Trout Run, PA Boiler Explosion, Nov 1883

A SAW MILL WRECKED.

THREE MEN KILLED AND FIVE HURT BY A BOILER EXPLOSION.

Trout Run, Penn., Nov. 16. -- A portable boiler in MARLETTE MAXWELL'S steam saw mill, in Jackson Township, near Trout Run, exploded at 7 o'clock this morning. The concussion was so terrific that it shattered the mill into splinters and hurled nearly a dozen men in every direction, killing three employes outright and fatally injuring one and seriously wounding four others. JAMES HUFF, head sawyer, was blown about four rods, and when found his body was under a pile of heavy timbers. He was a hard-working mechanic, about 45 years old, in poor circumstances, and leaves a widow and a family of small children.
CHARLES RIGGS, fireman, also killed instantly, was thrown 177 yards from the mill. His body fell upon a board fence, breaking two upper boards, and continued with such velocity as to slide three rods after striking the ground. The body was crushed, scalded, and doubled up in the most shocking shape, with limbs and many other bones broken. This victim was about 24 years old, and a son in law of DAVID REED, proprietor of a hotel opposite the mill. RIGGS leaves a widow and one child.
NATHAN RIDEOUT, the third victim, was standing in the engine-room at the time of the explosion. He had not removed his overcoat to begin work when the fireman started the engine, but was in the act of doing so when the shock came. His body was thrown several rods, and his limbs were wedged into a lumber pile. His clothing was torn entirely from his person with the exception of his shirt, which was wound around his neck. RIDEOUT was a single man, 22 years old, and came a few months ago from Winn, Me., where his relations reside.
Among the five men wounded was JOHN PEPPERMAN, whose injuries are fatal. Besides being badly scalded in several places, his head was severely wounded by flying timbers. He is single, and about 25 years old. JAMES CAMPBELL was painfully scalded and disfigured about the face and head. LEVAN MOYER'S arm was broken, his head bruised, and his body scalded. GRANT HUFF, a son of the dead fireman, sustained a painful dislocation of the hip and scalds about his face and head. ALFRED REED was scalded and cut in the forehead. The only wonder is that others in the vicinity were not killed or injured, as the missiles of destruction flew long distances in every direction.
MAXWELL, the lessee of the mill, rented it, boiler and all, of A. S. Turner, a lumberman, of Elmira, N.Y. He believes the boiler was in good condition, and can only account for its explosion upon the theory that an enemy or some grossly mischievious boys had been tampering with it over night. A light fire was kept under the boiler from the previous evening, and it is stated that boys on other occassions had got in and turned off the water, ignorantly rendering such a disaster liable. Several nights in succession during the past week the water had in some manner been drawn from the boiler, but in the morning the defect was remedied easily each time after starting up. The fireman had had long experience and would hardly forget to examine the water gauge before starting the engine.
The loss on the mill and machinery is estimated at $4,000. The insurance is unavailable, owing to the nature of the accident. A searching investigation as to the causes of the explosion will be instituted.

The New York Times New York 1883-11-17
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!