Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-03-21
EXPLOSION
Blowing Up Of 4 Boiler Demolishes
Part Of Shce Factory.
NUMBER LOSE LIVES.
Grover Manufacturing Establishment
ut Brockton, Mass, the Scene
Of a Calamity Heartrend.
Ing In Character.

Brockton. Mass March 2O.-A boiler
exploded In the X. V. Grover shoe fac
tory here this morning.
At 1880 o'clock the FIRE was virtual
" under control. but owing to the great
heat a search OF the ruins at that time
was impossible. The number OF persons
then missing was estimated at Atty.
One hour later search for the dead and
wounded was instituted and twenty-A Ave
bodies were soon recovered. Many q
them were so badly mutilated AMI
burned as TO make identification dim
cult and In some cases impossible.
The entire Grover plant was destroy
Sd by fire. which spread to adjoining
business structures and private resi-
dences. The boiler which exploded was
located on the ground floor In the ell
part Of the four-story wooden factory.
When the explosion occurred that part
Of the factory directly above collapsed.
a moment after IN, $50. sion nrc broke
out In the wreck1~r
The financial loss Is estimated az
5000. 600
Two OF the injured were taken to the
Brockton hospital They are Andr, "
Lundell, leg fractured and burned about
face and hands. and Elmer II. Dodge.
compound fracture OF the Lex and SCI
verely burned about face and hands.
The boiler which exploded was To-
Gated on the ground foor OF the III
which extended from the main building.
| In three stories OF the ell were work
rooms. Persons living near heard a
| dull roar and saw a cloud OF smoke ris-
| ing and the ell Of the factory falling 20
the ground. Flames burst from the
ruins. spreading quickly 10 the main
structure. which In a few minutes was
a roaring furnace. Most Of the employees
/ IN the main part Of the plant succeeded
| In escaping, although In the terrible
| panic which followed the explosion
/ quite n number were injured.
Tie Grover factory II si.lated NJ the
corner OF Main and Calmar streets In
the Campbell district. about mile
so''h Of the city hall The district is
within the city limits Of Brockton \
series OF alarms summoned all the APP
paratus in the city and aid also was
sent from nearby places The heat ~
the fire was 50 intense that the work
Of the fremen and police was carried
on under great difficulties. Their at
tention was chiefly given 20 the Grover
| building. especially TO that part which
was nearest the boiler house. and iu
the early stages N the fire a number
Of employees were eXtricated from the
ruins The flames. however soon stop
ped rescue work Tons OF water were
poured on the ell. but the fire from the
main structure became too hot for ef-
fective work and the entire plant with
those who failed 10 escape. had 20 be
abandoned. Meanwhile news Of the ace
| cidrnt reached the homes Of the oper-
atives and through the crowds already
near tho burning factory men and
women were struggling wildly toward
the center 90 get news Of relatives, the
cries Of which were heard above the
roaring flames Women were frantic az
they learned there was llttle hope FOR
any one caught in the Ell Of the build
ing
when the flames reached D1hlburE's
block even the nremcn were obliged TO
retreat temporarily AND 10 was feared
a large section Of the district would boz
oblIt-uted. The occupants % all these
buildings had little time Co save their
effects. Some barely escaped themselves
Reinforced by the arrival Of other APP
plratus however the department made
fresh attack and after a hard struggle
ruCCceleI iu checking the flames
~ o'clock Monday afternoon fire chief
estimated death list no nNy
In some cases nothing but framework
OF bones Of corpses have been found