Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-08-28


The digesters which exploded were twisted
and TORN apart. The portions that remained
in the building were in an unrecognizable
shape. while a large section, weighing
several tons, had been blown into the air
and fell probably 200 yards away and buried
itself deep in the ground. Other fragments
of iron and timbers were found outside the
buildings.
Tho buildings we're chiefly of brick and
nearly all of the walls had fallen in instead
of out, while the roofs, which had been
blown up, had fallen in sections, which left
a heap of debris which was higher than a
two-story house In some places. The room
containing the digesters was little more
than a pile of bricks and timbers, with frag-
ments OF twisted iron protruding, after tine
accident. A battery Of II boilers had been
displaced by the explosion and the other di.
gesters felt the effects, some being Jared to
such an extent that they looked as " they
were ready to fall as soon as the debris sur
rounding them should be removed. This
condition made the rescue work more
hazardous than 1t would otherwise have been,
but the employees, who worked under the di-
rection of Superintendent John q. Saunders
6nd his assistants, cast fear off and lost 10
time in beginning the work of looking for
their less fortunate comrades. Allen Lind
say, superintendent of the Augustine Mills,
and David Lindsay, Dr., also one of the
superintendents there, we're notified of the
accident promptly and arrived at the pulp
works at about 2.45 O'Clock and they went
to work with Superintendent Saunders and
his men in an effort to rescue any who
might be living in the ruins and get out the
bodies of the dead. The employees we're ably
assisted by the policemen and firemen and
in a short time the bodies of Zachariah
Collins, colored, Frank Harris and William
Burke were found ana placed in n room in
one of the buildings left standing to await
the arrival OF representative of the coroner.
The rescuers continued their work and be-
fore 3 o'clock the bodies Of Joseph Nagle
and John Mccormick we're found. Coroner 3
Assistant James 7. Chandler, who had been
notified, arrived and took charge Of the
bodies and had them conveyed to the
morgue.
IL stu PREPARING TO REBUILD.
All of the bodies having been recovered
from the ruins at the pulp works, large
force of men are now razing the wrecked
buildings and removing the debris in order
to clear the ground 30 that new buildings
can be erected as soon as possible. II is be-
lieved that the new buildings will be larger
than the old ones and the geography of the
place may be materially changed, and tho
capacity of the plant may be increased.
Since the big timbers and heavy pieces of
iron have been taken out and one or two
walls pulled down, the work of the men is
easier, as there Is not 80 much danger of
accidents. II Is understood that as soon as
the piles of debris are gotten out of the
ruins the walls and other parts of buildings
which were only partially wrecked, will be
torn down and the rebuilding will COM
prise an entirely new set of buildings, so
far as the digester, washer, chipper, boiler
and enRinerooms are concerned. Some of
the more distant buildings were not
damaged and it is likely that they will re-
main as at present, performing the same
functions as heretofore. The plant will, in
nil probability, remain idle until the new
buildings are ready 20 use. The company
has a large stock of wood for pulp on hand
and when the new plant is ready to operate
there will be an almost unlimited supply OF
raw material.
srATEMENT BY suPT. LINDSAY.
General Superintendent David Lindsay
Saturday said:
THE wrecked buildings will be rebuilt
and business will go on as before. As yet
no contracts have been given out, as the
firm has not decided upon the details. Ii is
| likely, however, that all of the digesters
now there will be replaced by new ones.
There will be less of them, but they will be
larger than the present ones. The new ones
will be constructed on the same general
lines. The digester which exploded and the
Others there came from the Continental Iron
Works Of Brooklyn. N. Y, which has the
best st,reputation in the world for that class
of work. The Pusey n Jones Co. are the
local agents. Those digesters are known as
lap-welded, as they are welded ana do not
contain any rivets. They were put up at the
plant about 10 years ago, and have been
thoroughly examined once month ever
since. They were tested at 800 pounds,
water pressure, and were guaranteed 10 carry
150 pounds. Last week their highest pres
sure was no pounds, and they have never
exceeded 100 pounds.'
AS there has been a difference of opinion
in the minds of the public as to whether
there was steam or alkali gas in the di-
gester which exploded, Mr.. Lindsay was
questioned on this point. He said the pres-
gesters are filled to the top with wood
chips, after which the alkali is poured
in and the fires are started underneath.
Each digeeter is provided with gauge, to
show the heat pressure, and safety valve to
enable steam which accumulates above that
gases in the digesters; nothing beside the
liquid except ordinary water steam.
RECOVERING THE BODIES.
Tho first body recovered Thursday
was that of William A. Scott, which
was taken from the ruins at about
O'Clock in the afternoon. 1t was found
under a pile of timbers and other
wreckage q short distance from where
the digesters had been. 1t was near
door and the unfortunate man was
evidently making an effort to get out
when escape was cut off, and the
wreokage which fell almost Immediately
buried bim and crushed out his life.
| 1t was evident from the surroundings
| that Scott was burned by hot GOALS
| from one of the fire boxes, in addition
to being crushed. The body was taken
to the morgue in the patrol wagon,
which was held in readiness for that
purpose.
Shortly afterward the rescuers To-
Gated two more bodies, those of Joseph
Henry and William Ruff, in the north
which had been wrecked. The bodies
were alongside wall which appeared
about to topple, and after timbers had
been placed over the space in which
the bodies were lying, the wall was
pulled down by the railroad crane,
under the direction of Wreck Master
Van sGasken and Superintendent
Saunders of the pulp mill. This re-
moved the danger and the mon went to
work and got the bodies out at about
3. 80 o'clock. The bodies, which were
doubled up, were near the closets in
which the men kept their towels, cloth
ing, &C., and it is supposed that they
they were hurled in that direction by
the force of the explosion.
A short time afterward the body of
Bernard Sweeney was found, not fal
distant and was soon taken out. There
had been much speculation as to the
whereabouts of Sweeney's body. Al
the time of the explosion, SO far as
| could be learned, Sweeney and William
digesters feeding it, and as Burk's
body was found on the roof Immediately