Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-09-25

previous to the one which exploded
we're behind time in being blown, but
whom they reached this one they were
on time. Tho one adjoining had been
worked on during the day, tho packing
having begun to leak and been taken
out. This, however, could have had
nothing to do with the one which ex-
ploded. Each digester is examined be-
fore being filled. The company did not
have the dieesters insured, but they
were thoroughly examined each month
by the firm, the last examination of
the one which exploded, No. Z, being
made on June 9th, by the millwright,
Mr.. GirYen, the machinist, Mr.. Ranck,
and helper. On the day Of the ex-
plosion 2. Q5 was the time to blow No. Z
out, but it blew up at exactly 2
O'Clock. Mr.. Saunders has been sup
erintendent of the works for seven
years. Witness was asked if he knew
the men killed and he said he did, all
being employed there.
| Witness said, in reply to questions,
that the digesters are 8 feet 10 inches
in diameter and II feet long. They
weigh from three to four tons and are
made Of steel, half-inch shell and five
| eighths Of an inch head. They are
manufactured by the Continental Iron
Works Of Brooklyn, N. Y. They have
been in use about IL years.
Thomas F. Reese of 800 jefferson
street, one Of the men injured in the
explosion, testified that he was en-
| ployed by the company to run the
eraporators. He could not remember
anything about the explosion, except
| that he was struck in the head by
brick. He was standing near one of
the doors OF the digester room at the
| time. In the morning the joint blow
out of ono of the boilers, throwing two
or three OF them behind time He was
| 40 feet from the digester whom il blew
up fIo was stunned, but was able to
scramble out OF the building, He knew
nothing about the cause OF the accident.
John White of Lancaster avenue and
| du font street was the next witness
| He had worked in the mills for the
\ past Il years running q wet machine
| He said he did not know anything
about the explosion. ''All | knew, +" he
said, was that | got brick in the
| jaw and bad one, too. Y lie was
about 30 yards from tho digester when
it exploded. He did not notice
anything unusual beforehand. Asked
whether the fires are drawn before the
digesters arc bio Nh out, witness re-
piled; Sometimes they do and some.
times they DON'T Asked whether he
had noticed steam gauges on the
digesters he replied: mot in recent
years, I" and added that he had not
worked in that department lately.
Leander L. Saunders of the Clayton
House, who is foreman at the works,
said he knew Of no cause for the
accident. He made an examination of
everything in the mill first thing in
the morning. He keeps that up all day
and passed through the digester room
about two minutes before the explosion
occurred. He knew about the valve Of
one OF the boilers being packed. Joseph
Henry was in charge of the digester
which exploded and was about 10 feet
away, and there was no fire under the
digester at the time. There was no
| sign Of any leakage and they had had
| no trouble with that digester. The
steam gauge showed l24 pounds, about
four pounds more than what is usually
carried. One hundred and thirty is the
| highest ever carried and 1870 pounds is
| the limit. Messrs. Henry, Scott, Hutton
and Ruff were in the room at the time
and it was not anybody else's duty to
he there. As result of the coal strike
the method of firing had been changed,
bituminous coal having been substi-
tuted for anthracite, and additional
experienced men we're employed. Wit
ness did not believe that had anything
to do with the explosion.
John J. Flanagan of 1875 jackson
street, foreman, left the works at Z
O'Clock in the morning. He examined
everything before leaving and found
everything in good shape. No. digester
appeared to give less trouble than any
of the others. Witness knew nothing
about the explosion, as he was not
there at the time. The usual pressure
was 100 pounds. Different kinds OF
wood required different pressure.
Harry Chadwick of Rose Hill worked
on tho night turn, heing engaged filling
the digesters during the night. He
filled No. twice during the night and
everything appeared to be all right.
William Poole Of tho Buttonwoods,
near New Castle, is q fireman at the
the explosion occurred. The digesters
were working all right when he left in
the morning. He knew nothing about
the cause OF the accident.
Frank ii. Stewart of l28 Reed street
was in the washhouso door at the time
of the explosion, about 10 feet from
John Collins. He was blown out the
door. lie did not know anything about
the digesters.
Joseph Hover of 312 Fifth avenue,
| an employe, said the boiler and safety
valve were cleaned the last Sunday in
june. There was nothing to choke tbs
safety valve.
, Walter s. Girven OF Oil West Fourth
; street, carpenter for the Jessup s
Moore Co., was home at the time ant
| knew nothing about the cause of tn,
explosion. lie was one of the men who
, cleaned the boiler out on the last Sun
day in June and found everything al
right. He had never been warned tina
the bcilers were dangerous.
, David NJ. Rinck of 1907 West Eight
, street did not know what caused th,
! accident. He was one of the men VIII,
1 cleaned the boiler on the last Sunda,
t in June and found it to be all right.
, After all of the witnesses had beef
1 heard Mr.. Chandler said he had assistet
: the coroner in making an investigation
0 they mad obtained the evidence of al
of the witnesses they could find. blu
0 did not know any more now than whei
t they began the investigation.
4 There is no hurry about this mat
t ter, y added the coroner. 81 want thu
i. investigation to ne satisfactory &
Q everybody, and if necessary the jur,
g can adjourn to meet some other day t
continue the investigation.
n Juror Robinson asked whether all q
6 the evidence that could be ohtainet
8 had been produced. and upon receivin
Q an affirmative reply the jury decided /
d conclude its work and after brief de
Q liberation decided upon the verde
o quoted above. AS matter of fact
i there we're two verdicts, but both wer
a alike in substance. One set forth tina