The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-12
TWenty-SeVen Steam Generators Blown 10
Pieces.
ACCIDENT Fatal TO FIVE MEN
Without Any Apparent Cause All
But Nine of a Nest of Boilers at
the Henry Clay Colliery at Shamo-
kin Explode With Terrific Force,
Dealing Death on All Sides-Fve
Men Are Killed and Several Others
Seriously Injured.
SHAMoKIN, Pa, Oct. II,

NhAhOhiNi a. WV Ia
r1PWENTY- SEVEN of nest Of
nest Of thirty-six boilers at the
Henry Clay colliery, exploded
u about T:3O this morning, com
pletely destroying the boiler house,
Killing five men, seriously injuriug two
and slightly injuring four. The list OF
the killed and injured is as follows:
THE KILLED.
THOMAS CARR, fireman.
WILLIAM BOYLE, fireman.
WILLIAM EsLlCK, fireman.
WILLIAM MCLAUGHLIN. laborer.
y. j. DEDIAM, water boss.
TIE INJURED.
j. F. DICHANsTIN, fireman, seriously.
PETER HEDK, laborer, seriously.
WILLIAM QUINN, lamp cleaner.
DENNIS BRENNAN, breaker boy.
NICHOLAS HARRIS laborer.
FRANK HANDUCK, laborer.
At the time of the accident there
were, as far as is known, seven men
around the boiler house. Nobody
seems to be able to give correct
statement as to the cause of the ex-
plosion. Without a moments warn
ing the last boiler on the west side of
the nest went up, and it was followed
by the others in rapid succession. The
workmen were knocked in every di-
reetion. and what had been hut few
minutes before, a strong corrugated
iron building disappeared as if by
magic. and all that remained was a
tumbling mass of bricks and tim bers,
besides numerous pieces of twisted pipe
and battered boiler iron.
FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION.
The nine remaining boilers were Sc
injured that they will never be used.
Pieces Of heavy steel were carried hun
dreds of yards, while half of q boiler
was found over quarter Of mile
away up the mountain. The terrific
report was heard for miles. and it was
scarcely minute before all of the en-
ployeyofthe colliery were upon the
scene of vastation and at once set to
work to liberate. the men who were
under the debris. Three were dead
when taken out and the remains of
some. as well as being crushed were
frightfully burned by coming in con-
tact with the heated iron and Goals
from the fire boxes.
Carr, Boyle and Flick were dead
when found In the debris and Nc.
Laughln and Dediam died soon after
being removed to their homes. Fire
man Dichansttin is internally hurt, be-
sides having several fractured bones
and 1t is feared ne cannot recover.
Peter Heck was knocked senseless by
flying brick. His scalp Is badly torn
and he is severely bruised.
The disaster, coupled with the
calamity Of Tuesday at the Luke Fid.
Ter shaft. has plunged this city into
mourning. The breakers were work
ing at the time Of the explosion this
morning, and the escapes were many
and thrilling. The colliery is operated
by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal
and Iron company, and Is the best
equipped place of the company in this
region The pecuniary loss by the ex-
plosion will reach 100000 Sixteen
hundred men and boys are thrown ont
Of employment. Coal from the Ster-
ling end. Big Mountain, was prepared
for the market at the shaft breaker,
which is constructed Of iron. The
shaft payroll amounted to $4,000 a
month.
1t will probably take six weeks be-
fore the i'll ,fated plant is able to re.
sumo. During the repairing of these
big workings the Burnside and North
Franklin collieries. now idle, will be
started. The coroner will hold an in.
quest on the bodies Of the dead men
tomorrow.