New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-11
PITTSBURG VICTIMS.
Number Nay Neuer Be Knozcn-
Cause of Explosion a Mystery.

- Pittsburg Jan 10-Partiai investigation 10
ascertain the number of fatalities that occurred
at the Eliza furnaces of the Jones & Laughlin
Steel Company. limited. last night, when an ac-
cumulation of gas exploded. bursting the base
Of the large furnaces and showerng tons OF
molten metal over about forty men, was COM
pleted tonight and shows that the bodies of
twelve men. horribly mutated. have been recov-
cred: from fifteen TO twenty men missing, 1t
being generally believed that their bodies were
consumed by the hot metal, and ten men are in
hospitals terribly burned, four of them expected
10 die momentarily.
1t is doubtful whether the number Of men
killed will ever ne known From present indica-
lions over fifteen men were caught like rats in a
trap by the fiery metal. which flowed over their
bodies to depth of six feet No trace of them.
II is said will oe found OF the dead
bodies now in the morSue several are minus
arms legs and heads. while the others are
burned and twisted beyond recognition. The
condition of the injured is pitiful. a NUMBER OF
men have their eyes burned out and others were
SO badly injured that amputation Of arms and
limbs was necessary.
The story is told tonight by Deputy Coroner
Iaidley that one foreigner, apparently a YOUTH
became crazed by his injuries, and BEFORE ne
could be prevented leaped into pot or molteh
metal and was incinerated.
who were searching for bodies of the missing
men found the leg of a man embedded in a por-
ton OF the metal which they were breaking up
Tonight several timekeepers of the steel
company are endeavoring TO prepare a list OF
the names Of the probable victims 1t is ex-
pected that it Will take some time TO do this.
A mail carrier whose route embraces the homes
of many of the victims said tonight that seven~
teen men who were employed at the Eliza Fur
nsces missing from their homes,
". I. Jones, vice president of the company.
Issued the following statement tonight:
I'VE have been unable to determine what
caused the explosion A rigid investigation has
been Instituted but IT Will be two or three days
before we viii be able TO know the cause. If we
are able to then. The entire unfortunate affair
IS very great mystery to all the officials or the
company"
In reply to questions Mr. Jones said that the
accident could not have been caused by care
lessness design upon the part of any one.
He said IL would be at least three weeks be-
fore the furnace could be repaired and that the
damage would amount to over $4,000.
z. L. Messler. the superintendent stated tina.
in his opinion the accident was caused by the
loosening OF OF the steel bands about the
bottom OF the furnace 1t fell said he, and that
made that portion OF the shell weak. The great
pressure of the steel charge and gas against
the weak point resulted in plate giving way
and other plates were naturally affected
There were one hundred tons of steel In the
furnace at the time The loss to the company
according to Superintendent Messer. will not
be less than $4,000. and may greatly exceed
these figures. as the entire furnace bottom Is
said to be ruined.
Coroner Armstrong announced to-day that he
would conduct rigid Investigation into the
accident and if he found that there was care
lessness prosecutions would Immediately follow