The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-28

At I15 o'clock yesterday morning the
whole borough of Jermyn was startled
by a terrific report caused by the eXplo-
sion Of the barrel mill at the Moosic
| Powder company's plant at the south
ern end Of the town. AS a result of
| the explosion Il number Of men were
injured and an immense amount of
damage done not only to the plant but
TO numerous buildings throughout the
| town. The injured men are:
JACOB KILLER married; ribs crushed, a mum.
Der OF puncturei wounds and contusions. and
one rib fractured.
WILLIAM GIBBS. married: badl, .pr,incd ankle.
bone of ankle also splin,etcd: suffering con.
sidcrabv from shock.
CHARLES fORkET., married; nose badly cut
GEORGE GEBliNRDr, singc numerous cuts un
face from flying glass.
Hitler is the most seriously injured
of the four. but DR.. Shields, his attend
ing physician. stated last night that
the injured man would likely pull
through. Gibbs injuries are very pain
ful and yesterday afternoon he was
suffering severely from shock He was
somewhat improved, however. last ev-
are only slight.
KILLER HAD CHARGE.
HITLER. who had charge of the mill
in which the explosion took place. had
started the machinery and left the mill
FOR few moments. He was about
thirty yards from the mill when the
explosion took place ana received his
injuries by being struck by piece OF
flying timbers.
Gibbs was working in the p,llveriz-
ing mill and received his injuries by
being thrown with great force against
some machinery.
The explosion was the most destruc-
tive Of any known here. not vestige of
the barrel mill remaining. Several of
the other buildings ana mills were
damaged. being depressed and twisted
The office was considerably damaged.
1t was here that George Gebhardt re-
ceived his injuries by flying glass and
Andrew Clarkson. Il miner. residing on
South Main street. who was in the Of
flee at the time. also had an unpleas-
ant experience. being thrown heavily
To the floor and the office door falling
on top of him. He escaped with Il
number of slight cuts. The explosion
played havoc with the windows and
crocllely inside the company's dwell
ngS adjoining the works and Alvira
Carey q daughter Of one of the em-
plOyes. was also painfully cut in the
face by flying glass.
WINDOWS BROKEN.
Along the business section of the
town there was great destruction OF
glass. At the stores of John McGolf
and John McDermOtt the entire front
windows We're demolished. Two large
plate glasses were also broken in Dr.
Davis drug store, and one in the store
of j. Fl. Wheeler. A stained glass me-
mortal window and several other panes
OF glass were broken in the Methodist
church and a large stained glass VIM
dow in st. james church suffered
similar fate. Private residences suffer-
ed similarly. and from one to dozen
panes of glass were broken in scores OF
houses.
As is usual in powder mill explosions.
no cause can be given for the accident.
1t is fortunate it occurred when it did.
as q number of the hands had just !
started towards the mill to shovel away
the snow around the building, and hal |!
the accident happened two minutes
later several of these men would un- |
duubtedly have lost their lives.
The Delaware and Hudson train had |
Just left the depot and was opposite !
the mill when the explosion occurred. |
The shock was distinctly felt bya the |
passengers. and the train lurched so |
that many of them We're badly scared |
for few moments. The shock was |
felt as far north as Poyntelle and ut |
Moosic, on the south, it was distinctly |
felt.
In Archibald many windows were
broken. the handsome stained glass |
in the Catholic church beins
ruined.