New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-27
Retort Explosion Wrecks
Part of Building and
Kills Chemist.
AID ESCAPES; WILL
CONTINUE IN WORK
Accident Occurs In Laboratory of
DIR. GOttschalk-Wife the
First Victim.

Sewaren, y. j.. March 26,-While at
work on the same secret synthetic
rubber experiments which cost the life
OF the wife Of Dr. Louis Gottschalk,
his superior, six months ago, Clifford
d. Meeker, consulting engineer to the
Alembic Rubber Company. was in
stantly killed here to-day. retort
filled with chemicals exploded, blowing
Meeker through the laboratory win
dow and wrecking part of the building.
Besides George Titus, who miracu-
lously escaped death in the laboratory
to-day, Meeker and Or. Gottschalk
were the only ones who knew the secret
formula used in the experiments. Tho
three chemists had been at work for
several hours and, according to Titus.
the scientist had begun to test a gauge
showing the contents OF the retort
when the explosion occurred.
Some heavy steel plates mounted on
table protected Titus from the full
force of the explosion. He was hurled
across the room against one OF the
walls. where he lay stunned.
Meeker's body, torn literally limb
from limb. was hurled through win
dow into the street Every pane OF
glass was blown out. and the impact
Of the explosion burst one of the walls
Of the laboratory.
The noise could be heard for half a
mile. Crowds collected about the fac
tory. and several squads Of police had
10 be rushed 10 the scene 10 protect the
factory property and hold back the
curious while Meeker's shattered body
was being removed. Titus, uncon-
sc,ous from the fumes Of the exploded
chemicals. was found inside the labora-
tory and rushed to hospital where it
was said tonight he would recover.
Meeker occupied a position Of great
trust with the company, and was per-
sonally selected by Dr. Gottschalk for
his coolness and nerve when the dam
9erous series Of experiments was be-
0un last fall. DR.. Gottschalk is man
ager and vice president OF the Alembic :
Process Company, which has for its
purpose the manufacture Of synthetic
rubber. If the experiments succeed
the rubber industry may be revolu-
tionized.
DR.. Gottschalk discovered the proc
ess and was at work perfecting it
when the accident occurred which cost
the life Of his wife.
Mrs. Gottschalk was familiar with
the experiments. and had accompanied
her husband to the laboratory on the
morning Of September 10, 1913. She
was busy about the laboratory for an
hour or so and had started to look at
the temperature OF a guage on the
chemical retainer.
Just as she reached the tube the steel
burst. A section Of the cru
chile was driven into the woman's
body and the laboratory was wrecked
by the force Of the explosion. When
employees Of the plant arrived they found
DR.. Gottechalk kneellng by the body OF
his wife. whose death vas almost in
slant
Titus is a son-in-law Of Or. Gott-
schalk. and. with Meeker. has helped
carry on the experiments. Despite the
death of Mrs. Gottschalk and that Of
Meeker. his nerve IS not shaken. Ly- /
ing in his cot tonight. he declared that,
with DR.. Gottschalks help. he would .
continue the experiments until success
came or the futilty OF the process had
been demonstrated.
Terrazas Hears Son Is Safe.
FL Paso, Tex. March 2j-General Luis