Reading, Penn., Nov 2. The citizens or Lower Heidelberg Township, this county were disturbed this morning for miles around by a terrible explosion that shook the houses and rattled windows. The cause was a boiler attached to a thrashing machine on the farm of Jonas D. Spayd. The boiler exploded with terrible results. Six men being killed and three persons badly injured. George Hinnershitz is the owner of the thrashing machine. It was set up last night to commence work this morning. A number of young men in the neighborhood had been hired to assist in the thrashing. The boiler was about half full of water. Those killed outright were Adam Marburger, age 30, of Hetrichsville, unmarried; Joseph Machemer, age 19 and unmarried; William Reber, age 38, married and residing in the neighborhood; Irvin Dunkelberger, age 27, unmarried; Joseph Spayd, age 15 and son of Reuben Spayd. The injured were: Jonas D. Spayd, injured about the head and scalded, John Riegel, hurt about the head and scalded; George Hinnershitz, scalded and injured internally. He was picked unconscious and died soon afterward. Minnie Baer, age 10 jaw shattered and injured about the body, may recover.
The cause of the explosion was the condition of the boiler which had long ago been worn out. The sight which greeted the first persons on the scene was a sickening one. Five mangled bodies were lying near the barn. Three others were inside, and on the side of a steep hill, 100 feet away was the body of Hinnershitz, the owner of the boiler. He was standing close to it when the explosion occurred and was blown through the air to where he was found. All of the dead were crushed about the head, and Machemer's left leg was crushed out of shape.. Dunkelberger had his left arm blown off. The boiler went through the roof and lay 300 feet away. Pieces of timber from the barn were scattered in every direction. The child, Minnie Baer was standing near the barn, watching the thrashing when the explosion took place. A fragment of boiler iron struck her on the chin and scattered and splintered the jaw, and knocked all of her teeth out, and probably destroyed her eyesight. The killed were all poor farm laborers.
The Coroner's inquest showed that the boiler was purchased second-hand and was in use a number of years. The jury decided that from "the evidence it appears that the boiler was not in the hands of an experienced man at the time. From an examination of portions of the boiler, the jury believes it was defective." An examination of the boiler shows that it was very thin in places. The location of the boiler was down a hollow, or the result of the explosion might have been more disastrous.
Submitted by: Patti.
Last Modified