The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-06-03
0, |. GREATHEAD HURT.
Was Charging Tanks Connected with
Soda Water Fountain at Sey-
lars Drug Store
WHEN THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED


Saturday morning, as Ormono
T. Greathead was in the cellar
under Seylar's drug store, charg
ingthe tanks connected with the
soda water fountain, cne of them
burst, and a flying piece OF the
metal struck Mr.. Greathead in
iuriog him seriously, but with
careful nursing 1t Is believed that
he will recover.
The soda water apparatus had
not been in use since last sum-
mer, and Mr.. Greathead is one
of those genluses that you fall
back upon when you are "up
against whether you need a
new eye in sewing machine nee
die, or the kinks taken out of a
cranky automobile. Of course,
when the soda water fountain
was to be overhauled and started
foc the season, Orms services
were IN demand, and he had ev.
erythlng IN readiness TO put the
entlclng liquid on draught, when
the accident occurred.
The apparatus that produces
the "hz" at the fountain consists
of two egg-shaped copper tanks,
with capacity of eight gallons
each, mounted on an iron frame
so that the contents may be
readily shaken. These tanks are
filed about two-thirds. full of wa.
ter, and then into the remaining
space Is driven from another
tank liquid carbon dioxide, which
is mixed with the water, and is
then eady to be drawn from the
fountain, into the syrup which
gives it the flavor and makes the
drink so palatable. Attached to
the pipe thus conveying the gas
into the tank, Is pressure gauge
just such as you see on a steam
engine, which is supposed to reg
lister the mum ber of pounds per
square inch that the tank is car
rying. Mr.. Greathead was pass
ing the gas Ito the tank contain.
ing the water, at the same time
carefully watching the gauge.
One hundred and twenty pounds
were registered. The tank was
then disconnected, given shak-
ing, and then tested. 1t now
showed 80 pounds. the shaking
having reduced the pressure.
Again the gas was admitted and
the register climbed up slowly
until it was back to 120, when 1t
"let go" with noise like a heavy
blast-the copper tank tearing
like so much brown paper, and
the concussion shaking buildings
for hundreds of feet distant. One
end OF the tank in it's flight hit
Mr.. Grerthead, cutting him bad.
ly about the throat and head, and
also lnjuring an arm and his
breast. Edward d. Sinner. who
was standing near the tank was
thrown back several feet by the
explosion, but outside of being
slightly stunned was not hurt.
and was able to so to Mr.. Great
heads assistance at once. Mr.
Greathead was unconscious and
bleeding profusely, but when
taken out to the fresh air and wa
ter applied, was restored to semi,
consciousness. Drs. Dalbey and
Mosser were sum moned. The
injured man was taken to DR.. Dal
bey's Office and given the neces
sary surgical attention, when he
was taken to the home of his par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. John w.
Greathead.
Unless some unlocked. for com
plicahons arise, he is llKely to be
all right IN few weeks. 1t Is
little less than miraculous thai
both he and Mr.. Sinner were
not both killed instantly.
How did it happen?
ltis supposed that the pres
sure gauge was rusty, and that
II was not correctly registering
the pressure Of the gas, and tina,
instead OF there beng 100 lbs
on there was probably twice thai
much.