The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-19
They met
SHOCKING
DEATH.
Nine Men Roasted by Molten
Metal Thrown on Them by
Exploding Gas.

o plosion Of gas in the Soho furnace o
@ OF Jones & Laughlin. this city, this 2,
o morning, nine men were burned TO o
@ death and probably 20 others more I.
o or less injured. The damage to the o
% plant will amount to $4,000 /.
O. The explosion occurred IN one Of @
g the big blast furnaces. The men 6.
@ were at work at the top of the fur Z.
% mace. over 12o feet from the ground. Z.
ee%%%@&~@@@%~@@%%e@S9~@@st.
They were employed as filters and were
just getting ready TO quit work, being
members OF the night crew. when the gas.
which accumulated in the furnace. ex-
ploded, and tons OF molten metal, cinders/
and Stag were thrown over the unfortu-
nate men on top of the structure.
When the gas let go, panic ensued on
the small platform about the top. All
the men made a rush for the elevator
but it had gone down and there was
no escape.
To jump meant death and 10 remain on
the platform was just as certain DOOM
The tons of molten metal and flames
fell upon them and burned ten men TO
death. Their bodies dropped TO the roof
of the mill. So feet below.
The bodies of some of the dead and
many of the injured were strewn about
tine yard beneath the furnace, some of the
dead having fallen from the slippery roof
20 tie ground.
The cries OF the injured broke the still
ness which had spread over the place
when the fury OF the explosion and FIRE
had abated.
When the dead had been removed the
injured, who were found i'm all parts OF
the yard beneath the furnace, were at
tended 10.
As rapidly as possible they were placed
in ambulances and taken TO various hos
pitals.
THE DEAD.
The bodies of the victims were all re-
moved 10 the morgue and We're terribly
thus far are as follows:
Joseph Frankovitch.
Joseph Sisul.
Michael Gasdovicz, &c years OF age,
leaves wife and child I'm Hungary.
Andrew Sues. 20 years OF age. has
widowed mother in Hungary.
Michael Mezo, 35 years leaves wife in
Hungary.
John Kochanko.
George SZrenkO.
The names OF the injured at the Mercy
hospital are: John Yentz, John Sabo,
George Wellzon.
The others injured are at their homes
and have not yet been located
Thomas Jones and Arthur Young. mana
gers of the plant, say that nine men
were killed and five injured. They say
that ordinarily only three men work ON
top OF the furnace. but about 6:15 o'clock
this morning one of the heavy iron
wagons used in taking up the ore 10 the
top of the furnace got stuck on the top
OF the structure and the three men sent
for assistance
few men went up but they could not
move the wagon and more went up until
the number reached IL.
TO sLAvS AND POLES.
II was while they were trying to get
the wagon released that the fatal cXplo-
sion took place. All the men at work
-aa-tnp OF the furnace were Slavs and
Poles. Nine OF them were killed out
right and three OF the five taken TO Mercy
Hospital are so badly hurt that II is
feared they will die.
Eyewitnesses OF the accident say that
10 was one Of the most horrible sights
they ever witnessed. They say that
when the explosion occurred there was
one loud report and tho heavens were il-
FtFfnt 0 NJ oil Ia gI.
showing the men on top OF the furnace
running about, gesticulatlng wildly.
The flames and hot metal looked like
a volcano in action. Five men were
strangely enough. these men are the ones
that are Still living The others hung on
the railing, some on the outside others
on the inside, until their clothing was
Two Of the victims hanging on the out
side Clung tenaciOusly To- the railing uu-
then dropped TO the roof OF the mill dead
The bodies of several OF the mrn found
ON the platform OF the cupola were burn
ed almost TO crisp.
HAD MARROW ESCAPES.
Hundreds of pedestrians ON Second ave-
nUc had narrow escapes from instant
death when the explosion occurred Tons
OF ore. coke aud hot cindcrs raincd down
and many had to run into houses aud
stores for protection.
A street car was passing just at the
time the gas let 70. The coke and other
material falling on the cnr. which had .
passeugers aboard. caused % panic Many
jumped OF and more would have followed
had not the cOolnoss OF the conductor
prevented them.
Nono of the passenger were in tho least
injured but al we're badly scared.
Tho report oC the eNniosion aroused The
people living N tho vicinity Of the fur
mace. and the plac. was soon surrounded
with an excited throng. Of which were
the wives and families OF the dead and
injured together with relatives and
friends.
WANTS VERDICT SET ASIDE