Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-04-21
EXPLOSION OF OIL ENGINE.


States Garage Company, between Third
and Fourth aud G and ii streets north
east, Washington, last night about
o'clock. one man was killed, another
seriously wounded, horse had both
ewes blown out, and the building was
badly damaged. The dead man was j.
J. Ball, the engineer, thirty-two years
old. The injured man is Martin Fields,
thirty-one years old. II was said by the
physicians in charge at the Casualty
Hospital. where Fields was taken in the
patrol wagon of the Ninth precinct, that
he is seriously burned about the head, but
that he will probably recover.
At time of the accident Ball and
Fields were in the engine-room. Ball,
the engineer, was engaged at some part
of the machinery which was out of order
when the explosion occurred. Fields,
who is the night workman in the build
ing, was directly behind him, with his
back turned to the engine. without
the slightest warning The engine blew
up with terrific report A crash OF
falling walls and of shattered glass from
the skyligh. and the tumbling down OF
the big ffty-f 'ot smokestack followed.
Hearing the noise, which is said to
have shaken the neighbOrhoOd, Mr.
Harry n. Johnson, The superintendent
of the company, ard Jess Harris, negro
workman. who were in another part OF
the building, ran out, thinking the whole
building was going to fall in. When
they reached the outside they heard
screams for help coming from the engine
room. The side brick wall Oithe engine
room had been blown out. Clouds OF
steam and smoke could be seen by :bem
issuing from the opening in the wall.
Johnson and Harris hurried to the room,
and through the mist and steam that
filed the partly demolished room they
could see the form of Fields staggering
about. They ran to his assistance, and
Harris carried MIN out Into the main
room of the building,
Mr.. johnson remained in the room
trying to find Ball. He could hear his
moaps. Debris and bricks we're piled up
everywhere about on the floor, and the
engine was torn to pieces. He finally
found the engineer lying in corner,
covered By bricks and timber.
Thegrea noise caused by the explosion
attracted hundreds of persons. Some
one seeing the smoke ran to fire alarm
box Gl3 and turned in an alarm. In a
few minutes the engines arrived, but
there was no fire.
Before the Ninth precinct patrol wagon
arrived Engineer Ball was pronounced
dead by the doctor. Fields, who was
suffering intense agony from his burns,
was put into the wagon and hurried to
the Casualty Hospital. Balls injuries
was caused by tie falling of the sky
light and the bricks from the side wall.
There was a hole in his breast large
enough 10 run an arm through, caused
by bricks falling against him. The LEFT
side of his head was mashed flat. The
other part of his bo1y was badly cut and
bruised by the glass and bricks. His
face and skin were burned and black
ened. 1t is said that he lived about fif-
teen minutes after being dragged from
the streaming debris in the engine-room.
Mr.. Ball leaves wife and two little
daughters.
At the hospital, affer soothing ban
dages had been applied to his nu nerouss
burns, Fields said that he had Deea
looking for the explosion or for some
other trouble from the engine for some
time. The engine was small one, and
was used to charge the big automobile ex-
press wagons of the United States Ex-
press Company. 1t had small explo-
sion about month ago, although no
one was huri, and no damage was done.
Fields said he knew it 10 be out of or
der, and was not surprised at all at the
explosion last night. He was always
afraid of it since the former explosion,
and kept away from it as much as pos
sihle. 1t was his duty toattach the tubes
from the engine to the express wagons,
and charge them. lie sa&n lnat tne NOISE
caused by the explosion was the lOudest
and most deaiening that he has ever
heard in his life The exact cause for the
engine exploding is not yet known. 1t
was not running at the time, although ii
was lighted.
In small private stable adjoining
the building was The horse Of DR..
Stone. The falling wall and smoke
stack totally demolished the small frame
structure. The animal was found under
piles of bricks and dirt, and it was only
after some difficulty on the part of the
6remen and police that it was rescued
from its torturing position, badly Gu
and with both eyes knocked out by th'
falling debris.
Mr. Johnson, the superintendent o
the Garage Company, who was in the
building at the time of the explosion
said that he cannot account for it. Th'
engine was thought to be good anC
safe one. lie estimated the property los
TO be about $2, 900 partly covered by in
surance.