The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-02
Two Negroes and Italian
Killed When Valve on
Dust Cleaner Blows Off.
One Dies Later
THREE OF INJURED
ARE EXPECTED TO
DIE FROM HURTS
Ambulance En- Route to Scene of the
Accident Turns Over to Avoid
Collision With Freight Train.
Rick Woodward Issues
Statement

When the valve on a dust cleaner
blew off at Vanderbilt furnace about
6:45 o'clock last night three men were
instantly killed, one fatally hurt and four
others were so badly burned by the sheet
of flame and hot ashes that only one or
are:
Collagaro Mulocco, an Italian.
Charlie Austin a negro.
An unidentified negro.
Paul Salamona, an Italian, died at hos
pital.
The injured:
Peter Schillagi. an Italian. badly
burned not expected to recover.
Luke Y. McCabe, gang foreman, bad
ly burned, not expected to recover.
West Grant, a negro. burned slightly.
John Buckner, a negro. fatally
burned.
All of the injured workmen are at
st. Vincent's hospital The dead are
at Lige Loy's
Explosion Followed Slip
The explosion at Vanderbilt furnace
followed closely upon a slip" of the
furnace-an occurrence which, it is
said, happens frequently. although sell
dom attended with disastrous results
1t is thought that the accumulated gas
caused such a pressure following the
slip that the valve on the dust cleaner
blew off and a thin sheet of fire and
ashes spread over the workmen in the
cinder pit adjacent to the cap.
The accident was about in the CEN
ter of activities at the plant and there
We're dozens of men about working at
their various tasks There We're three
distinct explosions. it was said but
few paid any attention with the ex-
ception of those who were near and
who heard the shrieks of the unfortu-
nate men. The work at the furnace
was not stopped and there was little
confusion.
superintendent o. b. Cooper was i'm
mediately notified of the accident and
a few moments later ambulances from
Lige Logs and Warner & Smileys were
hurrying to the scene.
Ambulance Turns Over
On the way to the furnace the am
bulance of Warner & Smiley turned over
in making a sharp turn to avoid colid-
ing with passing freight train near the
furnace. No one was injured and the
ambulance was not badly damaged, al
though it was put out of service as far as
carrying the injured at Vanderbilt fur
mace was concerned.
1t was stated that the ambulances were
on the scene almost before any of the
men had been removed from under the
Lot ashes. The dead were unrecognlz-
able, as they were burned tc a crisp. The
layer Of dust that covered them was
81 arcely eight inches In thickness, and
there was no difficulty in removing the
bodies.
Rick Woodward, vice president and gen
eral manager of the Woodward Iron
company. which corporation controls the
Vanderbilt furnace, arrived on the scene
about 7:30 O'Clock. After short pre-
liminary examination and consultation
With Superintendent Cooper. Mr. Wood
ward issued the following statement:
Woodward Issues Statement
About 6:45 o'clock the valve on dust
cleaner of furnace blew off and the
flames and ashes caught the workmen in
the cinder pit, instantly killing one white
man and two negroes There were also
five others badly burned in the accident
lowing to the fact that all the work.
men are known by NUMBERS, II is prac-
tically impossible at the present time to
give out an accurate list Of names of the
dead and injured. However. this will be
done as soon as possible.
THE officials of the Woodward Iron
company are rendering all aid possible to-
tie stricken families.
At st. Vincent's hospital it was stated
at a late hour last night that three of
the four injuT ed are in a serious condi-
ton.
1t was stated by Master Mechanic Os-
car White of the Vanderbilt furnace that
ever since he had been connected with
furnaces he had never known d,;st
cleaner to open following a furnace slip.
THE accident will be thoroughly inves-
tigated in the morning." said Engineer
White, land the cause of the explosion
will be ascertained.''
Coroner Charles l.. Spain was notified
of the accident at Vanderbilt furnace. The
coroner stated that he would hold an In
quest this morning.
Il am i'll at home with a bad cold.''