The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-05

A boiler exploded at the Wheeling
Steel works. In Benwood, yesterday
morning. killing one man Instantly and
injuring nearly 4 dozen others. one at
least, fatally. The explosion occurred
a few minutes after s o'clock, and arous-
ed great excitement in Benwood and vi
cinity.
The victims were as follows:
DAVID GEARY, OF Benwood. fire.
man, killed.
OWEN TAFFE. OF Bellaire, fireman;
probably fatally scalded.
VINCENT GENTLE, OF Behwood,
labofer, scaldcd about head and body;
may die.
FRED voNpnY. OF Wheeling. water
boy. face and hands sca!ded.
CASSIUs MORRIS, OF Bcnwood, cleo
trIciau, injured by flying debris.
GEORGE SLEBADo. Of Benwood, in.
jured by flying debris.
LOUIS WALKENFELDT. OF Belt
wood. injured by flying debris.
Two tramps who were sleeping above
the battery, were slightly injured. .
The boiler which let go, Is one OF four
| OF an old-style battery, and IS near the
| southern end OF the boiler house. which
supplies the steel works. The cause OF
the explosion is not definitely known.
but itsls supposed that lack OF water
was the cause. Il being stated that n
moment before the explosion, the water
tender. Thomas Morris. discovered that
the valves had refused to take water TO
feed the boilers. From the position
Geary was found IN, 1t Is evident he
had an inkling OF the dreadful shock.
for he was standing nearly erect be-
tween the exploded boiler and the next
battery wall, and with the exception OF
his head, was smothered with bricks.
The explosion did not make q terrific
report, get all who heard It heard It
with fear. Following the shock, the air
was filled with steam. dust and flying
bricks and other debris. Workmen
from all other parts OF the plant rushed
TO tho scene. and every man, woman
and child In Benwood hurried there as
fast as their feet could bear them. All
was confusion, and In the general rush
many women tainted. The employees
able 70 get out we're soon taken care of,
but 1t was some time before poor Geary
was discovered. Gentle. an Italian.
was about given up for lost, but when
he staggered out, his face scorched be-
yond recognition. the spectators were
deeply moved. as his wife and child
sank screaming and crying at his feet.
Owen Taffe. n middle aged man, was
fr!ahtfully scalded about the upper
part OF his body. and his head and face
were a sight. He bore his sufferings
manfully. and after he was removed to
J the Emergency hospital, continued 10
talk cheerfuliy to his wife and four
grown up children, who were soon by
his bedside. Geary's lifeless form was
removed TO his home. and the other
sufferers were also taken TO their
homes.
Taffe's death was expected hourly
yesterday. the attending physicians.
Drs. E:sker and Alley doing all possible
10 ease his aconies. They were kept
busv' attending TO Gentle, who was in
jured moresthan at first supposed. His
face was scorched to a crisp, and he
was unable to talk. Vondry, the Wheel
ing hoy, is about fifteen years OF age.
and he narrowly escaped death. Geary.
was fireman at battery No. 8, where
the boiler exploded, and Tane fire.
man at the next battery.
Gcary was a brother Of Officer Geary.
OF Renwood. and 4 young man whose
acquaintance were his friends. Every
one who knew him liked him. and sew
eral Benwood people will witness his In
terment, which will be OF Littleton to-
day. Gentle is n married man and has
Three children. all young, but as stated.
T'affe's children are grown up. his eld-
est sou being employed at the River
side.
A sheet let loose on the exploded boil
er. and though the boiler is an old one It
appears TO have been In fairly good
condition. The shock twisted one OF
the Stacks, and twisted the iron work
overhead and wrecked part OF the roof
and sides. Taffe was blown fully fifty
yards away, as In. fact. were all the
men but Geary. He probably thought
he could escape by crawling In next to
the other battery's wall, but 1t proved
to have been the worst place possible.
Workmen In the machine shop, a short
distance away. were also shaken off
elcl- feet, and the cloud OF SCOT and
dust which filled the ROOM. prevented
them from knowing what vas up for
awhile.
The affair has been one OF the saddest
In Benwood's history. and general SYM
| nnthy lie axprocaa1 fnr oil tha r,,aa.z.