The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-26
A FATAL EXPLOSION.
AdoIph Herther Killed at Silver
Spring Bleachery.
THE CYLINDER WAS BLOWN OUT.
The Accident Also Includes tho Serious
and Probably Fatal Injury OF Another
workmsn-It Occurred mt 1880 This
Morning Soon After Work Began.

A terrible explosion occurred at the
Silver Spring Bleachery this morning
causing the death of one of the workmen
and mortally wounding another.
Soon after 7.30 o'clock the workmen in
the building were startled by a loud
crash followed by shrek of agony A
rush was at once made towards the room
from whence the sounds proceeded and
the cause was discovered.
Stretched on the floor lay two of the
employees, both bleeding profusely from
ugly wounds i'm the head, and scattered
about the room were portions Of broken
machinery. A hasty examination re-
vealed the fact that the head of one of
the drying cylinders or ''cans" had blown
out, the heavy pieces of castiron striking
the two workmen and rendering them
unconscious.
Drs. Bartley and Burton were imme-
diately summoned aud on their arrival
found 9qsa bs mem mep we're ASoInE Ha tae
ther and Joseph McKeon and had
sustained compound fractures of the
skull. Herther was in a sad condition
and ssnk rapidly. His head was cleft as
with an axe the gash extending from the
crown IN diagonal direction, through
the right eye to the right cheek bone, the
skull being open exposing the brain.
He was unconscious when picked up
but did not die until nearly an hour and
three quarters later. McKeon's injuries
were of a similar nature, his skull being
fractured. His condition. however, was
not so serious as his comrades aud he was
taken to the RHODE ISLAND Hospital in
the ambulance.
How 1t Happened.
Immediately after the explosion Agent
Crowell of the company made an exam
ination Of the cylinders, and found that
the cast iron head had blown out. The
cylinders are small, having but a 30-inch
diameter and being but 4 feet in length.
They are guaRed for twelve or fifteen
pound pressure of steam and have a safe
ty-valve set to blow off at the latter 6g-
ure.
The valve was examined closely but was
found TO work easily. and as yet no rea-
sons can be given for the explosion.
Thomas Stimpson is overseer OF the de-
partment, but at the time of the accident
the room was in charge OF the Assist ant
Overseer j. ID. Lloyd.
Officer Mckenzie of Station learned of
the accident and notified the station.
Capt. Stevens and Medical Examiner
Palmer, the latter of whom had been
notified OF the death of Herther, proceeded
to the bieachery, and investigated the af-
fair thoroughly. Eventually the medical
examiner decided that the accident was
unavoidable and gave permission TO have
the body of Herther prepared for burial.
lie will, however, report the case To the
coroner who will probably hold an in
quest
who the Men Were.
Herther was about % years of age, was
married and had one child. lie lived at
Smithheld avenue. lie had been in the
employ OF the Silver Spring Bleachery
for "a long time.
McKeon was single, about 81 years of
age, and lived with his parents at the
corner OF Branch avenue aud Hawkins
street.
The room in which the explosion oc-
Cured presents n sorry appearance. Scat
tered about the floor are the pieces of the
cylinder, and portions of the framework
Of the machine, which had been blown off
and splintered by the terrific conclusion.
Immediately after the explosion the
room was filled with the escaping steam
which poured from the headless cylinder.
In short time, however, the engineer OF
the est ablishment had succeeded In shut
ting OIL the steam, and after shorttim
the room was entirely cleared.
lIerther had several small burns on his
left arm but was not badly burned.
Soon after Mckeon's arrival at the hos
pital he was operated on, aud successful
job of trephauning was accomplished.