Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-08-22
EXPLOSION OF A FURNACE
A Force Of Men Engaged in Clearing 1t
Out at the Time.
THE VICTIMS HORRIBLY MANGLED
One Mans Body Cut in Two by
Falling on a Car.
SCENES THAT AppALLEDSTOUT HEARTS


Horrible Agony--women and chiidren,
Crazed by Fear, Franticaliy Searching for
Husbands and Fathers Among the Victims
--Heartrending Incidents Attend the Dis
aster--The Victims All Hungarians tx
cept the Foreman, james Harrison.
Pittsburg, Pa, Ang. 20. An explo-
sion at furnace II, Of the Carnegie Steel
Co., at Braddock, ut . O'Clock this
morning, killed six men, injured Is
more and destroyed $50, 600 worth of
property. Three of tho injured will
die.
All of the killed and injured were
the foreman. The names of those killed
were:
Steve Havrela, cut in twain, 81 years
old, leaves wife and two children;
Joseph Tuckay, 80 years old, burned,
leaves wife and four children; Joseph
Copp, burned, 80 years old, single;
| John Meka, burned, 25 years old,
| single: John Pookohovec, burned, 20
| years old, single; John Grucha, burn
| cd, 80 years old, single
All were Poles and Huns except
| Grucha who was German. Nine of
the injured were brought to the Mercy
Hospital, in this city, They are re-
| ported to be resting easy.
| The explosion was due to a hang"
| in the furnace, which suddenly was
loosened and dropped into the molten
metal below, generating an immense
| quantity of gas SO suddenly that it
could not escape by the ordinary means
and tho explosion followed.
The terrible loss Of life was due to
peculiar cause. A few minutes before
the explosion occurred one of the top
filters dumped barrow OF material
into the bell Of the furnace, which he
had forgotten to raise. This clogged
the top of the furnace and prevented
the gas escaping. A gang of 16 men
in charge Of James Harrison, was sent
at once to the top Of the furnace to re-
move the obstruction. All were closely
crowded around the bell of the fur
mace, removing the material which had
been dumped on it, when there was a
terrific explosion, and men, barrows,
tools and material were hurled In all
directions. Flames, deadly gas and
smoke belched from the furnace toy
and the gang of men fell as if 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, strik
ne on a car, was cut in two, one half
of his body falling no one side of the
car and the other half on the other side.
The explosion was heard all over
Braddock and crowds rushed to the
scene but mono expected to wit
ness such horrors A relief crew was
quickly organized and went to the top
of the furnace, where lay Is men, bleed
ing, torn, burned and dying. The flames
and smoke were still coming from the
furnace, and the work of rescue was
dangerous in the extreme, but covering
their hands, faces and heads with
cloths, the rescuers went bravely TO
work.
The injured men were all leaning
over the mouth of the furnace when the
, explosion occurred. Three men died
before they reached the bottom of the
elevator shaft and the other six died
between S and O'Clock this morning.
As fast as the injured men were
taken down from the furnace top they
were removed to an improvised hospital
in the company's office and the com
pany's staff Of physicians and medical
aid from McKeesport and Pittsburg
, summoned. Five of the men were SO
badly burned and terribly injured that
the physicians did not deem it neces-
sary to remove them to any hospital, as
, death seemed inevitable in few hours
and no hospital could relieve their suf
ering.
Two Of the men who were ON top of
the furnace were revived when they
, reached the ground, and there being
some hopes for their recovery they
were taken to their homes.
The contents Of the furnace were
blown out and scattered for hundreds
of yards around the furnace, falling in
al ,,pp4a &C tho xsnr1 p11ftipng nra1 httrt,.
ing about 10 men who were working
below, but none were seriously injured
I The fiery shower fell on the car,
penter shop of the company, about 100
! yards away, and it was soon in flames.
1t was destroyed with its contents
The bell of the furnace was shattered
and scattered, the roof of the cast
house was crushed in and ruined, the
, contents of the furnace were spread
abroad, and the belief is that the fur
mace is badly damaged and may have
to be rebuilt. If this should be the
case, the total damage will be $50, 600.
The scenes as tho men were carried
to the office of the company were in
tensely exciting and pathetic. Women
and children came frantically from
their houses and the large force of
policemen and guards was powerless to
| prevent lutHl run funHlhS thto tno
improvised hospital and lighthouse in
search for some member of their fami-
lies. Tears and lamentations and
agonized expressions and tearing of
hair were all witnessed around tho
scene of death and destruction and tho
stoutest hearts were moved to pity
The homes of the killed and injured
men were near the furnace and the
streets in that vicinity were filled with
mass of weeping frantic, half-crazy
| .unr,nn nnn nhildrnn.