The times., 1897-07-22
THE NEW HAVEN EXPLOSION
Four Women and Three Young
Men Instantly Killed.
CAUSE OF THE DISASTER
\ Loading Machine Bid the Damage
Miraculous Escapes of Several
Employees wild sceues That Took
Place After the Accident-Fire-
men Force Back the Crowd.

New Haven Cgna-. Jaly 81 Probably the
worst explosion that has occurred In years
in this city took place at 10 O'Clock this
morning il the cartridge room Of the Win.
chester Repeating Arms Company.
This department OF the big manufactory,
in which are over twelve hundred en-
ployes, is centrally located in the long line
of buildings. and the explosion jeop-
ardlzed lives by The wholesale.
Just now the factoryts rushed to its full
capacity to fill orders for the Russian,
Chinese and Japanese governments
The United states Navy and the Cubans
also have a number OF orders TO be filled
The explosion Of a loading machine re-
suited in tie death CT the following per-
sons:
julius Bornlan. seventeen years old. who
carried pow der.
Miss Josephine Brennan, seventeen years
old, operator of the loading machine
Mrs Nellie Eaumejster, twenty years
old, operator of the adjacent machine
Mrs Ida Brown, thirty years ole, opera
tor
walter Hill, seventeen years old. powder
boy.
old. operator.
Edward Bardofr, twenty-three years DID,
laborer.
Miss Brennan head W as blown complete
ly off her body
Mrs Baumeist ster's body was hurled throug
tbe side OF the wooden building, and her
head was crushed into an unacceptable
mass She had been married but out
month, and her husband worked In the
loading room, within ten feet OF her He
escape unscratched. she was formerly
Miss Nellie NARROW, Of Brooklyn, N Y.
George Rardoff and Edward Bardoff
brothers, worked In the same room
Edwards back was gouged out by the
explosion, and he died two hours after
being injured.
George viii lose an eye, and his shoulder
was broken, but he viii live.
There were half dozen injured by
theexpIosion. but outside of George Bardoff
none seriously Their faces were filled
with powder, and they sustained bruises
and decorations, which We're not severe
The Winchester works shut down after
the explosion, and hpndreds of employees
surged around the entrance to the load
ing room to inquire for friends or rela-
| tives, The police were impotent against
| the crowd and the scenes cannot be de-
scribeo. Upward OF 500 women work In
the Winchester armory, and these were
frantic and unappeasable. Arguments, en-
treaties and threats were without avail.
The gates had been closed against the
surglng throng, but the pressure was about
to break them down when the firenen
turned away the besiegers by the aid OF
several lines Of hose. AS the ambulances
drove into the street with the dead Oh
injured the women crowded against eacf
wagon 10 see if there was familiar face
Inside. -sr.ss
Some Of the escapes We're miraculous.
Miss Mamie Clarke worked at machine
next to the one that exploded When
tie explosion occurred, Miss Clarke was
lifted bodily from the machine at which
she sat and hurled over another machine
She LANDED fifteen feet away. Her side,
| were bruised and one of her hands we,ce
hurt but these were her only injuries.
The medical examiner has given a
verdict that the explosion was accidental
Explosions of the loading machines have
happened frequently before, but there
have been no serious results
The loading machine is supposed to be
proof against danger. 1t holds reservoir
of powder, and the arrangement is TO have
| the force OF an explosion go up through
a dome and pipe located over the machine
strongly. so as to resist an explosion o
| the reservoir, and thus send the violence
UP through the dome. The arrangement
| has worked SUCCESSFULLY in the mast