Year: 1875

THE BOILER OF AN OLD MILL BLOWN DIS


TANCE OF NINE HUNDRED FEET-REAIARK-


ABLE ESCAPES AND INCIDENTS.


great sensation was occasioned yesterday morning
about nine O'Clock in Paterson The first intimaton
or the matter terrific explosion that shook the
whole city Ike the discharge OF monster piece Of
artillery. The of the accident the two
story brick building Bridge street, erected many
years ago as of the first silk mills In
Paterson and htner, after the explosion, great
crowds of people from all directions Tho first reports
to the effect that number OF people had been
killed and wounded, thereby creating great alarm and
excitement but II transpired that although con-
siderable property destroyed and there we're
great many narrow escapes yet by some singular for
tune injured It was one OF the boilers
connected with the Benson Mill that had exploded II
was located in a small brick building in
the of the mill proper, and was put in
about eighteen months ago by Peter Dorgeval Co.,
the present proprietors OF the establishment II was
purchased by them second handed is said to have
been crminay unsafe and worthless when first put in


xEGNEERs STORY.


Since Dorgeval Co. have been in the possession OF
the place this boiler has been n charge OF Polish
engineer named Damien Nowakonski, who was also
employed about the place general jcbber in conncc-
ton with his duties engineer. He is man Of fair
intelligence and evidently understood the
care of boilers, but only gives the fol-
lowing account OF the accident About ten
minutes before the explosion he left the boiler with
the gauge indicating forty pounds OF steam and the
glass gauge indicating good supply OF water suf
ncent in his estimation, TO last hour with
perfect safety He had gone up stairs and engaged
on one Of the machines almost Immediately the
boiler when the explosion took place. The OF





was dreadful In the building only four hands
two men and two girls-besidss the lady over
OF the latter, and, strange to say, not
was injured or even badly shocked.
One OF the girls ran out to the high
front stoop and sprang the railing the side
walk a distance OF not less than eighteen feet The
other girl started to run down stairs but, tripping,
rolled down 10 the bottom The others stood stock
STILL parayZed with fear but not was in the least
injured


The explosion lifted the whole shell Of tho boiler In
TACT weighing, perhaps, L50o pounda Invent high up
into the arr distance Of least 200 feet Il
by different parties all over the city, and 1t landed
In l.. Division street, just east Of o the M Erie
or about two blocks and half from the mill The
agman at the crossing, near where this mass landed
nearly thrown from his feet by the shock TO the
earth, and the noise OF Its fall was almost great
that of the explosion itself


The high brick chimney at the rear OF the engine
house torn from its foundation and topped over


huge pile OF broken bricks and mortar Near by the
whole rear wall was shaken dewn but the only damage
done TO the main building the shattering OF tho
glass In the windows


Adjoining the mill, in the yard attached to Mr. Weld.
mans house, Mrs Weidman engaged in hanging
up clothes when of the iron 1ues from the boiler
struck into the ground at her very sde burying itself
at least two feet into the earth. John Brant baker,
was driving past at the time, In Division street. when
great quantity Of flying missiles landed by his horses
se o1 s1suWaT dd n0 40 lse least chdEsn oamsgs
were were playing In the yard next to the
broken bricks and iron showcred about their heads
but scratched John Lairds building was
completely rlddled with bricks trowels, brooms and
pieces OF iron, OF which remained fastened In
the shcathing; but the great majority went through
boards and pasering, across the room, and, having
spent their force, hit the opposite wall and dropped
harmlessly the floor The lower part Of this house
is occupied by Albert Ramsey. whose family had
a remarkably narrow escape In their dining
In diameter, were made through the wall with the
bricks and pieces Of iron which few into the house.
Mrs Ramsey alleges that piece of red hot coal also
went through the room and out at the other side OF
the house, and yet during all this bombardment not
one in the room was injured One Of the boiler nues
went over whole block OF buildings and pierced the
basement window OF house In Paterson street. not
foot distant from silk weaver named W.
r. Edwards, who sat there working at his loom.
Another OF these 1ues knocked of the corner OF
dormer window in Mr.. Van Houton's house at the cor
ner of Paterson and Bridge streets and sill another
piece, measuring feet in length, carried
over five blocks and landed in vacant lot on the
south side OF Broadway, near the residence Of DR..
Reinssars yard also dropped the door Of the boiler,
near where the CHILDREN we're playing Two dogs,
DeongnB 70 engineer, LhaL were sleeping IN the
boiler house. have not been heard OF since the
explosion. When the boiler thrown the
houses 1t must have been partially filled with water,
for all the buildings the line Of its route
drenched with the water that poured over It As II
passed their roofs





The loss from the explosion TO the building win
probably not exceed $500 The mill is owned by
Messrs Hoxsey Beam who purchased II about six
years ago under foreclosure The boiler probably
be replaced for similar amount AS to the cause
the explosion IL Is the opinion OF some engineers
that the water having been allowed TO become very
low In the boiler gas had been created from which
the explosion occurred. Another theory is that the
nucs must have been red hot IN consequence OF the
lowness Of the water when the engineer put on the
pump The appearance Of the nucs picked up since the
disaster seems 10 substantate this theory. Still an
other theory Is that had stopped the pump
from working II is said that the pump had feature
OF stopping in consequence Of an obetTucton
OF one OF It's attachments, and t fire.
quenty had 70 be struck with hammer
TO keep 10 working. The pump, after the explosion,
found on Division street. the mill The boiler
is alleged to have been old and worthless, and great in
dgnaon expressed toward the Of the estab-
lishment for maintaining such OF danger In so
thickly settled locality. IL s almost miraculous that
several persons not killed II is In all respects
Of the most remarkably fortunate accidents that
/ occurred Patterson