The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-04-11

CLAY CITY, Ind. April Especial
The little village OF Lancaster. ten miles
east of this city. was the scene Of a ter
rible boiler explosion this morning at 10
o'clock.
In the saw mill OF Christian Weber
six men were working in the mill at the
time and not one escaped death or
serious injury.
The following were instantly killed:
CHRISTIAN WEBER.
LESTER RINEHART u iai
CLIFFORD RINEHART. TIL 81
LOUIS WEBER.
Mr.. Weber was the proprietor and
head sawyer. Lester Rinehart was what
is known in saw mills as the offbearer.
and Clifford Rinehart was the dust
wheeler.
The following were injured: & g
Charles Schaeffer. u ~
John Shopper
Schaeffer was the engineer and Weber
was the edger; both are fatally injured
but Shopper will probably recover, al
though very seriously injured.
Those who were not killed outright are
in so pitiable a condition that they can
give no account whatever of the ex-
the power OF speech. and the chances
are that all will die, making me
list six killed instead of four as 1t
stands tonight
From persons who were in the mill
before the explosion IL is learned that
the pumps were out of order and some
of the unfortunate victims had been en-
gagged IN tryin TO remedy the defect.
From this 1t is thought the explosion
resulted from lack Of water.
hHUr~ I0n
several yards and was mashed into an
unacceptable mass, the head being
completely severed from the body.
The bodies Of Christian Weber and
Clifford Rinehart We're also horribly
mangled.
The mill was completely demolished
and large pieces OF the boiler were
thrown TO a distance Of LOCO feet.
Where the boiler stood everything
about was swept clean.
All the victims of the disaster were
members of the most prominent families
and there is general gloom and distress
throughout the village.
The unfortunates were all single and
young men with the exception or ChllS-
tian Weber, the proprietor.
Excitement is very high and sympathy
Is being extended from every hand. The
crowd continues 10 gather and has
assumed immense proportions. There
will be one Of the largest funerals ever
held in the county tomorrow at p. M
The only remaining one OF the Weber
family arrived on the evening train from
Indianapolis.
CLAY CITY. April .-special-Hun-
dreds Of people visited the scene OF the
fearful boiler explosion at Lancaster to-
day, the full particulars Of which were
published in The Sentinel.
The writer was the ground and was
furnished with full particulars Of the
terrible 6fSqct ar aud loss "a life
Two Of the unfortunate victims. Louis
Weber and John Schaffer. are still alive,
but SO severely injured that recovery Is
almost impossible
The remains of Lester and Clifford
Rinehart, who We're instantly killed, We're
inferred In one grave today, the funeral
being the largest in the history OF the
village.
The remains Of Christian Weber, the
proprietor of the mill, will be inferred
Tuesday.
He was one OF the wealthiest and
most highly respected citizens Of this
section of the state
The force of the explosion was so
great that the dome Of the boiler
weighing at least 500 pounds, was hurled
a distance of 100 yards, where it was
found buried in the ground.
Flue-pipes and piers OF the boiler were
hurled in every direction and to great
distances, one pipe going as lar as
half-mile, where it was found sticking
in the side of a barn.
The body Of Clifford Rinehart was car
Tied by the force Of the explosion a dis
lance of 100 yards and across the MILL
pond.
The body Of Lester Rinehart was fear
fully mangled, fragments of the re-
mains being picked up in different places.
The damage. outside of the loss of life
and injuries to person, will approximate