Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-16
A DISASTROUS EXPERIMENT
HIGH-PRESSURE MOTIVE POWER
CAUSES AN EXPLOSION.
Two Men, Slightly Injured, Treated Mt
Emergency ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Glass Shattered.

While experimenting with apparatus &C.
signed for the adoption of a proposed now
high-pressure motive power of gasoline and
compressed air combined, l.. c. Maltby, 4
machinist, forty-four years of age, and his
son. Herbert L. Maltby aged sixteen. were
quite badly injured shortly after II o'clock
this morning by the explosion Of a galvan-
lied iron tank or chamber used in conuec-
ton with the tests.
The men We're at work secretly in room
on the second floor of the building occupied
by Sutherland & Carr, successors to Dore-
mus & Just, at 1902 D street northwest.
They were employed by Capt. I. N. Lewis.
U. S. A. of the bureau Of ordnance in the
War Department, who is working upon the
invention of the new motor.
The explosion was one of terrific force.
The report was equal to that of cannon
of large bore. Coming as it did at a busy
hour of the morning, the explosion created
something approaching CONSERVATION in the
district surrounding the scene of the acct
dent The windows in the front and rear of
the second story of the building were shat
tered and Immediately following the crash
a dense cloud of dust and smoke issued
therefrom. An immense crowd soon assem-
bled about the place, but a detail of police
men from the first precinct station, just
around the corner on 18th street. succeeded
in stopping the rush of the more curious.
who. seeing all danger past. pressed eagerly
about the door in an endeavor to get IN
side
Taken to Hospital.
Mr. Maltby and his son were hurried to
the Emergency Hospital. where their
wounds were dressed Their injuries, at first
regarded as serious, proved to be superficial,
and both will be out in a day two. The
elder Maltby had his right arm, right leg
and left hand lacerated by flying particles
of metal. His right eye was cut slightly
and his face burned. His son was bruised
a trihe and his left arm was slightly
scratched His hair was slnged. but. gen
orally speaking. his injuries Were of little
consequence. Both of the injured people
live at 1915 9th street.
Mr.. Maltby senior is regarded as a ma
chinist of ability, and when Capt Lewis
desired assistance in the work of carrying
on experiments along the line of increased
power in gasoline motive power by the adj
dition of compressed air he secured the
was rented from Sutherland & Carr upon
the proviso that the workmen therein
should not be disturbed in any way. The
firm furnished motive power, but further
than this and the rental of the room had
no interest in the experiments that were
being conducted
When the explosion occurred the elder
Maltby was blown backward over a lathe
and some smaller pieces of machinery. His
son was much nearer the tank at the time
of the bursting. 1t Is said, and his escape
from serious injury, If not death, was very
narrow 1t is presumed that too much pres
sure was allowed to generate within the
tank which seemed to be secondhand. The
experiments had been in progress for nearly
a month, and it is said rapid progress was
being made. The strength of the tank was
evidently overestimated. 1t was torn COM
pletely to pieces and much of the surround
ing mechanism damaged.
Firemen Soon on Scene.
The building in which the explosion oc-
CURED is located directly. to the west of
the chemical engine house Of the fire de-
partment A number of firemen were seated
in front when the awful noise was heard
Just above their heads. Jumping from their
seats, they rushed out into the street and
for few moments were unaware from
what quarter the explosion came. Some
thought it might have been one of the
chemical tanks Of the fire apparatus. Their
tndecision was of only moments duration,
however, for the yellow cloud of dust fly
ing from the building next door indicated
the seat of trouble. Without needing the
possibility of a second explosion, they rush
ed into the place and upstairs Employees of
the Sutherland & Carr establishment were
also upon the scene very soon and the in
jured men were taken downstairs to await
the arrival of the ambulance.