The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-09-27
THE WILLMAR EXPLOSION.
Water Works and Power House Com.
plete Wreck.

Willmar, Sept. 24..-Tne explosion
of a 4O-horse- power boiler completely
wrecked the city electric light and
water works. plant Sunday morning,
and will entail loss of So, 900. The
explosion occurred at 3 10 a. NJ, and
the report was heard in the remotest
part of the city, while the conclusion
shook the earth for blocks around, and
pieces of the flying debris were carried
a distance of 1000 feet from the
scene Of the disaster.
Nels Bredeson, the engineer, is I'M
able to account for the explosion, and
that he is alive and uninjured is moth
ing short of miraculous,
The night crew of the plant consists
of two engineers, who change watches
at midnight. Bredeson came on last
watch, and the plant was turned over
to him by Engineer Williams au IL
O'Clock. with everything in good run
ming order. Shortly after 2 O'Clock
Bredeson tried the water glasses on
all the boilers, and each gave the usual
normal response. Only the usual head
of steam was being carried, and every
thing seemed to be all right
There were three boilers at the
plant, and after trying the water glass
on each he drew chair over in front
of the furnace of the largest boiler,
which was also the one farthest away
from that which exploded, a distance
of perhaps ten feet. Directly behind
him was an open door which led into
the pumping room, where two large
pumps, used to supply the city stand
pipe, are kept in large, brick walled
pit. When the explosion occurred he
was blown through the open door into
the pit of the pumping station, but
beyond few scratches escaped unin-
jured.
The wrecked power-house was sub
stantial one-story brick structure,
5Ox5O, divided into three rooms-a
boiler room, dynamo room and
pumping room. The equipment of the
plant consisted of three boilers one
125-horse power and two 4O,horse
power, two dynamos, with capacity
of 2, 300 incandescent lights and two
all highspeed engines, besides two
large force pumps with d capacity of
1, 900, 900 gallons each every twenty
four hours. There were also switch
board and other electrical instruments
necessary to a thoroughly equipped
lighting plant and water station. The
destruction of the plant could not have
been more complete.
| The building was completely I'M
rooted, and the walls were leveled te
the ground, while some Of the bricks
were :. blown through windows Of
houses block distant. The roof has
completely disappeared, and the only
trace of it to be found is in splinters
which cover the ground for some dis
lance around.
Both the other boilers were blown
out of position-twisted and wrecked.
The dynamos and engines are buried
under tons of debris, and the dome o.
the bursted boiler was picked up il
the courthouse grounds, distance of
300 feet from the scene of the explo
sion. It:had been carried over severa
houses and was so heavy that tire
auired two men to lift it. The plan
was insured for $40. 900.
City Electrician johnson says it will
be at least a month before the cit,
will be able to furnish light. In the
meantime there is a run on kerosene
lamps, gasoline lamps and all manne
of lights.