The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-01

was possible, owing to the construction OF
accumulate before ii would reach the gas
Jet and become ignited. When it finally
reached the gas jet there was a sufficient
amount Of the gas in the room to have
wrecked a less substantially built structure,
and the wonder Is that it did not rae the
J building. Yet it is claimed that the ex-
piosion was not very powerful the injury
to the men resulting rather from the flames
and inhaling the fumes of the ammonia
The injured who were unable to care for
themselves were hurriedly taken 10 their
away, lost no time in seeking the atten-
ucnS of physician The only one or the
seriously injured who was able TO tax
about the explosion and who could give
a fair account of it. was Peter PhSIerer:
He was standing back far enough 10 avoid
| the hardest of the explosion. and escaped
with some burns about the head and face.
Mr.. Pnsterer said:
MR.. PFISTERER'S STORY.
II was attending the meeting of the
building association near by, On Wyoming
street when Otto Kaiser, engineer en-
ployed in the brewery, came rushing into
the room greatly excited and shouting for
Mr. Schneider. the superintendent of the
plant He was 50 agitated that he could
scarcely talk, and with much difficulty in
formed those present that ammonia
pipe had burst in the brewery. Business
vas immedia tely suspended at the associa-
ton. and all present rushed over to the
scene of the trouble to lend whatever as
sistance they could The odor of ammonia
was apparent soon as they entered the
yard and the newcomers hurried around
TO the engine room, where the cause was
located mask and apparatus used
to protect the face and to prevent 1ouI
odoTS and gases from being inhaled, was
hastily secured, and Edward Huegele, the
chief engineer, assumed the responsibility
of donning the head mask for the purpose
of entering and shutting off the ammonia.
The mask was fitted to him. with d1fhculty,
and the hose was in a tangled mass
a & q emDOVeS began operating
air pump Mr.. Phsterer and several other
men present were vainly endeavorlng TO
the engine room. He had fastened nearly
across to the leak when they saw him turn
and run back, loSening his head mask
as he came. He had been forced back
owing to lack of air which the entangled
ard as soon as it was Strengthened he again
assumed the mask and started to enter the
engine room One step only had he taken
inside the door when there came a bind
ing fash, the loud report of the explosion,
and even those standing outside the door
We're enveloped by the flames. Mr.. Pts
terer was standing beside Mr.. Kiser one
of the engineers when the explosion oc-
cured, and while the engineer was one
Pfsterer miracuously escaped with only
his hair singed. Some of the worst injured
We're those who were standing the greatest
distance from the door
Albert Lieber. president of the Indianap-
brewery shortly after. the wounded had
been taken to their homes. he at once
went to a telephone and called a dozen
physicianS-all he could get by telephone.
He also gave instructions that all the men
should receive every care that could be
given them, and, after a hasty glance at
the scene of the explosion, got into his
carriage and drove to the home Of each of
of their injuries and to see them person
ally. In the meantime number of
physicians in the neighborhood had arrived
and were caring for the injured as fast as
Mr. Lieber was asked during the few
AL oInN1ut fIn
damage in dollars and cents, and the eff.
feet of the explosion on the business of
the Plant 5d LIE r bdd r nery 70 an es
mate In fact. / have no desire to think Of
those things just now | am looking AFTER ;
business will have to take care of them
selves for a while.
DAMAGE TO THE PLANT.
The damage to the plant cannot be de-
termined with any degree of accuracy at
this time, and will not be known until
thorough examination of the engines and
machinery is made this morning. Much
also depends upon the ability of the COM
pany to secure ammonia enough to start
again All the supply on hand is kept in
the pipes, and it is difficult to get
enough to fill them from the sup
ply generally available in this city. If
there is delay in getting ammonia, the
damage resulting from the loss of the cold
storage, will be great. The loss to the
building will not be large. The fire de-
partment reached the brewery in time to
prevent the spread of the flames and the
water thrown did more damage to the ma
chinery than the fire to the building The
doors are blown out and the front part
of the entrance to the engine room is shat
tered. The machinery appears to be but
or rod is twisted out of shape and the cleo
trical machinery is crippled slightly. Prob
ably. the heaviest loss will be in the am
mopia wasted. There were in the pipes
yesterday about seventy drums of ammo
MIA. about seven thousand pounds This
is worth 80 cents a pound and is all gone.
tendent of the brewery, said that he feared
there would be trouble in getting sufficient
to Chicago last night ordering
large quantity of it, and Mr.. Leber learned
that Kingan & Co. would be glad to let him
have whatever surplus they had on hand.
But it is not probable that Kingan & Co:
will be aole to spare large amount, and
cago will arrive in time to save the beer,
which must be kept cool or be lost. II
Schneider thought the loss outside the am
monia would be small.
CONDITION OF INJURED.
Edward Huegele. chief engineer, with a
protection helmet covering his face and
head, had, as stated just taken one step
into the engine room when the explosion
occurred and he was hurled through the
door by the conclusion He was thrown to
ceiving a very painful wound in his left
hip from the sharp corner of stone. AL
though the helmet protected his face and
head, he was one of those most painfully
hurt. His arms and hands were badly
burned, the skin being peeled from the
shoulders down the entire length of his
arms having much the same appearance
as would be caused by dipping into scald-
ing water. His breast also burned
and though his injuries are very painful
the doctors do not believe they will prove
fatal.
Otto Kaiser another of the engineers,
was standing just outside the door at the
time of the explosion and thrown to
the ground by the shock. He was badly
burned about the face and neck and MS
hands and arms from the elbows down
were badly scorched. The hair nearly
all singed off his head and eyebrows.
Rudolph Stegelmeier, the night watchman
in the bottling department. who was stand
ing just outside the door, was also one of
the most seriously burned. His injuries
consisted of bad burns about the face, neck
and head and his arms and chest were
also scorched. Although he is very serious |
~ burned it is believed that he will re-
cover.
Floribert Michealis, a carpenter who was
present received painful burns about the |
face and neck and the back of his hands |