heavy blast.
Then they saw the piece of the boiler
and Desmond's body go up high in the
air and over TO the westward. Driving
rapidly along to the quarry, they found
the men Just recovering their wits, were
told what had happened and that one
man was missing. They Informed the
men of the probable whereabouts of
Desmond's body, and then came in to
town, to which they brought the first
news of the disaster Drs. Smith and
Russell were at once sent to the scene.
whittier many residents of the village
proceeded. Undertaken Pinnpy took out
a casket and gathered up the fragments
of De,mond's remains. Henderson and
Davis were brought to DR.. Eddys resi-
dence, where the physicians mentioned
and Drs. Eddy and sheldon dressed their
wounds.
There were number of narrow es
capes. John Mcmahon had been I'M
loading a wagon load of lumber within
20 feet of the boiler house and had driven
away after another load not five minutes
before the explosion. Carlton Cherbino
was driving another of Mr.. Battell's
teams and stood by the side of the
wagon. which was within few rods of
the boiler house. One of the horses of
the team was struck in the head by IA
piece of scantling and had an eye
knocked out.
Desmond was 81 years of age. He had
wife and two daughters, one about nine
months old and the other about two
years. His family had been at MIR.
Ainses all summer, but went back to
their former home at Barre recently.
Desmond parents reside at Perkins
vile, in Windsor county. The remains
were taken there on the flyer Wednes-
day noon, Mrs. Desmond going down
from Barre direct. Desmond was a fine
specimen of a man. weighing about 200
pounds.
Henderson is about 40 years old and
is unmarried. He was taken to the
Fletcher hospital in Burlington on the
afternoon train Monday, DR.. Sheldon
accompanying him. Nothing has been
heard as to how he is getting on. The
local doctors do not think his condition
is dangerous unless it should turn out
that he is hurt internally.
place, Mrs. Chaunccy Clark's on Sey-
mour street. His injuries are painful,
but not dangerous. 1t may be decided
to take him to the hospital, where he
can nave lIle skllltu nursing HIS tOIlul
ton demands.
As to the causes of the accident there
are. of course, all sorts of rumors anC
speculatiOns: but "a a matter of fact no
body knows anything and probably
nobody ever will. If, as is claimed 10y
one of the men, there was only 81 pounds
of steam on Just before the explosion
the likelihood is that Desmond allowed
the water to get low in the boiler anC
that when he let in cold water the boie
went up, as it would have done no matte
how thick and strong it might have been
That there was any unsoundness of TIN
, boiler which would haye rendered i
dangerous, had it been properly managed
those who knew most about it cannot be
lieve. All reasonable precautions seem t.
have been taken both in purchasing it ant