Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-07
FOUR MEN ARE KILLED
Twenty Others Are Fatally h.
 jured In Explosion.
VICTIMS BURNED TO A CRISP
Streams of Burning Metal Pour Out on Employees of Standard Steel Com pany at Butler, Pa.-Property Loss Is Estimated at $1000c9.

pany at Butler, Pa.-Property Loss
 Is Estimated at $100,0o1.
 Butler, Pa., Oct. 7.-An explosion
 caused by the upsetting of the metal
 pot in the No. cupola of the Standard
 Steel company here caused the death
 of four men, fatally injured twenty and seriously injured ten others. Near 1 ly all the men are foreigners.
 The large wheel plant, 150 by 100 feet, was demolished, causing a loss estimated at $10O0OO. The dead are Nick Dorna, disemboweled; Nicholas Blotar, burned to crisp; John Vereck, skull crushed unknown man, totally dismembered.
 The condition of the thirty men in- jured is pitiable. Although still alive, the features of majority are mutilat- ed beyond recognition. The hot metal was showered over them. causing hor- rible injuries. Arms, fingers and ears were torn off, while number of the men had their eyes burned out. Sev- eral men are in the hospital with their legs burned to crisp. The physicians attending the injured stated at least twenty would die.
 People Panic Stricken.
 The pot in the cupola contained 5000 pounds of molten metal ready for cast ing. A span in the pot broke, allow ing the liquid iron to spill over the wet sand. An explosion followed so quickly that none of the workmen in the building had a chance to escape. Streams of the burning metal poured out on the workmen, some of whom were engulfed and literally cooked. Twenty men near the cupola had ev- cry shred of clothing blown off by the force of the explosion. Many were buried under the wreckage and were not rescued for an hour after the ca- tastrophe. Buildings in the city, from the force of the explosion. shivered as if shaken by an earthquake and people rushed from their homes panic strick. en.
 When flames shot from the burning car works fully 10000 people rushed to the scene, blocking streets and inter- fering with fire companies and ambu- lances. Twenty minutes after the ac- cident fifteen doctors were on the scene and the wounded were carried 1 into the office of the company, where they were 'ared for.
 Cold Adds to Victims Tortures.
 Through the lack of room many of the injured were compelled to lie for an hour on cots in street cars before it | was possible to take them to the hos pital mile and half away. Mem- bers of the fire department and citi- zens assisted in caring for the men who were totally naked and suffering intensely with the cold.
 Three city ambulances were pressed into service. but were inadequate to care for the injured with any success. When the hospital car reached Main and Wayne streets men carried the in. jured laden cots quarter of a mile to the hospital Automobiles and every available vehicle were pressed into service by Mayor Elmer Bell and Chief of Police Joseph Angert to carry the injured to the hospital. Cots were carried from hotels, and the Diamond Skating rink was used as temporary hospital for the victims as we'll as ho- els and dwelling houses.
 The car companys office presents a 'rightful scene. Twenty men, nearly Ill of whom had been stripped of their clothing and their faces burned be- Tond recognition. were hurried there md provided with protection against he cold.