The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-08-14
CITY SHAKEN BY
4 BOILER EXPLOSION
Nine Killed and 4 Score Hurt In
York NH. 1s
LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE SHOCK.
One Of the Most Disastrous Accidents
in the History of the Prosperous
Pennsylvania TOWN. atrolmen, Fire.
men and Employees Organized to
Keep Vast Crowd in Check.


York, Pa. Especially. When a
large boiler exploded at the York
Rolling Mill this city. eight workmen
were killed instantly, and more than
a score were injured. The city was
shaken and many buildings in the
vicinity of the wrecked plant were
considerably damaged
Cause OF Accident.
The accident, which was one of
the most disastrous that ever oc-
Cured in York, was caused by the
explosion of boiler in the center
of the mill, which operated the jum-
BIO engine, and which was undergoing
repairs at the time Immediately af-
ter the explosion. which was heard
in all parts of the city and con-
tiguols country, and which resembled
an earthquake shock, thousands of
persons hurried to the scene by troll
ley, automobile and various kinds
of vehicles. Patrolmen, firemen and
employees of the nearby plants or
ganized to keep the curious crowds
away from the mill, while the York
wrecking crew of the Northern Gen.
trail Railway, under the direction of
Ernest Glengloom, began searching
for the bodies buried in the debris.
Mayor Jacob e. Weaver and Chief
OF Police Bush hurried to the scene
and ordered the removal of those in
1ured to the hospital ambulances.
Delivery and other wagons were
brought into use for this purpose.
Women HystericaI.
For several minutes choas reigned.
Wives and children of the men en-
ployed in the mill became hysterical,
and 1t was sometime before anything
material could be done for the aid
Of the Injured and dying. A number
of bodies were recovered by the res
cuing party and Immediately identi-
fed. Others were SO badly mangled
that 1t was an hour or more before
their names could be ascertained.
The York Rolling Mill is branch
OF the Susquehanna Iron and Steel
Company, with headquarters at Col.
umbia. It had been closed down for
about week, and several score of
men were engaged in making re-
pairs. It is thought that several
men were working about the boiler,
making. the tests, although this is
not positively known, nor Is 1t
known whether the boiler was
worthy. Inspections have always
been made according to the require
ments OF the law, and SO far as is
known, whenever the inspections
were made, those met with the re-
Quired standard
Pieces OF flying metal were thrown
from the plant several blocks away.
The dwelling house of Mrs. Mary
Wilhelm, nearby was damaged by
large piece of iron which fell
through the roof. So great was the
force of the explosion that the head
of the boiler was blown across the
Northern Central Railway tracks.
In about an hour after the ex-
piosion yoHth-Roy Geesey-was
seen by the throng to crawl from out
Of the mass Of twisted iron and large
timbers. Geesey is % years old and
lives at Springets, this county.
He says that at the time of the
explosion he was working about eight
feet from the boiler.
7 saw a flash and then there was
a loud report" he said, which
sounded like the firing of huge can
non. Then all was darkness. When
I recovered consciousness. found
myself pinned beneath timber and
iron was too weak to call for
help and my right. side panied me-.
Freeing myself, crawled about on
my hands and knees until finally +
saw q speck of light. Toward this
slowly CROPPED my way, and was
finally rewarded by being freed from
the wrecked building.
cannot describe my feelings
while under the mass of debris.
thought would never again see the
outside world
INDIANS KILL THIRTEEN.