Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-12-20

molten metal, cinders and Stag were
thrown over the unfortunate men on
the top Of the structure.
Cut OFF From Escape.
When the gas let go a panic ensued
On the small platform about the top.
The men made rush for the elevator,
but 1t had gone down and there was
no escape. To jump meant death and
90 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 85 feet below,
every bone broken and an unrecog-
nizable mass of human flesh.
Hurry calls were sent to the police
and morgue.
Patrols from all sections arrived be.
fore o'clock and The morgue wagon
was with them. The bodies of some
Of the dead and many of the wound
ed were strewn about the yard be
meath the furnace, some of the dead
having fallen from the slippery roof
to the ground.
The cries of the injured broke the
Stiffness which had spread over the
place when the fury of the explosion
and fire had abated.
Charred Masses of Humanity.
To remove the dead from the roof
of the mill it was found necessary to
get hook and ladders No 13 and the
tiremen carried the burned, charred
and misshapen masses OF humanity TO
the morgue wagon and placed them
in 1t. When the dead were removed
the injured were then looked after In
all parts OF the yard beneath the fur.
mace the injured were found. They
were hurried to the Mercy and other
hospitals.
Frank Jones and Arthur Young,
managers of the plant gave the state
ment that nine men were killed and
five injured. They say that ordinarily
only three men work on the top of the
furnace, but this morning about 6:15
o'clock one of the heavy wagons used
in taking up the ore to the top of the
furnace got stuck on the top of the
structure and three men were sent for
| assistance. A few men went up, but
they could not move the wagon and
more went up until the number reach
ed Ia Ii was while they were trying
to get the wagon released that the
fatal explosion took place. All the
| men at work on the top of the furnace
were Slavs and Poles. Nine of them
were killed outright and the three
taken to the Mercy hospital are SO
badly hurt ii is feared they will die.
Like a Volcano In Action.
Eyewitnesses say it was the most
horrible sight they ever witnessed.
They say that when the explosion took
place there was one great loud report
and the murky heavens were illumi-
mated with & great sheet of flame,
showing the men on top of the fur
mace running about. 1t looked like a
volcano in action. live men were
blown off the top of the furnace, and
strange as it may seem these men are
the ones that are still living. The
| others hung on the railing, some on
the other side, the others on the in
side, until their clothing was burned
off. Two of the victims hanging on
the outside held on and remained te.
| naciously clinging to the railing until
their fingers were burned on. Then
| they fell to the roof of the mill dead.
| Seven of the victims were found dead
on the platform of the cupola. These
were completely denuded of clothes
| by the flames and their bodies were
| burned almost to crisp. The com
| pany says that the night turn was
| Just getting ready to quit work and
that some of the day crew were at
work on the place. They say that
they are unable to give out any names,
as the men are only known by check
numbers. and until the payroll is gone
over their names cannot be learned
! by them. a. least.
Pedestrians Had Narrow Escapes.
Hundreds of pedestrians on Second
avenue had narrow escapes from in.
stant death when the explosion occur.
red. Tons of ore. coke and hot cinders
and some pieces weighing almost
| pounds rained down on Second avenue
and many had to run INTO houses and
| stores for protection.
Vice President 5srnaby Arrested.