Evening journal., 1911-08-14
AMMONIA FUMES
KILL One in CRASH
Five Other Men Injured in
Collapse Of Pipes In Ice
Co. Plant
FIREMEN TRY AT
RESCUE OF DEAD MAN

Charles Kennedy, aged about As
years, Of Thirteenth and Claymont, was
smothered to death by ammonia
fumes at the plant of the Delaware
Ice Company, vandever avenue and
Jessup street. yesterday morning,
and five of his fellow employees had
narrow escape from death, when
seventeen pipes, two inches in di-
amter, covered with ice, fell with a
crash. The accident occurred at
10 o'clock, and within a few minutes
the deadly fumes had killed Kennedy,
who had been pinned to the floor
under two pipes. He was not re-
leased, however, until 11.4O o'clock,
as the fumes were so strong that the
rescue party could not remain in the
building any length of time.
Those who were injured or over
come by the fumes were:
Herman Husfelt, chief engineer, of
No. 1884 Walnut street, overcome :
Andrew Garry, of No. S23 Lord street,
and ice; Edward Cannon, of No. 1888
Walnut street, cut and bruised by fall
/ ing pipes and ice; William Schoy, of
No. 1915 East Thirteenth street, over
come by the fumes; Andrew Kersey
of No S22 Lord street, overcome by
the fumes
The accident happened in what is
known as the cooling room, where
pipes filled with ammonia extend
along the ceiling. Kennedy and
kersey were working near the center
of the room when the pipes fell, and
while they made a dash for the door
way, a few feet away, Kennedy was
caught by the pipes as they fell, and
the connections being broken, the
fumes entered the room. Schoy, who
was one of the first to escape, rushed
back and caught Kersey and carried
him to safety, while Husfelt, the en-
! gineer. upon hearing that Kennedy
was I'm the building, dashed into the
room, but was forced back by the
acid fumes. He again made the at
tempt, and grabbed hold of the pinned
man. but could not move the pipes
which held Kennedy's legs and arms
Husfelt suffered from the fumes, and
he raved about the place until MS
companions restrained him.
tn the meantime a call had been
made ON the Independence and Bran
dywine Fire Companies, and they re-
sponded with their hose wagons. Lines
of hose were run into the building in
an endeavor to beat the fumes back.
while other firemen chopped holes i'm
the roof. James Mclaughlin, an em-
ploye, who was outside the building
when the accident occurred. rushed to
the stopcocks and shut off the supply
Of ammonia, while the manager
George Cox, shut the engines down
Word was sent to the Diamond Ice
/ Company's plant. and Charles Bowers
the manager, went to the scene will
an oxygen helmet Husfelt place.
this on his head and entered the room
but Kennedy was dead then. Befor,
the body could be removed it wal
necessary TO pry the pipes up with
telegraph pole, and then Kennedy
body was pulled out with ropes. Tho
police patrol carried the body to th'
mOrgue.
News of the accident travelled
/ quickly, and within a few minutes
there were fully 500 people gathered
ON the banks surrounding the build
ing. The police stretched ropes acrosI
the driveway to the building, but thl
people crowded past these. and th'
police had to rush them back. Th'
accident occurred just as the morn
ing service at St. Johns p. e. Churcl
was beginning, and the Rev c. II
Holmead was asked to offer a specia
prayer for the victim, which wal
| done.
Kennedy was unmarried, and haC
worked at the plant for some time.
The plant was out of commission
for the day, but as the damage was
| sliphf a. will be rnnairad al once