TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.

On Saturday night about half past nine o'clock, one of the large tanks, consisting of an iron boiler about ten feet long and five feet in diameter, used for rendering lard at the pork establishment of MESSRS. MICHAEL HERR & CO., in East Wheeling, exploded with tremendous force, blowing out the lard, tearing both tanks from their places, scattering heavy timbers in all directions and blowing the melted lard with which the tank was filled all over the premises and the adjoining fields and creek, for a distance of three hundred yards. The fields are completely white with the shower of lard which fell upon them, presenting one of the rarest spectacles we have ever seen. But three workmen were engaged in the establishment at the time, and made a miraculous escape by having retired but a moment before into the main building, which was not damaged. The loss is estimated at from $2,000 to $2,500.

The cause of the explosion is clear. The tank is heated by steam conveyed into it by a pipe from a boiler. Being filled with lard and the rendering process completed, when the man who managed it suddenly let on a full current of steam, producing instantaneous explosion. [Wheeling Intelligencer.]

The Quincy Daily Whig Illinois 1854-02-24
__________________

Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!