Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-12-23
DELAWARE GAZETTE AND STATE JoURNAL-wII

tamplated making arrangements with
the government officials to take charge
of the machine, but, as far US no knew,
no such arrangement had heen made.
Mr.. Mclntire, vino hes bnen around
the apparatus almost very day since 1t
was In operation and has become
familiar with Its workings, had no
opinion to advance ils to how such an
explosion could occur Other attaches
of the building were also at loss to
assign any reason, md nothing will
probably be known in this direction
until the Investigation Is completed.
The tank must have exploded with
great force, the damage to surrounding
objects being apparent this morning
by daylight. The strong foundation
upon which 1t stood was cracked in
several places and the tank itself sp.
neared to have leon moved several
inches. Tho suppOs!tion ia that the
explosion threw Cooper against pillar.
and his arm was hroken in that way.
1t is also probable that his skull was
fractured by the pillar.
The pillars which almost surround
the apparatus are Of iron, upon which
there is covering Of strong cement.
The force OF the explosion has cracked
the cement on the pillars, but they arc
not otherwise damaged.
The machine in the Federal building
is known as one of the Blanchard Eatent
machines and was built in Washington.
The compuny which has the contract
ing, and which placed the machine
there, is known as toe Acetylene and
Carbide CO. This apparatus was put in
operatiou on July 18th last, anu at times
there have been between It's and 200
lights burning at one time.
Major Il. S. Turner. who is at the
head Of the company which placed tho
acetylene gas plunt in the building
came to Wilmington on Friday amt
made an examination and made the
following statenunt to representative
Of this paner:
cit should he clearly understood
that tho acety lene has no explosive
properties different from cnnl and water
gao. III the plant in the basement Of
the Federal building had been making
ordinary Illuminating gas instead OF
acetylsDe, precisely the same results
would have followed. Any kind Of
illuminating gas when mixed with air
in certain propoit ions forms com
pound, which, II ignited, will explode.
In house lighted by city gas. il you
ioave ono burner in room open and
unlighteh, allowing the gaze to escape,
the gas will mingle with the air until
the mixture becomes explosive, then
il another burner In the same room be
lighted, or il match should he struck
an eXnlosion would instantly occur Ao.
Gidenta OF this character are so common
in tine uso of ordinary city gas that the
public scarcely notices them. unless au-
companied by unusual loss Of life and
prouerty.
1.-THE unfortunate feature of the
affuir, and the only one Of serious i'm
portance is the death of young Cooper
Though only slightly acquainted with
him, his Intelligence. courtesy and ex-
ceptionally pleasant address bad at
traated my attention, and the sudden
ending of such life givea the affair a
tragic Importance. +"
place yesterday at Cheswold. Services
we're held at the residence of his
parents, the Rev. Il. 4. Coursey OF
Wilmington. the Pew. r. II. Rawlus
Of Seaford, the Rev. Alfred Smith,
ID. d., of Lover and the Rev. James
W. Fogle of CheswoId officiating. The
attendance was large. Harmony Coun.
Gil, Jr. o. U. A NJ, was present In a
body. The intermeut was at Eethel
cemetery.
A coroner'a jury, consisting OF John
Wood ward rs fcromun, Warren G..
Martin as secretary. Charles Whann,
j. g, jackson, a. p. Stetser. John
Wiley and j.. Frank Carey, Tuesday
decided that Mr.. Cooper "came to mis-
death from injuries received in an
accidental expulsion Of the generator of
the gus plant at the postofflce. at Ninth
and Shipley streets. Wilmington. " This
conclusion was reached after several
witnesses, including experts, had testi-
fed, the plant in its present condition
had been twice examined, and after
there hal been nearly an hours de.
liberation following the taking Of teati-
mnny.
The inquest was held at the office Of
Deputy Coroner James 4. Chandler,
No. Ill West Ninth street, an effort to
secure larger quarters having failed.
Before any testimony was taken the
members of the jury visited the scene
of the accident and made an inspection
of the damaged gas plant, which wau
10 the condition it had been left by
the explosion. The apparatus aud the
method of operating it we're explained
by Major Emory s.. Turner. who is at
the head of the Carbide and Acetylene
Co. of Wilmington, the contractors.
The jurymen we're in tho basement of
tine Federal building about 10 or 20
minutes, and when they left they had
a clear conception of the mechanism of
tho plant and the damage resulting
from the explosion.
Major Turner, John B. Whitehead,
tho local agent of the company, and j.
Ernest Smith, we're present in the
interests of the contractors, and
Stenographer Charles G. Guyer took
verbatim report Of the testimony.
Meaars. Turner and Whitehead. aud
also Howard l.. Pyle. who had taken
care OF the acetylene gas plant in the
Federal building from July 9tn TO
October lst, were among the witnesses
called.
Major Turner's testimony was prob
ably the most important as he gave his
opinion concerning The accident, and,
being an expert, the jurymen learned a
great deal from what he said. In giving
his theory he made the following state.
meut:
1.-The plant consists of one generator
and two holders or gasometers. The
gasometsrs arc of the telescope pattern,
the upper part of each tslescoping into
the lower part, being SO arranged that
the upper part is raised by tue pressure
OF gas, aud the weight of which forces
the gas out through the pipes to the
various parts Of tho buildings. The
generator has an opening at the top,
| WHICH is clnsBd by a lid While in