Marion, IN Pumping Station Explosion, Aug 1902

Pumping Station Wrecked.

MARION, Ind., Aug.15.---The pumping station at the Indiana Pulp and Paper mills was wrecked by an explosion of gas yesterday. The paper plant will be closed pending the rebuilding of the station.

Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN 15 Aug 1902

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LARGE GAS MAINS EXPLODE.

Workman at Marion, Blown Twenty Feet and Seriously Injured.

MARION, Ind., Aug. 15.----Fred Harris, an employe[sic] of the American Gas and Oil company, was blown twenty feet by a gas explosion on a pipe line yesterday. It is feared he has permanently lost his sight. Workmen were heating a large eight-inch main in order to bend it when the main exploded. The pumping station owned by the Indiana Pulp and Paper company was blown to pieces yesterday by an explosion. Water had accumulated in the pipes and had backed up into the pumping station with such force that a nipple on a gas pipe was broken, allowing the gas to escape. It was ignited by lights in the building and exploded with great force. No one was about the building at the time and no loss of life resulted. The mammoth [illegible] plant of the company is [illegible] account of the [illegible] the result of the [illegible last line].

Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN 15 Aug 1902

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Blinded By Gas Explosion.

MARION, Ind., Aug. 15.---Fred Harris, aged 28 years, was blinded and sustained other injuries that will probably prove fatal by an explosion of gas southeast of this city yesterday. Harris was laying the pipe and had heated a section of it in order to bend the pipe. The heat caused the gas to burst the pipe and harris was terribly injured by the explosion. Both eyes were blown out and his face and head were horribly lacerated.

Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN 15 Aug 1902
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!