Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-01
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION
Power House OF U. s. Electric
Company.
FATALITIES REPORTED
GENERAL ALARM TO POLICE DE-
PARTMENT.
Fire Department Also Ordered Out
Ambulances at Once Sent to
the Scene.

List of casualties so far as ascer-
tanned:
The dead:
William White, Cog Florence
street northeast.
Abraham Whitley, 1906 10th
street northwest.
The injured
William Trammell, age thirty-four
(white), 1925 Conduit road oiler;
burned about face and legs.
William Hail. twenty six years (white),
635 L southwest. water tender; burned
about the face and hands and three
wounds in scalp.
II. B. Hardy. age twenty-seven (col-
ored). 143s seth street northwest: face
and body burned; condition serious.
Geo. w. Trammel. age twenty-four
(white), 4125 Conduit road. burned all
over body; scalp wounds; serious condi-
tion.
L. r. Butler. age twenty-nine (white).
229 18th northwest. electrician; burned
about face and hands
c. c. Tingstrum, age forty-five (white),
1902 northwest. expressman; face and
hands burned.
hospital today except Hardy and Geo,
Trammell. They are in a critical condi-
tion.
A terrific explosion, which shook the en-
tire surrounding neighborhood like an
earthquake took place at 2:2O o'clock this
afternoon In the Potomac electric power
house. corner 14th and B streets northwest.
The building Immediately enveloped in
great masses of steam which came, 1t Is
believed. from the large Pinch main pipe
connected with the great boiler and thence
with a number of other boilers. 1t is be-
leved that this pipe exploded.
Two men were blown from the lower story
through the skylight to the roof, and at 2;30
o'clock long ladders were placed against the
side of the building by the Are department,
upon which ffremen ascended to the roof
and removed the bodies to the ground.
One of the men had the entire top of his
head blown off and the other is apparently
in dying condition. Other casualties will
undoubtedly be found the fire.
men and policemen can get into the build
ing, which entirely enveloped in steam
for half an hour after the explosion.
A general alarm was sent out by the po
lice. and all the available ambulances and
patrol wagons were hurried to the scene Of
the explosion. The fire department
called out as soon as possible. and great
crowd of people assembled about the build
Ing.
Header Blown Off.
After the steam cleared away an investi-
cation was made. and it was found that
WI a header hefQR
blown of one of the new Babcock & Wilcox
boilers Of 25o-horse power. which being
installed in the building.
Commissioner West reached the scene Of
the accident shortly before o'clock and
made an examination of the explosion.
A colored man who is nicknamed Stokes
but whose name is thought to be White
head. was taken out of the boiler room, the
scene OF the explosion, and removed to
the morgue. Almost all OF the flesh had
been boiled from his bones and there was
nothing left of him practically but skele-
ton. He known as a boiler-feeder
One of the men blown through the skylight
is thought TO be George Trimbley. whose
address Is given the Conduit road
George Trammell, who was working on the
roof when the explosion occurred was bad
ly injured about the hands and head. As
soon as the fremen arrived with ladders
one was thrown to the roof and Lieut.. Sui
Ivan OF truck ran up the ladder and
soon appeared on the edge of the roof with
The unfortunate man was hardly recog-
nizable. The officer rapidly carried him
down the long ladder and placed him In a
waiting ambulance. He is not critically
injured Trammell lives in Georgetown.
Inquiries at the Emergency Hospital
began to pour in by phone, and women
came running to the office 10 learn wheth-
or any of their dear ones Were among the
killed or injured. The doctors We're forced
TO deny them admittance to the part OF the
building where the men had been taken
tremuloUS voices.
Cant tell, yet replied the doctor. 1T
is too early. wait tlIl We nave examined
their injuries.
The poor women were distracted because
of the enforced waiting.
Due to overpressure.
One OF the engineers of the electric COM
a pany said the accident was due he believed.
TO overpressure of steam, which caused the
header of the main steam line to blow out
This cut OF all power from the Washington
Traction Electric Railway and caused a
series of tie-ups along the routes of that
road
The immediate scene of the explosion
B was or the 1879 street side of the power
= building, near B street. where a scene of
wreckage is presented. All panes of glasses
OF that side were broken and the streets
flooded with water from the exploded
boiler.
The explosion, Police Lieutenant Moore
said was preceded by long rumbling
sound. much like an earthquake shock.
which caused buildings for several squares
10 tremble noticeabiy.
1t was stated this afternoon that the cleo
trio lighting service will not be affected by
the explosion. While a number OF the boil
ers were put out of service number OF
private plants will be utilized
The street cars will run as usual. but
probably not schedule time.
William White. who was killed, was
brother-in-law of Policeman Owens of the
first precinct He resided in the northeast
section OF the city
Paul Williams and Mark Douglass col
ored, the former living in Alexandria and
the latter at 14o4 Q street northwest, were
in the basement of the plant at the time
the big 2S-inch header blew out. They man
aged to get away from the escaping steam
by climbing through a window When they