The age-herald., 1900-05-06
Molten Metal Scattered in All
 Directions. e-
BROKE THROUGH THE BACK WALL
Stock House, Goal Washer and Bins and Other Buildings Destroyed-City Department Called Out-Will
 Cause Shut Down

By the blowing out of one of the city furnaces of the Sloss-Shef1ield Steel and Iron company last night s75OOO worth of property was destroyed by fire and several . furnace men narrowly escaped death in its most horrible form.
 ! The escape of the molten iron through an unnatural channel caused an explosion which blew out the back of the furnace and scattered the liquid metal in all directions, setting fire to the inflammable material with which it came in contact. : The flames spread rapidly, and in snort 9time destroyed the stock house, tressels, washer, coal bins and ore lift, all of which were constructed of wood.
 The blowout or explosion occurred at $40 o'clock while a squad of men were at work opening up the furnace preparatory to mak- ing run. A large hole was made in the back of the furnace next to the stock house, and the molten iron burst forth with the above stated results.
 ,-,7 Several Narrow Escapes
 A large number of men were at work around the furnace at the time of the &C., cident, but no casualties were reported. Two negroes who were on top of the ele- vator or hoist stand when 1t became en- veloped in flames, descended by means of a rope and escaped injury with the excep- ton of slight burns
 As soon as the explosion occurred the fire department was summoned and the engines from the Northside and the South side departments responded, but they could do little with the fire. The material of which the burned buildings were con- structed was of such character that they burned almost like straw.
 It was reported last night that several coal and ore cars belonging to the differ- ent railroads were in the stock house at the time the fire started, but this could not be verified. General Manager T. H. Aldrich stated that he could not say whether there were any cars there, and if there were whether or not they burned. Secretary Mcqueen had not been advised of any cars being in the house.
 Rendered Little Service
 By the time the fire department could reach the furnaces the east end of the stock house had been almost consumed, and the flames had spread to the coal washer and to the coal bins The two fire engines put in use were connected with the basin of water alongside the electric car track and several streams of water played on the burning building. For two hours these streams were kept in continuous use with apparently little effect. At midnight. however, Chief Mulln stated that he be- lieved he had the fire under control though it was still burning fiercely.
 T. H., Aldrich, general manager and act ing president of the Sloss-Sheffield com pahy, stated that the accident would ne- cessitate the closing down of No. furnace for some time, until it could be put in repair, but just how long this would be he could not say until 1t had cooled down and had been examined. No. furnace will not be interrupted but will continue in operation MT. Aldrich stated that the total money loss would be approximately $75.0O0 and that the company carried in- surance on the stock house, the coal wash CT and the coal bins, but probably not enough to cover the loss.
 Heard For Great Distance
 The explosion was head for great dis tances and within short time after 1t occurred several hundred persons, men and women, had gathered there to watch the cOnudgratloH, anu rcihdiHcu uHtii dieOi midnight.
 The two city furnaces of the Sloss-Shef- field Steel and Iron company were built about fifteen years ago and have been op- erated almost continuously since. They have a present capacity of about 200 tons of pig iron each daily ,and both were in blast when the accident occurred. No. stopped immediately after the explosion and No. about half an hour later. No however will be started up again this morning and continued in blast without Interruption.
 The material in the stock house consist ed of ores and was not damaged. The coal bins for both washed and unwashed coal were burned, but the stock of coal was very low an dthe loss on this item is in- considerable.
 < ! Heaviest Loss
 The iheavies los sis on the coal washer which is a total loss It costs from $3O,00O to $50OO0 to construct washer, but this one had been in use for quite white, and consequently was not so valuable. The coal bins can be replaced at small cost. The elevator was badly damaged and the wooden part of 1t will have to be rebuilt.
 There was danger at one time of the fire spreading to the coal chute of the Southern railway across the railroad tracks from the furnaces but 1t was checked in time to sayo thia