Hare Point, QB Fatal Worsted Factory Fire, Feb 1891

A HORRIBLE CATASTROPHE.

Many Lives Lost by the Explosion of a Worsted Factory Boiler.

QUEBEC, Feb. 12.---About 8 o'clock this morning the boiler in the Quebec Worsted company's factory at Hare Point exploded, completely demolishing the engine house and about half of the factory. A large number of hands were buried in the ruins. The work of removing the bodies from the debris was begun at once and thirty were found in a short time.

The fire brigade was called out, but fortunately the horrors of fire were not added to the calamity. A battery of artillery was ordered out to assist the police in keeping order and controlling the enormous crowd of excited men and women who blocked up every avenue of approach.

Among the dead and injured are:

WILLIAM FOREST, dead

EMELIA COTE, badly scalded

ALEXANDER MARTINEAU, dying

Miss ROSSEAU, broken thigh and fractured skull

TIMOTHY ENRIGHT, injured about head

PIERRE PETERSON, scaled and bruised

WILLIAM BLOUIN, scalded

EMILE BOULE, dying

Miss MERCIER, dead

JOSEPH DUFRESNE, dead

HENRI LABERTE, dead

JOSEPH MICHAUD, dead

J. STYLES, badley injured

H. STYLES, badly scalded

JOHN LAMONTAGNE, dead

ARTHUR TWEEDLE, dead.

The work of rescuing the unfortunates buried under the ruins is still going on. The marine hospital, which is situated in the same locality as the mill, has been opened to receive the dead and wounded and is besieged by people searching for missing relatives. The body of Engineer Francoeur of the works was found crushed out of all shape by a mass of debris which covered him.

Mr. Styles reported injured has since died. His son is thought to be dying.

Fred Lyon, foreman of the spinning works, has a broken arm and leg.

Caroline Morrissett, bruised and scalded.

C. Villenvieuve, dying.

Ed Morrison, dying.

Gustave Blouin, dead.

Arthur Roousseau, dead.

Peter Clements, slight injuries.

Lee, dead.

The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, MO 12 Feb 1891
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!