The Locomotive - Lighthouse Survival Blog

H8 THE LOCOMOTIVE [Augcst,
proprietor, Will Towers, the engineer, and A. L. Dunham and John K. Watson, employes,
were engaged in repairing the machinery before the regular work of the day
began. The engine had been stopped and the attention of the men was entirely occupied
by the work in hand. The rising steam in the boiler was forgotten, and considerable
time passed before anybody looked at the gauge. The discovery was then made that
instead of 85 pounds, the pressure had gone beyond the 140-pound mark. Almost in-
stantly the crash came. The engine-house, which adjoins the factory, disappeared, and
the cloud of roaring steam was pierced by flying iron and timber. Big pieces of the
boiler were blown far into the river beyond the long piers, and part of the factory proper
was wrecked. Mr. Wright and Mr. Towers were very seriously injured. The former
was crushed about the legs, and amputation will probably be necessary. Mr. Towers
was knocked down and mangled, and Messrs. Dunham and Watson were badly scalded.
One woman in the factory was hurt. Mr. Wright's loss is heavy. The engineer will
probably die."
(129.) — On June 12th a tube burst in one of the water-tube boilers at tvie Edison
Electric Light Company's plant, in Columbus, Ohio. Nelson Secrist, a fireman, was
stooping before the boiler at the time, pulling out ashes. The explosion blew the
furnace door open, and Secrist was badly burned and scalded.
(130.) — A boiler exploded on June 12th in a mill near Linneus, Mo. The body of
James Logue, a workman, was torn to fragments, and Aaron Logue was cut in twain.
Michael Logue was blown into a tree-top, and every bone in his body was broken.
William Kemper was also blown some distance and fatally injured. Pieces of machinery
were driven several inches into trees, and the mill fixtures were scattered over a large
area. A few months ago there was a similar explosion at this same mill.
(131.) — The boiler in Gossler & Co. 'a mill at Deloys, near Cammal, Pa., exploded
on June 13th, instantly killing the fireman and his little daughter. The boiler was
blown into a creek about 75 feet away.
(132.) — On June 13th the head blew out of a boiler at the Oneida Carriage Works,
at Oneida, X. Y. We have not learned the amount of the damage, but it was said that
the works would have to lie idle at least a month. It appears that nobody was injured.
(133.)— A boiler belonging to W. H. Brown & Sons, at Elrod, Pa., exploded on
June 16th, wrecking the building in which it stood. The accident occurred at the noon
hour, while the men were at dinner, and nobody was hurt. Fragments of machinery
were blown through the office.
(134.) — A kitchen boiler exploded on June 17th in the residence of F. 6. Piatt, on
Grove Hill, New Britain. Conn. The stove was "blown into a thousand pieces," and
the house was considerably damaged. Fortunately there was nobody in the kitchen af
the time.
(135.) — On June 18th a boiler exploded in Bilger Bros.' saw-mill, on the side of
Nittany mountain, just south of Pleasant Gap, Pa. Nelson E. Bilger, the engineer, was
blown through a board wall, and his body fell in a mud-hole fifty feet away. He was
killed instantly and horribly mangled. In fact, one account states that "not enough of
it could be found for the coroner to hold an inquest on " ; but that is not true. Herbert
Bilger was badly scalded and bruised, but will recover. The boiler parted in the middle,
one end of it flying 300 feet in one direction, while the other flew 200 feet in the opposite
direction. The mill was blown to pieces. Eight workmen had just left the mill for the