The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-06-25
Piece Of Copper Weighing 70
Pounds Crashed Through
a Tenement House.
The Metal Hurled From the Yard
Of the New England
Copper Company.
MRS. DUR0lN'S NARROW ESCAPE.
Woman Esdaped From the Police Station
Jubilee Tea at st. Georges Parish House
Slight Fire Last Evening Notes.


An explosion occurred yesterday after
noon at the New England Electrolitic
Copper Company's Works which caused
considerable damage and came near crush
ing the life of Mrs. James Durgin OF Wal
nut street. From the information gathered
the employees of the New England Eiec-
trolitic Copper Company were blasting
large piece of brass when the accident
occurred. Tuesday afternoon one OF the
TASKS or moulds containing the melted
brass split In two, allowing the metal to
escape to the ground. The metal being
exposed to the air cooled OF In very
short time, forming itself into huge
mass. The lump of brass was too large to
be placed In another flask and the men
were puzzled to know how to get over the
difficulty.
In vain the people about the works
racked their brains to solve the problem,
bat 1t was too deep for them and the man
agement was compelled to send for an ex-
pert to tell how to break the boulder In
two. The expert having arrived soon
came to the conclusion that the metal
would have to be blasted. Preparations
were Immediately made to blast 1t and
strong explosives were applied, but the
first attempt was unsuccessful. The second
attempt completely shattered the metal,
and with 1t several other obstacles which
were in the way of the the different pieces,
which went flying through the air.
One piece In particular, weighing about
70 or 30 pounds few distance OF about
500 feet and falling crashed through the
roof of house owned by Roger Curran on
Walnut street, the upper tenement OF
which was occupied by his daughter,
Mrs. James Durgin. The house In ques-
tion is situated about 500 feet from the
works and is three tenement house.
Arthur Desmarmeux stated to TRIB-
UNE reporter last evening that ne was
standing in front of the house In question
talking to Mrs. Ray when the explosion
occurred and was just making the remark
about somebody firing off cannons too
soon when he heard the crash of the fall
ing boulder as it struck the roof. He
Immediately run to the upper floor OF the
Curran building and found Mrs. Durgin
in an excited frame of mind.
According to the statement of Mrs. Dur
gin, her escape from horrible death was
miraculous. A short time before the
boulder came through the roof she had
been sitting at the sewing machine.
A visit was made to the works this
morning, and in the absence of Supt.
Mccall the secretary said: In blasting
the lump of brass all necessary precautions
were taken to avoid accidents, and the
first they knew of the accident was when
the Chief of Police came to the works and
notified them of what had taken place.
Before the blast took place the brass was
covered with large logs, which were Sc
curely chained, and in their opinion it
seemed impossible that any accident could
occur. When Supt. Mccall was notified
OF what had occurred he sent his private
secretary to the house and volunteered to
make good anylloss occasioned.
Slight Fire Last Evening.
An alarm of fire was rung In from box
143 at II o'clock last evening for a slight
blaze which occurred In an outbuilding on
the estate of George A. Simmons on IL
linois street. The fire was accidentily set
by a stranger. No damage of any account
resulted from the blaze.
Prisoner Escaped.
The word ESCAPED" marked on the po-
lice blotter at police headquarters has
caused considerable amusement among
those who have been conversant with the
facts. Monday evening officer Coombs
arrested woman on Dexter street
who was under the influence of
liquor. She was a respectable appearing
woman, young and neatly dressed and at
the time was being followed by three
shady West Side toughs.
Officer Coombs thought It best to take
her to the station as she was unable to
protect herself. It was Just 8 O'Clock
when the officer and prisoner arrived at
the station, and the day and night change
OF officers was taken place. Chief Gold
smith took the woman In the cell room
and remained with her until the arrival of
Matron Fits who had been summoned by
Sergt. Louks. When the Matron arrived
the young woman begged hard not to be
hearted and seeing that the young woman
was not accustomed to being In such a
place decided to consult Sergt. Louks
about II. She left the young woman on
the lower floor securely locked as she
thought and went up to consult the sur
geon, whose private Office Is over In q back
corner OF the building.
While the Matron and the Sergeant were
talking the woman sobered up by the
thought OF where she was confined, fol-
lowed the Matron up and passed out of
the door. At that particular time there
are number OF trains passing and a regi-
ment OF soldiers could have gone out with
out being heard. Matron Fits said that
apparently, the woman was too drunk to
move, and she did not dream that such a
thing would accur. However, the wo-
mans pockctbook, containing more than