Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-08-21
4 Di8ester Exploded With Ter
n rifle Results.
MEN BURNED BY STEAM
Some of the Victims Taken to
the Hospitals.
FLAMES ADD TO THE HORROR

A disastrous explosion at the Della.
ware Pulp Works of the Jessup g. Moore
Paper Co. yesterday caused fatali-
ties as yet unfixed, but estimated at 10
or more, besides the injuring of half a
dozen persons.
At 8 10 o'clock the bodies OF William
Burke and Frank Harris had been
taken from the smouldering ruins.
The explosion occurred at 2 o'clock
in the digester room, which adioins the
boiler shop of the plant. The time of
the explosion is determined by the fact
that the clock in the room was stopped
at 2 O'Clock.
1t is supposed that one of the diges-
ters exploded. 1t is in these machines
that the wood pulp is boiled. The force
of the explosion wrecked the digester
building, blowing the roof off and
/ displaced 10 or IA boilers in the boiler
room itself
The wreckage, which is piled about
80 feet high, caught fire and that
caused the summoning of the fire
engines. As soon as they reached the
scene they began throwing water on
the ruins.
Meanwhile, employees of the plant
went to the rescue of their fellows who
had been caught in the explosion.
1t is reported that 10 persons are in
the ruins. This is in addition to Will
liam Burke and Frank Harris, whose
dead bodies have already been removed.
Harris home is at 1920 Maryland
avenue.
Drs. James H. Morgan and Joseph P.
Wales were soon at the scene and rend-
cred aid to the injured men. The scald-
ing steam from the digester was re-
sponsible in part for the injuries.
Tho explosion caused great excite
ment throughout the city, especially
among persons having friends or rela-.
tiyes employed at the works. A large
crowd collected near the ruins. In this
crowd we're some women who went to
inquire whether husbands or other rela-
tiyes had met death. As the crowd
watched the efforts OF the rescuing
party in searching the ruins for men
who had been caught in the wreckage,
the scene was reminder of that which
follows mine explosions, when sadly
interested people gather round the
mouth of fatal shaft seeking news of
loved ones. }sa,
The loss by the explosion is placed
st $40, 600.
The explosion took place about 2 is
o'clock. An alarm of fire was sent in
from box 124, foot of Marsh Road,
md the district companies responded.
Thc Phoenix ambulance and patrol
wagon were also summoned and a
Jquad Of policemen went to the scene
70 render aid.
When the Delaware Hospital was
notified word was sent to DIR. John
Palmer, Jr., who is acting as chief of
the surgical staff while DR.. Jesse
Williamson is on his vacation, and
ne hurried to the hospital. DIR. Joseph
p. Wales, assistant on the surgical
staff, went at onceto the scene Of tho
,ccident to render temporary aid to
lhe injured persons before they were
started on the drive to the hospital.
The first man admitted to the Della
ware Hospital was Chester. II was
realized at once that his condition
was very grave, the scalding steam
having blistered large portion of his
body. ii "a
One of the most seriously injured of
those taken from the ruins is George
Durham OF Columbia avenue and Har-
rison street. He is at the Homoeo.
pathio Hospital and is believed to be
fatally injured. His family has been
notified.
The departments destroyed were the
,hipper, heater, Liquor, wash and di-
gester rooms. 1t is supposed that the
: sause of the explosion was that too
much steam had entered the digester.
While J. W. Scott, chemist at the
works, was attempting to haul around
hose carriage, he fell into vat of
hot chemicals and was burned about
the face and side.
LOSS MAY BE APPALLING.
At $50 o'clock the dead body of
nan named John Mccormick was
found in the wash room.
few minutes later the dead body of
Zach Henry was discovered.
This makes four known dead, with