The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-12

Special Dispatch 10 the Post In teiligeurer
iAttHA- July u.Had cyclone
swooped down on the big brick power
house OF the Tacoma Railway Company
today IL could not have done more damage
than was accomplished by the running
away and breaking OF one Of the large
wheels used III the generation of power
Tor the street railway system
brfcks were hurled through the air for
distance cf BOO feet, ard pieces of iron
from the big wheel. weighing from saa 10
l,ts@ pounds were thrown distance OF
half block. furrowing their way along
tne board pavements with as much ease
az knife would have In seyering a cheese.
The ground adjacent to the power house
was strewn with bricks. mortar. pieces OF
iron and betting. while the power house
proper presented a scene of devastation
that can only be compared to the visita-
ticn OF a cyclone. A space ten feet wide
extending from the sidewalk TO the roof
was blown out. while the roof over the
engine and wheel was blown into atoms.
Inside the building a scene of complete
destruction was presented Piles OF ium-
Der and broken machinery were jumbled
together in most confusing mass max
ing it difficult for the employees and extra
iaborers to decide just where 10 begin the
work OF clearing up.
Superintendent Dame. although i'll, was
everywhere giving instructions. his cool
head being just what was needed in such
A case. s. z. Mitchell. superintendent OF
the General Electric Company. was also
present, his suggestions proving valuable
TO the workers.
The accident paralyzed the traffic
throughout the city, as the company fur
nished power for nearly every street car
line in the city. consequently the news
that there had been serious accident was
received with considerable CONSERVATION
among the many people who took advan-
tage of the delightful weather and hied
themselves to Point Defiance or other
spots which me; with favor from pie
nickers. Then fears We're allayed by
promise from the management that
enough power would be generated from a
dynamo that was uniniured 70 run the
cars and bring them to the city during
the afternoon.
Fortunately no one was seriously hurt
Three men were struck by flying bricks.
receiving slight injuries about the body
One wheelman riding along Pacific avenue
was struck on the hand by small piece
OF iron receiving a slight cash on that
member. Other than this no one was In
jured fact which is regarded as miracu-
lous considering the enormous quantity
OF brick and iron that went flying through
the air.
The accident occurred at o'clock. and
was caused by the breaking OF the gover-
nor rod in the big engine. This caused
the immense wheel TO run away Thomas $
Mcpherson the engineer on watch. when
he saw what had happened, made rush
for the throttle and endeavored 10 shut
off the steam. The throttle Is large one,
and IL took some time TO turn off the
steam which had rushed into the cylinders
with all its might when once the governor
had full sway. Mcpherson nearly succeed
ed in accomplishing his purpose. when he
became aware OF the great danger of the
wheel breaking and sending him 10 eter-
nifty He concluded that discretion was
the better part of valor and left his post.
after doing all that human hands could
There was one more avenue open 10 save
the property OF the company and prevent
a serious and perhaps fatal accident III
he could reach the valve leading from the
boiler room to the basement below the en-
gine in time 10 shut of the steam his pur-
pose, might he accomplished. II was one
chance I'm ten thousand but IT was worth
trying for So raking a bound, he flew
down the stairs 10 the basement. oot ere
his feet left the las; step there was a
terrific noise, not unlike the bornhardineiit
of fort and he knew The worst had
come He kept right on, however ana
soon had the steam supply cut on but 100
late 10 avert the crash
The noise OF the crash was terrific. ana
continued for several seconds Clouds OF
dust from mortar and brick added 10 the
hIackness of the scene. and by the lime
Mcpherson and the fireman reached the
engine room everything was in the widest
confusion.
Slioerintendent Mitchell. who was in tho
office AT the time the wheel ran away.
n-ade an effort 10 rcacn the throttle after
Mcpherson left Il. nut he. too, saw the
Imminent danger in which he vas placed
and hurriediy retraced his steps.
The noise caused by the explosion Was
heard blocks away. large crowd gather-
ing within a few minutes To add 10 me
excite nsent the FIRE departns nj was called
ONT so as 10 De on hand should IRE com
nnf,nicate TO the building. The services OF
the department were noE needed. however.
A. MrPherSon's 5 rrecaution onNiatsd any
fear of 9lanies or escaping steam
As soon as an examination couia De
made II was found that the wheSl was
coupIete wreck The engine was also
badly wrecked. but nor TO sucn an eA-
tent that il cannot he repaired Plece7 OF
iron damaged four dynatnos, TWO oi tasfa
quite badly The loss Is estimated AT hs-
,,-es ranging from siep 90 TO S-9en.
No blame Is attached 10 Engineer Nc
Pharson. as the breaking OF a governor
rod is lia hls. To occur AZ almost any tune
There may be some people who might
.nfrk that Mcpherson should nave re-
Ynain4a al hgs post and gone down 70
death as a hero but as he mas family
dependent upon him. he OH toe proper
thing in seeking another aIisi safer avenue
"a avert The accident. Such - the belief
Of r{na-teuths Of the citizens. There 10
a fire insurance on the plant, out no n
surauce for such ar accident aS occurred
Fua wheel that broke weighed tWsAty~
tbrsa tons IL was OF the hegt transmission
tyre ard was nfty-six inches across the
face and tweaty-fou- feet in diameter.
yTt.. engine IS of the compound type. SIS
measurements being s'x4fxss- IL was q
n1arnf fnrert piece OF machinery, ia Tact,
ore 0f the finest in use IN the Northwest
aionx towards evening the uHSnJAfes1
s,-rar,,o vas started and sufficient pos -
generated 20 ran the cars from outlying
points 20 tAe city. thus bringlns back the
r.aorle who rad Jouru@yed out during the
forenoon.
CITY Electrician Joslin vas on hand
shortly after the explosion and offered his
services to the company. 80 the Post
Fr+4glt.,arcev CORES poudeat Fge stated taAt
TIE cftv woGta furnish the power for tie
;-..a r,ts..s-en Ignts Of t-e Commercial.
which got is pow@f from the Tacoma
Rs;lway Company and X possible the arc
nrbts n ihis KAY ta@ cttx can pay CT US
f,hstrstfon 30 tae company fo- ASSISTING
TIE city eheu St was "a 1sF~l.
Engineer ri FsAeFsoa was seen and as n
- Tor A statement reg4 ratag ire accident