Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-03-30
five KILLED BY
STEAM BOILER
Terrific Explosion at Saw Mill In
WiCOmico County. One
Man Escapes

SALISBURY, ND. March ~ AT l.JO y.
m. today sawmill boiler, owned and
operated by IIermis Hearn. exploded
with terrific force. killing four men
instantly and fatally wounding four
others. One Of these died five hours
later. The accident took place on the
timber lands of w. Dow Mills. near
Spring Hill. Wicomico county. six miles
from Salisbury. The boiler was owned
and operated by Hermis Hearn.
Mr.. William F. Bailey. the ninth man
working at the mill. although he was
within foot or two of some of those
killed, came out from under the debris
without a scratch. His escape is
marvellous. The men killed instantly
were:
W. Dow Mills. owner Of the land.
Irving Kennerlv. Hermis Hearn, the
operator of the mill. Frank Mollack.
colored. Wesley Waller, colored, legs
blown off above the knees; died at 5.
p. m.
Robert West. both arms broken and
one leg broken; also decorations on the
body.
Wesley Mollack. son of Frank Mollack.
head and body badly cut.
Grover Mills. brother of w. Dow
Mills, face badly scalded and otherwise
injured.
Robert West is expected to die soon.
All of the injured were taken to the
hospital in this city. where Wesley
Waller was the first to die.
Just how the accident occurred no one
seems to know, but William F. Bailey,
the only one who escaped from the pit
of the mill after the explosion. has this
version of the accident:
at all happened in quicker time than |
can relate. was standing few feet
from w. Dow Mills. when the explosion
occurred We had been waiting on some
Of the men to get up steam in the boiler
before starting the mill in operation.
For several days it had been noticed
that the boiler was not steaming just
right.
Before the explosion Hermis Hearn.
the operator Of the mill. had ordered the
men to their places. |. in passing the
boiler noticed that there was about
an inch of water in the guage just as
| had stepped TO my place, at the end
Of the edger, | saw Hermis Hearn reach
for the throttle, the next instant came
the explosion. started to run from
the mill in flying debris. Next ! turned
to the mill foundation and saw the forms
Of the dead men and heard the cries of
the injured. who were rolling in agony.
went for help. How escaped don
know. as Mr. Mills. who was killed.
was right by my side"
The scene became pitiable. The wall
ing of the mothers. wives and children
Of the dead mingled with the anxious
questions of the friends of the injured.
The accident happened in a thickly
settled and most thriving farming sec
ton of Wicomico county. and the killed
and injured are all respected farmers
and citizens Of this community.
Parts of the boiler. stack and bricks
of the mill were found strewn several
hundred yards from the site and the
explosion was heard from neighboring
farmers, who were terrified by il. A
pair of mules hitched to wagon close
to the mill were blown from the vehicle
by the conclusion. Doctors Todd.
Wales and Potter rushed to the scene
Of the accident in automobiles. carrying
instruments and bandages and gave
medical attention to the injured prior
to their being sent to the hospital
An examination was made to dis
cover the origin of the accident but not
enough of the boiler and machinery
could be found to determine the cause.
II is not likely that an inquest will be
held. as the accident and all Its features
are so well known.
their homes in the vicinity. Hermis
Hearne leaves widow and three small
children: w. Dow Mills leaves a widow
and two children and Irving kennerly
is survived by widow and five small
children.
The accident drew hundreds of per-
sons TO the scene and many women and
men turned away from the CHASTITY view
Of torn forms Of the dead men lying in
the wreckage Several of the dead were
found with their heads blown off. The
accident has cast gloom over the
entire community in and around the
Spring Hill neighborhood.
The surgeons at the Peninsula General
Hospital amputated the shattered por-
tons of the legs Of Wesley Waller in
the hope of saving hun. He passed
the operation fairly well. but later