The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-01-12
EXPLOSION KILLS
MANY WORKMEN
Bodies of "a Cremated Under Tons
of Molten Metal at Pittsburg.
The DEATH LIST MAY REACH "a


Men Had No Warning Of Impending
Disaster and Were Suddenly EnVel-
oped In Molten Stream Three
Bodies. Horribly MutlIated, Recov-
ered-SeVen Fatally I'M red In Hos
pital-Pitlful Scenes About the Mill
Entrance.
Pittsburg, Pa. Jan. l0.-One OF the
worst explosions in the history Of the
Jones & Laughln Steel works occurred
at the Eliza furnaces, when "A large
quantity OF gas which had accumu-
lated at the base of the furnaces be-
came ignited and exploded. Tons OF
molten metal was shOwered around the
furnace for radius OF 80 feet. flowing
at some spots TO a depth OF four ani
five feet. Out OF a force OF 80 men
employed at the furnace when the CN-
plosion occurred three of them. John
Cramer. Andrew Featherka and Gus
taye Kessler. have been taken TO tho
morgue. their bodies horribly mutilated
by the fire. Seven men are in hospitals
fatally injured. and "A others have not
been accounted for. While the mill
officials are inclined to believe that all
Of the missing men were not crematrd
In the molten metal. nothing definite
Is known rs 10 their present where
abouts. Only one man. George Knox.
has turned mp since the explosion, ard
Knox says everything happened 50
quick that he doubts whether the men
escaped.
Chief Peter Snyder. of the Fourth fire
district. was seriously injured while
directing the fremen to eXtinguish the
fire which followed the explosion. Sny-
der was stationed on a trestle 80 feet
high. when he slipped and fen TO the
ground. injuring himself internally
The scenes about the entrance 70
the mill were pathetic when the fami-
lies OF the victims learned Of the dis
aster. Women. men and children gath
cred before the gate and made frantic
efforts 10 gain admittance Several or
the frenzied women rushed upon the
officers and fought them. crying TO be
allowed 10 enter the mill and see their
loved ones. Young children ran up and
down the streets crying that their
father was dead. Later II became
necessary 10 call additional police Ia
forcity escort the women and children
TO their homes.
The officials at the mill refused 20
allow any one to enter the yard where
the furnace is located. All information
was refused to newspaper men. the OF
fcials saying that later they might
issue statement. 4 heavy guard OF
foreign workmen were placed al the
yard entrance. and even the police
were powerless 10 get past the for
eigners.
Saved His Life BY Running.
George Knox. the only man believ-
81 to have escaped uniniured. said:
at was awful. The furnace is one
Of the improved style and 80 of rs
were working about never thinking OF
an explosion. Suddenly there was a
terrific roar and Immediately ! start
ed 10 run. Molten metal was thrown
every place Streams Of It were run
ming in all directions and | was con-
fronted with an awful death unless |
could run faster than the metal could
travel. Thank God | reached place
Of safety and not a minute too soon.
don't know what happened 10 the
other men / did not see any Of them
following the explosion. II they did
not run quick and fast all are buried
under six foot OF molten metal.
Charles Bennett a yard brakeman,
who was passing near the furnace on
a freight train when the explosion oc-
Cured. gave a graphic description Of
the disaster:
Saw Men Enveloped In Molten Metal.
"Our train was right near the fur
mace" said Bennett. when the metal
poured out OF the furnace over the
ground / saw the men running for a
place Of safety. To the right Of the
furnace I saw a party Of 10 men all
of them running wildly and their
clothes a mass OF flames Apparently
some Of them had been injured when
the explosion occurred as they could
hardly run and several OF them trip
ped and fell The hot metal ran over
the poor men in a moment. Just at
this time a second explosion occurred
and | looked towards the furnace. In
minute | again looked to the right
OF the furnace for the men. but
could not see any of them and / believe
all of them were burned to death. My
train was in the path Of the metal
and | was compelled to uncouple the
train and signal the engineer to pull
ahead"
The Eliza furnaces are located in
the Lakewood district, between Sec
ond avenue and the Monongahela
river. The district is a populous one.
and the loud report notified people for
lilies around of the explosion In a
few minutes the mill was surrounded
by hundreds of excited persons, many
of them trying to force their way into
the works past the police and en-
ployes.
A collision between a hose carriage
and a street car added greatly to the
excitement The fire apparatus was
partially destroyed and one horse in
stantly killed Two firemen were
thrown to the street and sustained
slight injuries. The crash OF the car
windows caused the passengers to
rush pell nell for the door. Several
women were thrown TO the car floor
and were trampled on.
A panic was narrowly avGSted
among the large crowd which gath
cred about the mill. While the crowds
were discussing the probable cause OF
the explosion the heavens were sud
...olo l.;IIfoDt hxr q b1acf In on.