The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-12-19
Young Man From Newberry Badly
Hurt in Anderson.
Young

Anderson IS again to Suner Tor lack
of electrical energy, due to the disas-
ter to the Portman Shoals power
plant Of the Southern Public Utilities
company late Thursday afternoon, the
third time in its history, but this time
not so severe as on either of the other
TWO occasions. Today the auxiliary
steam plant of the company is in full
operation, having been started up
Thursday night, some power is being
secured from Gregg Shoals on the
Savannah river, and the steam plant
at the Anderson mills is running. Be
cause of the fact that there was an
accident to the steam plant at the
Orr mills some ten days or two weeks
ago, this mill mas been forced to close
down, but will be able to start up at
least for part time, next week and
the Anderson mill is running on lit
tie more than two-thirds time.
Cause of the Disaster.
The disaster at Portman was due to
the bursting of one of the five big
generators wheels in use there which
exploded a little after o'clock Thurs
day afternoon, and caused a confia-
grafton which burned the whole of the
interior of the big power house with
the exception of the fre-proof room
in which the switchboards were in
stalled. There were five young men
and three negroes in the plant at the
time of the accident, and two of the
former, Mr.. T. NJ. Fellers, Of New
berry, and E. W. Harper, Jr., of Lown-
desville, dynamo tenders, were Sc
riously injured The former w.
struck by pieces of the flying wheel,
suffering severe conclusion on the
head and a slight fracture of the an
kle besides other injuries. When the
explosion came, pieces of the
wheel flew into the casing Of trans
former, igniting the two barrels or
more of oil, which was snowered over
the building, and Mr. Harper was
severely burned by this. With his
clothing saturated with the oil, and
afame, he ran from the building to
small branch nearby, where he sue
ceeded in extinguishing the fire by
rolling over and over in the water.
He was burned severely on the face
head and back and his hurts are most
painful, but not considered danger
Gus.
Soon after the accident physicians
were called from the city and attend
ed the young men at the home of Mr.
R. L. Swittenberg, plant manager at
Portman. On account of the chill of
the night it was thought best that they
remain there through the night, and
we're brought to the hospital here to-
day for treatment. Mr.. H. A. Orr, 10
cal manager, and others connected
with the company, went out with the
physicians, and Mr. Orr remained
there with the injured men Thurs
day night.
Mr.. Fellers' home is at Newberry
He has been with the company for
some time, and is said to be COM
petent and steady employe. Mr.. Har-
per is a son of Mr. F. w. Harper, Of
Lowndesville. who with his son, Mr..
Alvin Harper, came through the
country to Portman Thursday night,
arriving there about 7.3O o'clock, and
today came into the city with the in
jured men. 1t is announced today that
while the injuries of both the young
men are very painful, they are not
so serious as had at first been feared,
and it is believed that both will be
able to be out within snort time.