The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-10-07
Nine INJURED BY
EXPLOSION OF
ACID TANK
Big Tube Lets Go" While Workmen
Are Breaking II Up In Yards Of
z. L. Ginsburg Sons Co., On
Mt. Elliott-Ave.
Three Victims Are in Hospital, and
Death of One Who Inhaled
Fumes Is Feared.
THE MUIR ED.

THE INJURED.
+ Theodore Noffky, foreman, iiv-
Ing at No. COS Watson-st., right
leo broken and overcome by
fumes; In Harper hospital.
John smeIofsi<y, address un-
known, overcome by fumes; In
st. Mary's hospital.
Harry DebeIi, address unknown,
overcome by fumes; In st. Mary's
hospital.
Michael Davldowskl, No. ts1
/, Mack-ave., overcome by fumes.
John karsnaw, No. 70 Adelc-st,
overcome by fumes.
Antoine Moran, No. 1893 st.
Jean-rd., overcome by fumes.
John GabrieIs, No. $40 Watson
IT., overcome by fumes.
Hyman katx, No. 233 Watson
Ct, overcome by fumes.
(. John Melofsky, address un-
known; overcome by fumes.
An explosion OF a sulphuric acid
tank In the railway supplies and
scrap iron yards OF the r. l.. Gins
burg Sons Co., No. 1895 Mt Elliott
ave-. Friday morning. injured nine
men, and may cause the death OF at
least one, while another, Theodore
Noffky, will be laid up for weeks. The
others. too, will doubtless feel the ef-
fects of the fumes for some time.
The one whose condition Is regard
ed as most serious Is John Smelofsky,
who inhaled a large quantity OF the
deadly acid fumes. The others In the
list OF injured, aside from Debell. were
revived on the premises by means Of
stimulants. They were unable TO re-
sumo work, but remained about the
yards. not wanting TO rush home un-
sxpectedly and alarm their families
Tn explosion occurred when the men
placed the tank, really big tube,
closed at both ends, under the pom
derous iron shears, operated by cleo.
tricity. for the purpose of eusting II
ND into small pieces. No sooner did
the shears make nn opening In the
tube than the contents, sulphuric aero.
let 20 with q loud report. The Shall
workroom in which the explosion took
place, was Immediately filed with the
fumes, and the men who were not
Knocked down by the flying iron ahd
force OF the explosion, fell In their
tracks as they started TO run from the
building. being overcome by the
fumes. Foreman Noffky was standing
some feet away when the accident oc.
Cured, and suffered the fracture or
his right leg by large chunk OF the
tube striking him.
John Smelofsky was holding the
tube ON the iron block while the big
shears we're descending. and In this
way he got the full force OF the ex'
plosion. His face was buried In the
first cloud OF fumes which emanated
from the tube, and much Of the big
puff went into his lungs. he was
ypartly unconscious when picked up. !.
With the fumes came stream OF
acid. but none Of the liquid struck the
men.
Oficials of the company were on
the scene of the explosion few mill
utes after It occurred, and gave the
injured immediate attention.
= Foreman Noffky was taken In an
automobile to the office Of DIR. George
w Robinson, Boulevard and Mt. FL
liott.ave.. where he received temper
AIRY attention. From there he was
taken to Harper hospital. For the
. other men, brandy was secured from
q neighboring saloon, and they were
given this stimulant pending the ar
rival OF an ambulance, which took
Debbell and Smelofsky to st. Mary's
hospital.
A member OF the Ginsburg com
pany told The Times that the men
had no right to place the tube under
the shears. the official declaring that
the employees had been warned not
to try to break up any tank or tube
closed at both ends. These orders
were given the employees after a man
was killed in the Ginsburg yards
couple of years ago, when an am
monia tank blew up. 1t Is not known
by the Ginsburg company where the
latest exploding tube came from. The
manager thinks, however, that 1t
came from some chemical works,
along with other junk.
The doctors in charge of the injur-
led men In the hospitals say they ex-
pect the patients will recover with
the possible exception OF Smelofsky.
Oxygen was pumped into their lungs
to counteract the effect Of the acid
fumes.