The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1892-03-10
J StpphpnsOn's Mill, Wake County,
Yesterday.
young Stephenson and Furman Jones
Blown to Atoms.
oFTALED ACCOUNT OF ACCIDENT
,I,. XXbo Come and GO--Brief Breyi-
ties Of Interest to All Headers
of The Globe.

,erIay. resulting in the instant death of
for, voung men-John NJ. Stephenson,
.oo Of the proprietor, Col l.. ID. Stephen
.,n and Furman Jones a neighbor's son
about the same age who happened to be
an the ground at the time of the acci
dent
In the News and Observer Of to day
ve find the following detailed account
0f he disaster;
Srcphcnson's mill is situated on Swift
creek. and was until recently run by
water power Some time ago the dam
broke and the water power was lost,
after which twelve horse power steam
engine was eXtempOrized TO run the mill.
This was located about seventy five yards
Abeow the mill and conne' t d with it by
"a wire cable.
At the time the accident occurred
there were only three persons at the
boiler They were John Stephenson,
Furman Jones and Nat Stephenson,
brother Of John, who was killed. The
water had gotten low in the boiler and
John was turning in more water. The
cold water coming in contact with the
hot boiler is supposed to have caused
the explosion.
The terrific conclusion violently Jared
the windows in the residence Of Colonel
Stephenson, which is at least a quarter
Of mile up the hill John Stephenson
was standing just in front of the end of
the boiler where the fire box was and in
which the explosion took place. He was
blown sixty yards by actual measurement
through bushes, and his body was hurled
against the trunk of a sturdy pine tree,
which was bespattered with blood. He
apparently glanced from the side Of this
tree and fell a few feet beyond it. Every
stitch Of clothing was torn from his body,
hat, shoes and all, with the exception Of
one shirt sleeve, which was found on his
arm. He was doubtless killed instantly.
One Of his legs was found to be broken
in as many as four places. The other leg
and both arms were terribly mangled,
and his body was mashed and bruised
into livid hues.
Furman Jones, who was standing at
the side of the boiler, and who had come
to the mill to have some grinding done,
was blown about fifteen or twenty feet,
and was badly stunned, but was able after
awhile to walk and to drive his wagon
home. His injuries at last accounts were
considered very serious, but not fatal
Nat stephenson, brother of the young
man who was killed, was standing near
young Jones, but was not injured.
James Stephenson, who is the miller,
was inside the mill and not hurt, though
several pieces of flying iron struck the
mill and smashed through the weather
boarding y heavy cast piece struck the
oVershot wheel which formerly ran the
mill and crashed through one side of it.
rleces Of iron were lying all around
Ohe OF the iron balls used as the "gov-
erhor was thrown a hundred yards and
buried in the ground. Trees were skinned
"l distance OF two hundred yards from
where the boiler sat by pieces of fying
iron
Inc boiler itself was blown backward
ACROSS the waste.way to distance OF
%o'ut nifty yards from where it stood
= sanced against a tree and was turned
''ou It's course, turning a complete somer.
'""I' as It did so. 1t was a twelve horse
power boiler and must have weighed
several tons.
was some time before the remains ot
"o"n Stephenson could be found, having
'" oLoWn into the bushes and entirely
U"' "i sight The report was terrific and
ne OTIS Of clothing which were blown
from the unfortunate young man were
''''"H hISh up in the boughs of trees
'"''e "ey could be seen hanging yester
day evening o''>'
One OF Colonel Stephensop's sons mo-
''n: aOIe to find his brother, started tc
IoF Dr Hubert Haywood. HI
e'look his father, who had started +,
"e'sh, and told him of the disaster
Nefeupon he turned back. The vouns
H. I y''Ne on to Raleigh and saw DR.
at3 as wood who at once went to the seen,
u. 'ue explosion fully equipped with al
',S surgical instruments but found tba
nsr S00'" 90 no good. The BODY Of tn,
T. 'Una'e young man had been foun,
va-I '"v meantime. \ dog belonging to hin
ons o'o"n almost as far as his maste
70 vas stunned, but afterwards bepa,
CI 1u about as if not hurt.
Pa,, Io.onel Stephenson is we'll known i,
X mo" siSn and is one of the most prominen
son "a N N The county. Only week ago hi
pon.o 'F' Thomas Stephenson, lost hi
'n' all its contents by fire.
e'' Is Simmons Liver Regulator.