Evening journal., 1897-12-17
DEATH IN GAS FUMES
Horrible Explosion at the Fed
eral Building.
AoETYLENB PLANT GOES UP

JOHN ]. COOPER, ELEVATOR AT
TENDANT AT THE FEDERAL
BUILDING, KILLED BY A FLYING
HOPPER TOP-WAS TO BE MAR
RIED NEXT WEEK-CAUSE OF
THE ACCIDENT A MYSTERY.
One of the saddest accidents occur
ring in Wilmington in recent years was
that which happened about o'clock
last night at the new Federal building
when John ]. Cooper, aged "a years,
elevator attendant Of the building, was
killed by the explosion of the acetylene
plant in the basement.
Cooper was temporarily appointed
last May by Collector of Port
Cooper, at a salary Of $40 a month,
with the understanding that il he
proved efficient he was to be regularly
appointed after the usual six months
probation trial. Cooper came up to all
requirements. He proved a capable
and conscientious workman, and soon
made friends with all of the govern
ment employees. His jovial disposition
gained him many friends among those
whom he carried on the trips of the
elevator. When the six months proba-
tion expired, Collector Cooper entered
his name on the civil service list as
competent and regular employe.
HIS LAST TRIP.
Little did the unfortunate man think
as he sat in the office of Custom Inspec-
tor Ayars few minutes before his
young life was snuffed out, waiting to
carry Inspector Ayars and Deputy Col
lector Comegys down on the elevator,
that the trip would be his last. That
was at 445 o'clock. When the land
ing on the post office floor or corridor
had been reached, Cooper was met BY
Engineer William G. Mcintyre, of the
building, who said: "Fill up the tank,
John, am going to get some oysters. "
Cooper replied that he would do SO,
and Mcintyre and Court Attendant Nc
Nulty started to a downtown restau-
rant.
THE DEADLY GAS PLANT.
When the bids for furnishing light to
the new Federal building were asked
for there were none among the bidders
more anxious to furnish light for the
place than the Blanchard Acetylene
Company, of Washington. The govern
ment had awarded to this company
| other contracts of a similar kind, ano
as experts on gas plants had expressed
| favorable opinions of the system on ac-
/ count of its simplicity and cheapness
/ and being the lowest bidder, the con
| tract was awarded to the Blanchard
| Company The plant was constructed
under the supervision of Major Tur
ner & Son., of Washington, who arr
4 general agents for the Middle States.
/ When the plant was put in operation
great things were expected of it, but
i was soon decided among the employe
of the post Office that the acetylene wa
not a success.
| Generally at o'clock the generator
which contains the carbide for produc
ing the gas, was charged, and the odo
was sitting. 1t was similar to tina
which emanates from the Liebig Chem
ical Works at times, and the result wa
that a majority of the employees wer
made i'll and incapable of attending t
their duties at the post office. Com
plalnt was also made by those, VII
happened in.sthe, post toffice when. tn
plant was being charged. = a.
/ v
) in the building entered a vigorous Pre-
test against the plant, which resulte
. in the government sending an inspeS
tor here. He, on investigation, ordere
= | the plant removed from the cellar Tt
/ blanchard Company, not wishing to
deprived of the contract, agreed
r | house in the plant This was foun
r | impracticable, and the orders of. the il
spector were adhered to, but action
removing the tanks from the cellar VIZ
deferred until next Spring.
1t then devolved upon EngineerMcIl
tyre to look after the plant, under il
struction from tie builders. The maj
! ner of feeding the generator was m
$ complicated, and Cooper soon becan
an adept at it.
r. There are three tanks in ALL al
these are situated in the western end
the cellar The main tank is the gei
+ orator, being a round cylinder, mea
e | uring about five feet in diameter. A
3 tached to the generator are two larg
tanks, through which the gas passes
- the pipes running through the buildin
g All three OF the tanks are kept ha
o filled with water, as acetylene is gene
t ated by water releasing the gases co
e tanned in the carbide. In charging q
. plant the operator places about
IS pounds of carbide, which is a miXtu
e of charcoal and lime, in the hopper
7e | the generator. The carbide, as
i touches the water, Immediately Great
s gas. After it has become strong enOul
= to produce heat and light it flo
r, through pipes into the adjoining tanl
m 1t produces a clear, white light
- THE EXPLOSION.
st. When Mcintyre and McNulty left {
lc. building Cooper went to the cellar
Al attend to the tanks. The register
o., the main tank showed that only
small amount of carbide was necessa
: to charge the tanks, as Engineer Mcl
tyre had filled them in the mOrnil
- The real cause of the accident v
never be known. According to I
opinion expressed to Journal m
last night by those in charge of
10 building. Cooper probably assembled I
nv steps near the generator to fill the ia
20 with the carbide. He did not succ'
70 in charging the tank, as the le'