The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-29
Catastrophe Occurred immediate
ly After the Noon Hour In
the Plant.
MANY WORKERS CLOSE CALL
Was No Warning, and Men Were In.
s.antly kiilsd--Boiisr Had Been
Carefully inspected Only a
Few Days Ago.

chshalis Wash, Dec. 2o.--Three men
killed instantly and two injured, one 20
badly that he died soon afterward. Il
the tale Of the explosion that occurred
In the waiworth. Neville mill Just after
noon today,
The killed are;
r. @. Hicks, single.
Frank powsll, wife and child at wal
willie.
Pres. Eplinp, single.
Roy iekss, died In few minutes
Injured:
w. Buchanan, probably fatally hurt
Four boilers exploded at once, and
the noise and confusion was terrific.
The hiss OF escaping steam filled the
engine room. and the vapor drove away
rescuers who hurried to the scene for
a few moments. but the bodies and the
injured men were taken out at the
earliest possible moment. Ickes, when
found. was stIll alive, but he was ter
rIbly scaided and bruised and died in
agony within few minutes. being be-
yond the medical aid that was hastily
summoned.
The three men nearest the boilers
were killed instantly, 80 great was the
force Of the explosion.
The explosion occurred just after the
mill started for the afternoon run, and
only the fact that II has been shut
down for repairs for some little time
obviatcd a much more appalling loss Of
life. When the mill Ia In full operation
100 hands are employed, ana had they
all been there the loss OF life would
have been terrible. For some days re-
pairs have been under way, and only
sufficient steam was maintained to
provide power for the crossarm fac
tory and the dry kilns.
The cause Of the explosion is a mys-
terry as the boilers were all inspected
by the boiler inspector only 10 days
ago, and, at that time. were pronounced
IN good condition. This inspection was
also made by the inspector Of the In
surance company with whom the policy
on the plant Is placed, and the possi-
blllty Of defective boilers Is believed to
be nil.
There are many conjectures as to
the cause Of the accident, but that
which obtains the most general cred
ence ls that there was little water In
the tandem boilers when the fireman
went to dinner. and that upon his re-
turn he overlooked this and the Jar
OF starting up the engines threw water
on the red hot sheets in the FIRE box
resulting in an explosion Of water gas
which is 80 powerful that no iron can
Withstand 1t a fraction of a second.
The disposition of the remains Of
the dead men will be made the care
of the officers Of the company who
are much exercised over the accident,
not so much on account of the damage
II did as for the loss Of life that re-
suited. The whereabouts Of the rela-
tlons Of the dead mems relations are
not known except for Frank Dowell,
who has wife and child living near
the plant.
The mill, which is situated about 27
miles from Chehalis. is one Of the larg-
est and best appointed In the country,
and has an immense output, having
for some time been making a speciality
of telegraph pole cross-arms for which
there has been q great demand in the
past few years. 1t was the property
for some time OF Henry Mccormack,
but about year ago he sold II to the
Wallworth- Neville Co., Chicago con-