TERRIBLE BOILER EXPLOSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2668, 3 May 1905, Page 17

TERRIBLE BOILER EXPLOSION.

A horrible accident is reported from Brockton (Mass.). On March 21 a boiler in a shoe factory of Messrs Grover and Company exploded, and the flash of flame which followed caused a four-storey building to collapse like a house of cards, burying in the ruins a large number of men and workers. Fifty-five bodies were recovered later, and only 14 of these were indentified, though 45 others were reported! missing. Mere than 50 persons were burneo? or otherwise injured. A large number jumped from the windows, and most of theee> escaped with more or less serious injuries. A three-storey block and many small wooden houses adjoining the factory were destroyed There were the 'usual act* of heroism in rescue work. One man, who had his legs pinioned by iron beams, cried out that he could not be saved in time, and that others must be. He then reached out his arms and raised several girls, one at a time, who wore thus placed within the reach of the rescuers. The flames sooa reached him. The upper storeys of the factory were loaded with machinery, hence the explosion caused them to collepse.Scores of persons went down with theirmachines, having only tnne to turn their heads to see what disaster was upon them.Many^fire escapes were torn away by the explosion, and the remaining stairways were inadequate. Those who were working near, supports survived the first crash, but most cif them wero pinioned by timbers, and', shrieking to the last, they were burned to> v death.