Evening star., 1932-11-05
ONE DIES OF BURNS,
NINE ARE HURT IN
NAVY YARD BLAST
Safety Devices at Big Steel
Casting Prevent Worse
Accident.
INVESTIGATION BEGUN
BY NAVAL OFFICIALS
Gas Bubble Developing in Molten
Metal Believed to Have
Caused Explosion.

One man was fatally burned and
nine were injured yesterday afternoon
at the Washington Navy Yard, when
an explosion occurred while they were
pouring one of the big steel castings in
the foundry Joseph S. Clark, moulder,
54 years old. Of 507 Seward Square
southeast, died at 1:21 am. in Provi-
dense Hospital. where he was taken af-
ter being given flrSt-aid treatment at
the naval dispensary at the Navy Yard
Hospital authorities said that the
moulder's whole body was scared by the
overhowing molten metal
Clark was the only man who required
extensive hospital treatment, three 9TH
ers going to their homa, after being
treated yesterday afJerr ocn and eve
ming. at Providence Hospital. Six other
workers. less seriously burned. were able
to return to their work, almost i'm
mediately, according to Navy Yard au-
thoritieS.
Investigation Ordered.
The naval officials appointed a board
of investigation to inquire into the
cause of the accident, which occurred
in the foundry about l: AS pm This
board, composed of naval officers, will
interview all those having any infor-
nation about the accident and render
its report to Rear Admiral Henry "
Butler, commandant of the Washington
Navy Yard, and later to Secretary
Adams, who will make it public, Off
cialS said. The investigation is expect
ed to take number of days. 1t Is
believed a gas bubble developed in the
molten metal while the steel casting
was being made, and this caused the
liquid fire to squirt out upon the nearby
Workmen.
Had it not been for safety devices
utilized the accident would have been
far worse. officials said AS soon as the
metal boiled out, the workers let go the
control valve, which automatically shut
off the mechanism.
Those taken to Providence Hospital,
with Clark, were: w. H. Smith, moulder,
OF 1928 Is street southeast; Harry G.
Hill, quarternan moulder, 1909 Veazey
street and Herbert Murray. leading man
mouider, of 1892 B street southeast.
The Injured.
The six men who received minor
burns and were able to return TO work
Immediately, according to Navy Yard
officials we're: c. H. SmallWood, moulder,
of GA l street southeast: K. M. Max
field. helper moulder, of 1910 Gales
street northeast: C. H. Suthard, moulder,
OF Sl5 luke street, AleSdIlueI, va, D.
H. CLANCY, moulder, of l0l5 Fourteenth
street southeast; G. E. Lanham, foundry
chiDper. Silver Hill, Md and C. j.
Cooke, leading man moulder, 512 Second
street southeast.
All 10 are civilian workmen.
Those witnessing the accident asserted
that Clark, his clothing ablaZe. was as
sisted by bystander, who threw coat
over him. in an attempt to stem the
fire Other workers sustained burns
when their clothing caught fire. from
the molten metal, which Sputtered out.
Clark's daughter, Mrs. Alvin w. Neisz,
summoned from her home in Baltimore,
was at his bedside when he breathed
his last.
Prior to going to work at the Navy
Yark, Clark served a year or more in
similar capacity in the Panama Canal
Zone He had roomed at the Seward
Square address for the past 10 years.
Besides his daughter he is survived
by son. Arthur L. Clark, who came
here today from his home in Babylon,
N Y; two brothers. Jesse and George
Clark, both of Baltimore, and three sis
ters. Mrs. Grace Weber, also of Balti-
more; Mrs. Harry B. Corbin, Washing
ton, and Mrs. Alice Neurohr, Richmond.
Funeral arrangements have not been
completed, but tentative plans call for
burial with Masonic rites.