The sun., 1897-12-17
KILLED BY EXPLODING GAS.
John J. Cooper, Of Cheswold Hor-
ribly INITIATED.

JOMn y. copper, Vi CleSWOlu HOT
ribly INITIATED.
THE BUILDING IN DARKNESS,
The Gas Plant Exploded and All
Lights Were Extinguishcd---Fire-
man Worked in the Dark.
John ]. Cooper, Of Cheswold, Della
aware, met horrible death yesterday
afternoon.
The generator used in the base
ment Of the Federal Building, to
generate the acetylcne gas which is used
for Illuminating purposes throughout
the building, exploded about five o'clock
yesterday afternson, and Cooper was SO
terribly injured that he died at the Del
aware Hospital at 6.45.
When the explosion occurred the only
man on the basement floor besides Coop
er was William Abale, a letter carrier,
who was in the letter carriers room,
changing from his uniform for civilian
dress.
He was startled by the explosion,
which shattered glass and broke several
pictures on the wall. Rushing for the
door he started up stairs just as another
terrific explosion shook the building.
The second generator had exploded.
The basement was full of smoke and
flames, and Adele, when he reached the
upper floor was .blackened and breath
less.
An alarm Of fire was sent in from box
l23 and the fire engines were soon on
The spot.
The Friendship Co., whose house is at
10th and Shipley were first to arrive.
They broke. in window on Orange
street and Frederick Ferguson and several
other members started through the
smoke with the hose.
Every light in the building was ex-.
jinguished and in the darkness, Tergu.
son stumbled over the body Of the un-
fortunate Cooper. Calling to George
sasse and some others, Cooper was taken
,ut the rear basement door.
He was a pitiable sight. His face and
head were horribly crushed by the force
If the explosion and blood and brains
were gushing from gaping wounds in his
rushed skull He was taken to the
Delaware Hospital in the patrol wagon
where he died.
The fire was quickly subducd and
lights were obtained and for the first
line the scene of the tragedy was visible.
The big generator was torn apart, every
hing was blackened and begrimed with
moke, the floor was flooded with water
which had been pumped in, and most
lorrible of all, about five feet from the
ank where the unfortunate man was
ound was large pool Of blood. Float.
ng around in the water were streaks Of
'lood; blood was everywhere, and many
t the firemen, hardened as they are to
ights of horror, turned away with a
hudder.
Just what caused the explosion no one
nows. John Mcintyre, who attends to
he generators, had left the building
Nv minutes before the explosion. He
ad left gas enough in the tanks to last
ntil IL o'clock.
As he went out he spoke to Cooper,
sying, "Johnny, Pm going to supper.
,eep an eye on the tank, won't you?"
He then went out and did not come
ack until after the explosion. No one
Sc was in the room when the explosion
,curred. The position in which the un-
,nscious man was found indicated that
. had been working upon set of four
ems which arc ,,sed in tho wnrk ohout
le plant.
Cooper was Of mechanical turn Of
ind and was much interested in the
orking Of the plant. 1t is supposed
'at noncompliance with .McIntye's re-
lest he went to examine the machine
I'd in some way caused the explosion.
Cooper boarded ut No. 1907 Washing ,
rect. He was "a years Of age, and was
have been married neyt Thursday to !
iss Eva Carey, of Cheswald, Del.
He was the son of Richard NJ. Cooper, ,
Cheswald, and his parents were at
ice notified of his death.
The lightning plant, which exploded
rs installed last July by Blanchard d
adbury, OF Washington. The plant S
rs the two hundred and thirty-tirst I
ant installed by them and was con- 3,
lered to be in perfect condition. ,
Major S. Turner, Of Washington,
ukc -