Terrible Calamity at Pittsburg.

EXPLOSION AND LOSS OF TWELVE LIVES.—A terrible explosion occurred on Monday week at the machine and marble works of W. W. Wallace, on Liberty street, in Pittsburg. There were about one hundred men at work in the establishment when the steam boiler exploded with terrible effect. The boiler, it appears, in consequence of the force of the explosion, passed through the entire length of the building, reducing a part of it to a heap of ruins, and then struck a clothing store on the opposite of Liberty street, (one of the widest in the city,) killing the proprietor, Mr. Robert Barker, who was standing at the door. His heard [sic] was nearly taken off. The boiler then passed through the rear wall of the store into G. Schwartz’s lager bier hall, which it nearly demolished; and a man, named Wilheifer, who was in the saloon, was killed. The boiler finally landed in the Presbyterian grave-yard, back of the hall, having passed through four solid brick walls, besides tearing a corner out of a house. It was found lying in the grave-yard, apparently but little injured. It was located in the rear of the first story of the building where it exploded, and furnished steam for running all the machinery of the establishment. It was 40 inches in diameter, 22 feet in length, and made of quarter inch iron. It carried 60 pounds of steam to the square inch, and was attended to by a boy. It is believed that the water had been allowed to get too low, and that it had just been turned on when the explosion occurred. The following workmen are among the killed: WILLIAM BURKE, WM. McMURRAY, T. McCUTCHEON, W. AGNEW, JAMES McCUTCHEON, THOS. M. McARNETT, JAMES LAFFERTY, WM. McMILLAN, J. R. HAMILTON and LEWIS HUTCHINSON. Agnew had his head blown off, and presented a truly horrible spectacle. The others were all more or less mutilated.—Several others were injured.

Adams Sentinel, Gettysburg, PA 3 Oct 1860
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!