The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-20
Terrible Fatality at the Carnegie Steel Works Caused BY Hang the
Furnace Which Suddenly Loosensd.
CAST That CoudN

PITTsBURo, Pa, Aug. 2o.-An explo-
sion at furnace ii, of the Carnegie Steel
Company, at Braddock, at O'Clock this
morning, killed six men and injured IL
more, and destroyed $50, 900 worth OF
property. Three of the injured will die
All of the killed and injured were Hun
garians, except James Harrison, the fore
man. Their names have not been OBJ
tanned.
The explosion was due to hang in the
furnace which suddenly loosened and
dropped into the molten metal below, gen.
Grating an immense quantity OF gas so
suddenly that il could not escape by the
ordinary means and the explosion fol-
lowed.
The terrible loss OF life was due to a
peculiar cause. A few minutes before
the explosion occurred one of the top
filters dumped barrow of material in
TO the belt of the furnace which he had
forgotten to raise. This clogged the top
OF the furnace and prevented the gases
from escaping. gang OF 10 men, IN
Guiding James Harrison, foreman, were
sent TO the top TO remove the obstruction.
All were closely crowded around the bell
of the furnace removing the material
which had been dumped on it, when there
was terrific explosion, and men, bar
rows, tools and material were hurled IN
all directions. Flames, deadly gases and
the gang of men fell as IL shot.
Only one man was killed instantly
He was blown from the furnace top
along the metal roadway to the elevator
shaft, down which he fell, and, striking
on car, was cut in two, one half OF his
body falling on one half of the car and
the other half on the other side.
A relief crew was quickly organized
and went TO the top of the furnace, where
lay Is men, bleeding, torn, burned and
diving. The flames and spoke were still
coming from the furnace, and the work
o. rescue was very dangerous.
But covering the hands, faces aud
heads with wet cloths, the rescuers went
brayely 20 work. The injured men were
all leaning over the mouth of the furnace
when the explosion occurred.
One man died before he reached the
bottom of the elevator shaft, and the
others died between 5 and O'Clock
this morning. AS fast as the injured
men were taken from the furnace top
they were removed TO an improvised hos
pital and the company's staff OF physicians
from McKeesport, were summoned. Five
OF the men were so badly burned and
terribly injured that the physicians did
not dee m Il necessary TO remove them TO
any hospital, as death seemed inevitable
in few hours, and no hospital could re-
lieve their sufferings. Two OF the men
who We're on top OF the furnace when
they reached the ground were revived,
and their being no hopes for their recov-
cry, they were then taken TO their homes.
The contents of the furnace were blown
out and scattered for hundreds OF yards
around the furnace, falling in all parts
OF the yard, cutting and burning about
ten men, who were working below, but
none was seriously injured.
The fierce shower fell on the carpenter
shop of the company about 100 yards
from the furnace and il was soon In
flames and was destroyed with its con-
tents. The bell was shattered and was
scattered, the roof of the cast house was
crushed and ruined, the contents OF the
furnace were scattered abroad and the be-
lief is that the furnace is badly damaged
and will have to be rebuilt. III this
should be the case, the tota! damage
will be $50, 900.
The Braddock FIRE department was call
ed and prevented the spreading OF the
flames, and men also aided in the work
of rescuing and did police duty.
The scenes as the men were carried tc
the Office of the company were intensely
pathetic. Women aud children rushed
frantically from their houses and the lar
gest force of policemen and guards was
powerless to prevent them from rushing
into the improvised hospital and dead
house I'm the search for some member o
their families. Tears and lamentations
anxious faces and agonized expressions
wringing OF hands and tearing oi
hair, were all witnessed around the scene