Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-03-24
NEARLY 100 Persisted
Boiler Explosion Followed by a
Fierce Fire in Brocktcn, Mass
Grover Shoe Factory Destroyed-some
Operatives Killed Outright and Others
Burned to Death.

Burned to Death.
Nearly 100 persons were killed and so in
jured by the explosion Of a 150-horse
power boiler in r. b. Grover & Co.'S
four-s story wooden shoe factory In the
Campelo district of Brockton, Mass
Monday morning. The rear portion of
the factory collapsed when the boiler ex-
ploded, flames broke out Immediately, and
the entire structure was burned within
an hour In addition c. H. Dahlborg's
three-story building across the street and
five dwelling houses were burned.
The explosion came without warning,
Immediately after the operatives had be-
gun work. There was a duh roar, in
stantly part Of the building collapsed,
and in the wreckage were manv bodies,
also people still alive who were held down
by the timbers, where some of them were
burned to death. The boiler was hurled
high in the air II cut through the roof OF
one house, and on landing demolished
another house. A panic took place among
the employees in the main section Of the
building and some were injured by jump
ing from the windows and others in the
wild rush down the stalrways.
Instant death was the fate of many who
went down with the floor that collapsed,
but The men and women who were work
ing near the supports we're alive when
the floors and walls fell. A few succeeded
in extricating themselves, but more were
burned to death. Scenes Of horror took
place as the flames swept forward upon
those still alive. Many citizens rushed to
the rescue, and repeated acts of sacrifice
and heroism were seen. One man. whose
legs were caught under an iron bar, cried
to the rescuers that they could not extri-
cate him, and to help the girls behind
him. Stretching out his arms, he lifted
several girls one by one and passed them
to the rescuers. Then the fire reached
him and he persisted.
a woman who was entangled in a shoe
machine cried out that she was dying
and commanded the rescuers to attend to
others, who might live. She begged to
be shot. Soon the flames enveloped her
Among the first to arrive on the scene
was the Rev. James A. O'Rourkc, curate
OF St Margaret's Roman Catholic church.
nearby. At the risk Of his life he removed
seven persons from the ruins before the
fire had reached them. and was returning
for the eighth time when he tainted from
the effects Of the smoke and the shock,
| Father O'Rourke administered the last
rites Of the church TO many Catholics.
both TO those who were saved and some
who later perished Father O'Rourke
says:
PINNED beneath heavy pieces Of ma
| chinery. tmbers and twisted coils of pipe,
were many-oh, so many-poor men and
women suffering terrible agonies In
4 Ofuti 10 leACn lnESe imprisoned sufferers
we had to crawl through the debris and
/ with the aid OF a large timber we raised
| the wreckage which held fast several
/ men and women. In this manner and by
| brute strength we pulled out seven en-
| ployes. By this time. the flames were
almost upon us, and we were about TO
| flee for safety when one poor fellow
begged that last effort be made to save
him. Three OF US grasped the man by
| the shoulders and arms and tugGed and
| pulled. until suddenly he cried: My God,
my leg is pulled on!
1T was terrible especially so because,
| a moment later, with our clothing scorch-
| ed. we were ordered away by the chief
| of the fire department. and we were
reluctantly compelled to leave the poor
man to his fate. Just before leaving.
saw at least 10 of the imprisoned suf-
ferers, some already suffering untold
agonies from the flames, which were
| actually cooking their flesh. and Others
watching with terror stricken eyes the
fate of their companions, knowing that
a moment or two would bring to then
similar suffering. and then death
At ST. Michael's Roman Catholic rec.
tory near the scene Of the disaster womer
and children with tear-stained and
haggard faces pleaded with the priest:
for information about husband, father
sister or brother who had failed to return
home.
At the Campello police station a SINH
lar scene was enacted. Early in the da!
Mayor Keith, foreseeing the confusion
which would ensue, posted notices IL
conspicuous places requesting all EN-
ployes who had escaped to go at once t
the police station and give their names.
These names were Immediately posted
and around this list of names lowered
throng OF women, many hysterical witt