The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-03-24
DRIVES BACK BAND OF HEROIC
REscUERs FROM PILE
OF DEBRIS. ,,Ri
GALLANT SERVICE PERFORMED
MAY NEVER BE KNOWN HOW
MANY Persisted INTHE
DISASTER, ~

Brocton, Mass, March Fl. - This
city is in mourning for at least three
score OF her citizens, whose lives were
blotted out yesterday by the explosion
OF a boiler in a large shoe manufac-
turing establishment conducted by the
R. B. Grover company.
The explosion was Immediately fol.
lowed by flash of flame, which con-
sumed the factory, long four-story
structure, as if it were a house of
cards, and incinerated an unknown
number of men and women who were
unable to extricate themselves from a
mass OF tangled wreckage formed by
the terrific upheaval in the boiler
room. More than half a hundred of
the employees in the building were
manned, burned or bruised by the
time they reached safe ground. Some
had jumped from the roof, some from
windows and others had been injured
in the mad rush to escape from the
doomed factory, which from all parts
emitted the intense, awful heat of an
inferno, driving back the band of
heroic rescuers who in few brief mo.
ments had performed gallant service.
The fire extended from the factory
to seven other buildings. in the vicinity
and destroyed them. Two wooden
dwellings near the engine room were
practically demolished, by the flying
boiler. The total financial loss is esti-
mated at a quarter of a million dollars,
100000 Of which falls on the r. B.
Grover company. The monetary loss
is nearly offset by insurance.
1t may never be known how many
persons persisted in the wreckage, as
no one knows how many persons were
in the factory. The number has been
estimated at 400, but Treasurer
Charles o. Emerson said last night he
doubted whether there were so many
at work. Two hundred and fifty sur
vivors have been accounted for and at
midnight the remains of fifty bodies
had been recovered from the ruins, the
search being continued all night. Frag-
ments Of human frames which possibly
might belong to bodies other than
those enumerated, have also heen
found. Few of the remains have been
identified. The head in nearly every
case is missing.
Chief of Police Boyden at a late,
nour tonight expressed the opinion
that some of the employees had not
reached the factory at the time of the
explosion and that undoubtedly a num-
Der of those living in nearby places
were injured and had gone home with
out reporting their injuries. He
thought that many of those not ac-
counted for, upward of 100 in number,
were among these.
The disaster was attended by many
narrowing scenes and thrilling res
cues. For hours hundreds of the re1a-
tives of the factory operatives be-
sieged the ruins and the fire and police
stations in quest of missing ones. Some
in their violent grief and agonizinr
stress of mind collapsed.
Several of the rescuers and search.
ers tainted as they beheld the distress
ing scene. There was no trace of the
body of David w. Rockwell. engineer
of the plant, who was not seen after
the explosion. 1t is supposed that he
persisted at his post.
An inspection of the wrecked boiler
by the state boiler inspectors showed
that there was sufficient supply OF
water in it. The cause of the explo-
sion Is at present a mystery. The dis
aster will be further investigated by
the state authorities.
At 2 O'Clock this morning fifty-three
persons had been recovered from the
ruins.
Secretary-Treasurer Baine of the
company states that the injured will.
be paid IS weekly until they recover.
The families of the dead will receive
500 for each person