Logans Ferry, PA Factory Explosion, July 1929

TWO KILLED; 11 INJURED IN EXPLOSION.

POWDER PLANT BLAST WRECKS BIG FACTORY.

WORKMEN CARRIED OUT OF BLAST SWEPT BUILDING WITH MOST OF CLOTHING BURNED AWAY.

New Kensington, Pa., July 18. (AP) -- Two men were killed and 11 burned, four seriously tonight in an explosion of bronze powder that wrecked one unit of the plant of the Aluminum Company of America, at Logans Ferry near here. In addition to the 11 in hospitals, others were burned but were treated at the scene and sent home.
The explosion, origin of which was undetermined, according to company attaches, rocked the district and was heard for several miles. The men killed and hurt were for the most part working in or near the unit that was shattered and the force of the blast stripped some of the victims of their clothes.
The dead were:
JOSEPH PAUSTENBACH, 47, Tarentum.
ANDREW KAUTZMAN, 60, East New Kensington.
B. LOPEZ, New Kensington.
MICHAEL HAZINANOLIS, New Kensington.
ANTHONY LARIES, Arnold.
JOHN GIANSANTI, Arnold.
JAMES GALLARDO, New Kensington.
The injured were:
GEORGE MAUROS, New Kensington, fatally.
JOHN HRONES, New Kensington, fatally.
RICHARD RENIA, New Kensington, serious.
GEORGE SEODAELIS, New Kensington, serious.
PATZY GUIDE, Arnold, serious.
PETER KOSTOS, New Kensington, serious.
JOHN CRAWFORD.
BARITOLO CUESDE.
The wrecked unit was made up of two small connecting one story brick buildings. The loss is estimated at between $150,000 and $200,000.

New Kensington, Pa., July 18 (AP) -- Two men were reported dead and 11 injured in hospitals tonight after an explosion in the bronze powder plant of the Aluminum company of America Works at Logans Ferry, near here. The last blast occurred in the "sifter" building which was wrecked and the entire countryside felt the force of the explosion.
Ambulances carrying doctors and nurses from hospitals in New Kensington and Parnasus, nearby towns, were sent to the plant. Some of the workmen were carried from the shattered building with practically all of their clothing burned away. Those in the hospital were suffering mostly from burns.
Company officials said the aluminum powder took fire, with the flames being confined largely to the powder because the plant is constructed of galvanized iron. Buildings connected with the "sifter" house also were damaged by the explosion, origin of which was undetermined by company attaches.
One hundred men were at work in the works when the blast occurred. The number in the "sifter" house was not definitely known.

The Havre Daily News Promoter Montana 1929-07-19
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!