Boiler Explosion on the Isaac Weed Farm – One Man Killed
Titusville Herald, December 5, 1870
At eight o’clock yesterday morning occurred one of those periodic boiler explosions that so often startles our community. About 100 feet north of the residence of Isaac Weed, and just at the road-side, stands a well that was struck on New Year’s day last, and which has been run since, producing lately but a few barrels of oil per day. The boiler at this well does double duty, running also an engine across the road, and about ten rods away.
The engineer in charge yesterday morning, a Mr. Chaffee, tells us that Byron Reeves, a brother-in-law of Mr. Weed, came into the engine house and asked him to go over to his (Chaffee’s) house and bring him a clean shirt, saying he would watch things while he was gone. Mr. Chaffee says he tried the upper gauge, and it threw out water, and spattered a newspaper that Reeves had in his hand, and that the steam gauge showed only 65 pounds of steam.
Mr. C. went on the errand. As he neared the engine house in returning, and when about four rods from it, he was stunned by the explosion of the boiler, and himself bespattered with dirt. We may add that he was of course badly scared, and for a few moments completely bewildered. He says he had an impression of something rushing through the branches of a wild cherry tree near him. By the time he recovered from the shock, two or three men had arrived on the spot, and found a scene of ruin spread before them that can only be produced by the immense power of steam, powder or nitroglycerine explosions.
Unfortunate Mr. Reeves was found lying in the mud nearly across the road and about 75 feet from where the boiler stood. He had been thrown up in the air at least 25 feet, as shreds of his clothing had been torn from him in his swift passage through the branches of a tree, some of which had broken by his body coming in contact with them. When found he had a coat sleeve on one arm, a part of his pantaloons, and a rubber boot on one leg and a fragment of shirt over a part of his breast. The uncovered part of his body was scalded to a fearful extent, one arm broken at the elbow and the bones of one shoulder shattered.
How instant death was prevented is very strange, as he weighed 225 pounds. The fall alone would seem to be sufficient to destroy life. He was carried into the house of Isaac Weed. Doctor Varian was summoned and came to the aid of the sufferer as soon as possible and rendered all assistance the case afforded.
Reeves was unconscious for some time but slowly regained possession of his faculties. When we were in his room, at eleven o’clock, he kept asking for water, recognized some of his friends, and asked, “What was the explosion?” To the inquiry as to how he felt, he replied, “Pretty well for an old man.”
The Doctor informed us that the external injuries were not of a sufficiently serious nature to cause death, but that his recovery would depend upon what internal injuries he might have sustained, and whether he could rally from the shock to his nervous system. The sufferer had kind care and attendance. He was 22 years of age and unmarried.
The boiler and engine, a 12 horse power portable, are a complete wreck. About two-thirds of the boiler was thrown at least 80 feet, directly through the derrick, tearing out the bull-wheel and smashing things generally. Breaking down a fence, it collided with a tree, turned end for end in its course and stopped in Mr. Weed’s door yard, and about 10 feet from the house. All of the tubes were with this portion, though bent up and destroyed most effectually.
The other part of the boiler proper was thrown off at right angles up the hill and at a distance of 12 or 15 rods. The furnace door and frame flew off at an angle of 45 degrees and cut a large hole through a corner of a building, going over three fat hogs and a colt without injuring them at all. The crown sheet was thrown directly back and stopped by a wood pile. Another portion of the boiler was thrown into the road. A piece weighing five or six pounds struck Mr. Weed’s house and cut off a clapboard. The engine-house is scattered all around the premises. The derrick is left uninjured.
What caused the explosion? is the first question asked. The boiler was run by gas and the engineer states there was but 65 pounds of steam on when he left and that he was gone only about ten minutes; that he left Reeves to attend to things. The broken boiler does not show that it was defective. It had only been in use about one year. It would be well for our boiler makers to make this case a particular study.
Latest
Mr. Reeves died last evening at 7 o’clock. His family reside in Meadville and the remains will be taken there for interment. He was a brother of Mrs. Isaac Weed. Everything was done for him that medical skill could suggest, or skillful hands prompted by kind hearts could think of for the sufferer’s comfort.