Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 November 1882 — BLOWN TO ATOMS. [ARTICLE]

BLOWN TO ATOMS.

Deadly Boiler Explosion at Cleveland, Ohio. Many Houses Made Desolate by the Calamity. (Telegram from Cleveland, Ohio.] A terrific explosion occurred at a little after 4 o'clock this evening in the Forest City iron-works, operated by At <ins & Clark, at the un'on crossing, Newburg. The main boiler of the mill suddenly exploded while the day men were going from their work, killing three or four men and fatally wounding a number of others. The mill was almost entirely wrecked. One-half of the boiler went through the roof and landed several hundred yards to the north, while the other ha'f went a similar distance in an opposite cirection. Walls were blown down, a tall smoke-stack left leaning over ready for a fall, while the dead and injured were scattered in all directions. A fire almost instantly broke out, but it was soon got under control, and did little or no damage. Help from Newburg and the city was instantly summoned, and as soon as jpossible the injured and dead were carried into the office of the works and cared for. Several men are now missing, and it is not known whether they are dead under the ruins, hidden in the water-course near by or gone to their homes without reporting themselves. . The dead and injured accounted for up to 9 o’clock to-night are as follows: John Williams, the master mechanic. He was found lying so deep in the mud. and so discolored by the earth about him that he would not have been noticed had not John Gallagher, an o’d man who lay beside him, called out: “There are two of uashere.” Williams’ head was horribly crushed in and his body broken all to pieces. John Gallagher lived until 9 o’clock, when he died also. He was a piler on the guidemill. His face was terribly bruised, his nose torn off and his head full of holes, from which the brains oozed. As he lay on the floor in agony his wife hurried in, and, kneeling by his side, asked: “Do you know me, John?’’ He said that he did, when she placed her hand on his face and said quietly: “Put your truss in God, call cn Him and trust Him. ” He said that he would, and then begged and begg d to be laid on his side. He lingered in great agony until 9 o’clock, when death put an end to his pain. Ano her mtn instant y kil ed was Sydney D. Wright of Wyandctte, Mich., who stood beside a friend who had accompanied him in search of work. The whole top of his head was blown off Wiliiam Wilson, of Chicago, Wright’s friend, was struck on the hip and foot by some of the debris, thrown down and serious'y but not dangerously injured. William Atkins, a roller, stood some 200 yards away from the boiler. He was struck by something and cut instantly i i two, the body going in one direction ana the limbs in another. His head was mashed to a jelly arid ground into the dirt. Francis P. Bradley, a carpenter, had an arm and a leg broken and was cut in the groin and back. His case is hopeless John Mollaney, fireman, had a leg broken, and was very severely bruised. G. H. Hanna sat on a bench beside Atkins and tvas lifted by the concussion of the air, carried over the shears, and thrown on the ground. A roll weighing two tons struck wjthin a few feet of him. A brick struck him on the back of the head as he was flying through the air, and rendered him insensible. The damage to mill in dollars will be several thousand.