Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-03-23

ploSiOn.
Brockton, Mass. (SpcciaD, This city
is in mourning for at least three score
of her citizens, whose lives were bIottcd
out by the explosion of boiler III a
large shoe manufacturing establishment
in the Campcllo district, conducted by
X. B. Grover & Go.
The explosion was Immediately follow
ed bv a fash of flame, which consumed
the factory. a long, four-Story structure,
as il it were house OF cards, and incin-
Grated an unknown number Of men and
women. who were Unable TO cNtricat"
themselves from a mass OF tangled
wrcckage formed by the terrific uphcavaI
in the boilcrroOm.
More than half hundred OF the en-.
plcycs in the building were manned,
burned or bruised by the time they reach
ed safe ground Some had jumped from
the roof some from windows and other,
had been injured in the mad rush to c,-
cape from the doomed factory, which
from all parts emitted the intense, awful
heat of an inferno, driving back the band
of heroic rescucr' who in few buet
moments, had performed gallant service.
The fire extended from the factory TO
seven other Buildings in the vicinity and
destroyed them. One OF these buildings
was three story wooden block owned
by Charles +. Dahborg, the others be
ing cottages of small value, and black
smith shop. Two wooden dwellings near
the cngine-room were practically dcmol-
ished by the flying boiler but none OF
the occupants was seriously injured. The
total financial loss is estimated al 4
quarter of million dollars, 100000 OF
which falls on the Il. B. Grover Com
pany. The monetary losses are nearly
offset by insurance.
1t may never be known just how many
persons pcrishcd III the wrcckagc., No
one knows exactly how many persons
were in the factory The number has
been estimated at 100 but Treasurer
Charles O. Emerson said he doubted
whether there were 50 many al work.
Two hundred and fifty survivors have
been accounted for and at midnight the
remains of so bodies had been recovered
from the ruins, the search being con
tnued all night. Fragments OF human
frames which possibly might belong to
bodies other than those enumerated have
also been found Few Of the remains
have been identified. The head in near
ly every case is missing. and except i'll
rare instances it was impossible even 10
distinguish the sex.
Chief of Police Boyden at late hour
expressed the opinion that some Of the
employees had not reached the factory
at the time of the explosion, and that
undoubtedly a number of those living
in nearby places were injured and had
gone home without reporting their i'll
jurics. He thought that many of those
not accounted for, upwards of 100 in
number, were among these.
The disaster was attended by many
narrowing scenes and thrilling rcScucs
For hours hundreds Of the relatives Of
the factory operatives besicgcd the ruins
and the fire and police stations in quest
OF missing ones. Some, in their violent
Gricf and agonizng stress a mind, col
iapSed.
Several of the rcscuers and scarchcrS
tainted as they beheld the distressing
scene There was no trace Of the body
of David w. Rockwell, engineer of the
plant, who was not seen after the eXplo-
sion. 1t is supposed that he pcriShcd at
his post.
An inspection OF the wrecked boiler
by the state boiler Inspector showed that
there was a sufficient supply of water i'll
it. The cause of the explosion is at
present mystery. The disaster will be
further investigated by the state author
tiles.
Chief Shaw, of the state police, said