The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-09-04
The Two Cities Left
Without Lights.
No Prospect of Any For Several
Months.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1

Biddeford, September 8.-Two men
were killed, a portion Of the electric
light plant wrecked and the cities OF
Biddeford and Saco plunged into dark
ness by the explosion OF the York Light
and Heat company's boiler, this eve
ming.
This same company lost it's saco
plant last fall by the explosion of boil
Grand sincs that time the station in Bid
deford has teen furnishing all the street
and commercial lighting IN both cities.
and in addition furnishing circuit for
Old Orchard.
The plant was located in the old Cur
rier building on Elm street, opposite the
Boston & Maine freight house, the
boiler house being separated from the
engine and dynamo room by narrow
passageway. Shortly after O'Clock
Fireman Charles AIeserYe and Assistant
Fireman William Hefferran were in the
fire ROOM and MeserYe had just started
to pull down one OF his banked fire
when the explosion came.
The boiler house was completely de-
molisned, but the force of the explosion
was toward Elm street, and neither of
the adjoining buildings was extensively
damaged. The street was Uttered with
bricks, ashes and timbers. The tall
stack went into the air, but came down
directly on top of the ruins, as did also
the front sheet of the boiler whose civ
ing way was the cause of the explosion.
Engineer OrviIle @. Moves. Assistant
Engineer Thomas Campbell and Trim
mer CantiIlOn were on their way to work
when the explosion occurred, and they
made haste TO reach the scene of disas- |
ter. They were preceded by Thomas |
CulIinan, Jr, former Iineman, who took
in the situation at once, and cropping his
Ways through the binding steam to the
ire room, shut off the steam and water
valves. Then he arrayed himself in a
fireman S rubber coat and returned to
5he wrecked building to hunt for Meserve
and Hefferran.
He found Meserve, half hidden beneath
5he debris, his head and face hIaokened
almost beyond recognition, He had pOt
jhe full force of the escaping steam, and
lhe skin on his face and hands was
hanging in shreds. He was still alive.
1u5 unconscious. Aided by fellow work
nen and hremen, CulIinan got the dy-
ng man out of the ruins and he was
aiken to the Trul hospital. on the way
le recovered his senses, recognized Cul
imam and begged him not to leave him.
)ut added that it wasn't necessary to
all doctor, as he would come out all
light. At the hospital everything DOS
ible was done to alleviate his suffering
nd save hisslife but there was no possf-
lie chance for him. He died at s O'Clock.
Meanwhile the search for the BODY of +
1etferran was continued. The members
4 the ire department., summoned by an
larm from the Smiths corner box.
RIo4.~
he explosion had not set lire to the build
ngs. They joined in the search and in
bout 10 minutes from the time OF their
rival the body was unearthed. 1t also
hOWed evidence of contact with live
team, but deep wound on the head
DID the story OF instantaneous death,
MeSerYe was about 5S years OF age, and ]
ad wife and daughter. He had been {
] the company's employ almost since !
be establishment of the plant. Heffer-
an was about 38 years of age. He leaves ]
wife and five children. He was form.
'ly a Water Power fOundryman, had
erked at Andrews & Horigan's grocery
ore a short time, and entered the cleo
tc light station as assistant fireman a
w weeks ago.
John p. KeIIy's machine shop for =
'ars occupied the lower floor of the
aiding adjoining the westerly side of
10 boiler house, but he moved out last f
eek. 1t is lucky for Mr.. Kelly that he {
I'd vacated those quarters, for the rooms
as filled with flying bricks and debris. c
Biddeford and Saco are not only get f
ng along without electricity, but there
no prospect of their being lighted
r several months. The company is
Hiding large electric light station
one of the wharyes, but had not =
aimed to have it ready for occupancy
fore midwinter The engines and
namos in the Elm street station are Z
harmed, but it is not probable that q
g company will re-estabIish a boiler {
use there, for the brief period before
Q completion of the new station. t.
A tlaW in one of the front sheets of the d
'iler was undoubtedly the cause OF the Y
pIosion. One end of the torn sheet
ows evidence of an old parting from t.
Q stay bolt, AS that particular part n
tbo shoot R1JJo-1 ~ 4