Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-13
GAS EXPLODED.
Building of Portland Gas Co.'S.
Plant Wrecked.
Two Killed--Another Pinned Down and
Slowly Eurned to Death.
Cause OF Explosion Unknown Several Mar
row Escapes OF Employees.

Portland. Ne. Aug. Zone Of the
buildings of the Portland Gas Com
pany on Commercial street, was bIown
up at 1l.3o \. Nj. Saturday. The build
ing was wrecked ana literally torn to
pieces by the terrific explosion.
The dead: William Carey Of Bright
on; William case of Portland; Robert
Moles of Portland
Carey had a wife ana child. Case
and two children.
The generator building was blown IN
to ruins. Two reports came in rapid
succession, shaking the surrounding
buildings and nearly completely wreck
ing some of them one of the men sad:
1T was as black as night. nothing
could be seen in the yard"
William Carey died horrible death.
When the smoke and dust rolled away
a crowd of men rushed To the wrecked
building. Looking in they saw Carey,
at the extreme end. pinned down Ivy
some timbers, but alive. y rope was
thrown to him. but while ne caught II
he could not hold it. The heat was
something fearful and for 4 moment
the crowd was driven back
Then Arthur Mullen said. Great
God. boys. we cant stand this" and
throwing his coat over his head he
rushed in. but the weight on the unfor-
tunate Brighton man was too great to
be removed by his single strength and
he was driven back, blinded ana al
most suffocated. Carey was burned to
death before the eyes of his horror
stricken associates
Robert Moles, the engineer. was
found in the boiler-room The tremen-
dous force of the explosion lifted the
Roof off and dropped it down on him.
He was shockinsly mangled, but es-
capped death by slow torture.
AS far as known or ever will be
known, William Case. vas instantly
killed.
All the surrounding buildings We're
more or less damaged, and some left
in practically a ruined state. 1t il inn
possible to estimate the damage.
Two men at work on the top Of 4
neichboring building saw smoke COM
ing from the generator building and
=
passing: Don't 60 in there. boys;
there's something the matter" Carey
replied. We've got to go in
1t is supposed they knew that Moles
was trying to make connection AMI
was in trouble. and that. While fully
realizing the danger, they went to his
| assistance.
Several has startling narrow es-
capes. John Fourier was blown to the
lopposite side of the yard. % feet, and
was badly shaken up and cut by lying
glass. He was close BY the generator
when the explosion occurred.
Michael, Skirritt left the generator
house just before the explosion. He -
| unable to give reason why he did 50,
| except that he felt afraid. Il never
| liked to be there when they We're max
| ing Connections he said.
Opinions differ regarding the cause
Of the accident. The gas company peo-
pie think z boiler exploded, but chief
| Eldridge r of the opinion that it was
due to some trouble with the machin-
| cry. The matter will be investigated
under the direction of County Attorney
George Libby.
| The force of the explosion was ire
mendous. The uncommonly thick brick
| walls yielded as if made Of cardboard.
| Within few minutes after the fire
f! department got there the fire was pi>lc-
| ticaliy out 1t of itself did no consid
| erabie damage. That was done by the
explosion. The city of Portland is "a
very large owner in the gas company.