Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-29
THIRTEEN BLOWN
TO DEATH, SCORE
INJURED AS BIG
: BOILER EXPL0DES
Men Engaged as Ice Harvesters
Are Victims of Massa-
chusetts Disaster.
BODIES ARB HURLED
TWO HUNDRED FEET
Workers Gathered in Engine
House Have No Warning of
Impending Danger.
WATER GUAGE TESTED
SHORTLY BEFORE ACCIDENT
Experienced Engineer in Charge
of Plant Is Among Vic
tins of Blast.
WATER GUAGE TESTED
SHORTLY BEFORE ACCIDENT

PrTTSFIELD. Mass, Dec. 2S.-The
boiler at the plant Of the Morewood
Lake Ice Company, at Morewood Lake,
exploded today, killing thirteen men
and injurins upwards of twenty. The
men were delayed in going to work
and We're sitting around the boiler
warming themselves when tho explosion
occurred. and this fact is responsible
for the great number of casualties. OF
the thirteen known dead nine have been
identified as follows:
william Dunn, the engineer at the
plant, aged 80 years; Edgar Allen. an
employee, aged 2s years; John r. Ray
mond, the carpenter; Leo Fermands,
Wyatt Moore, Alfred Bence, laboref;
Frederick Ruthor, laborer; William
Pepoon, who died a short time after
the explosion; George Ward. fireman;
Elmer Eldridge. laborer.
The unidentified dead had reported
for work today, when the firm planned
to begin cutting the fire ice crop of the
season.
Twelve of the injured men were taken
to the House of Mercy, where two
were unconscious, and the other ten
we're reported to be In q serious condi-
1tion.
The property damage VIII probably
not exceed $780, as only the boiler
house. a wooden structure 30 by 45 feet.
was wrecked.
Owing to the rainy weather Of the
past few days. harvesting the crop was
delayed until this forenoon.
Men Unknown to Company.
IN response to advertisements printsd
III the local papers large number OF
an, most of whom were unknown TO
Ia firm, reported for work at the lake
day, although all of tho company's
Ehgular employees we're on the scene.
SWork was not begun Immediately, as
'ools had to be prepared and the men
Zl,iven instructions as to their duties.
EdVhile waiting for the summons to be-
l3gin active operations on the Ice and
while most of the mon were either In
side the boiler-house to keep warm OF
near the building tho boiler burst with
a terrific noise and shock which was
noticed for miles. No one who was at
the lake Is able to give q clear account
of what happened, for the few who
we're not injured or killed were dazed
NV the shock The boiler-house was de-
molished and pieces of tho boiler. TIM
hers and human bodies were hurled
through the sir. Ore body was blown
a distance of 200 feet and another LOO
feet. The cylinder of the boiler was
found In a tree on the edge of the lake.
moro than 100 feet away.
Anbulances Inadequate.
The ice house IL about two miles
outside OF Pittsfleld, and the nearest
telephone line was more than haif
mile away. Consequently 1t was some
time before word of the disaster
reached this city. Doctors were rushed
to the scene at once to give first AID
to the injured. and all Of the ambu-
lances were dispatched to the lake. inc
ambulance service, however, was total
ly inadequate to take care OF the dead
and the injured, and automobiles were
used to aid in the work Of assisting the
injured and removing them to the
hospital.
The Morewood Lake Ice Company Is
now owned by Shand g. Leshure, firm
which came here about year ago from
North Adams. Mr.. Shand said today
that the boiler was inspected during
the summer by an inspector of the State
police. who ordered certain changes.
These changes we're made. according to
Mr.. Shand, and yesterday a test of the
water guage showed that instrument
to be In perfect condition, Mr.. Shand
said. william Dunn, one of the men
who was killed, was in charge of the
boiler today. He was an experienced
engineer, although during the seasons
when ice was not being harvested he
was employed in other capacities by the
ice company.
The boiler was used In furnishing the
power to drag the cakes of ice UP the
nclines into the ice storage houses.