William Frederick Austin
Biography
Biography
"An awful boiler explosion took place on December 28 at 7:30 in the cooper [barrel-making] shop of ELLIS & HOLMES in Wakeman, Ohio, resulting in the death of four persons instantly and injuring three others as follows: Engineer HUNT, formerly from Perry; a boy by the name of "Mundy;" AUSTIN's boy; and Johnny LUCE. The engineer was cut right in two. One of the others had one leg torn entirely off and the other horribly mangled. It was the most sickening sight we ever saw. The killed would scarcely be recognized.
"The boiler was carrying sixty pounds of steam. The gauges had just been tried but from a defect in the boiler the terrible catastrophe has happened. The boiler, after running a while, showed signs of weakness and much complaint was made in regard to its safety by those not connected with the shop. The blistered piece was taken out and a piece put in. Since the repairs, they had run a day and a half. Pieces of the boiler were found forty rods from the scene. The engine house, which was of brick, and all the northeast corner of the shop were blown entirely out. The building took fire and it was with great effort that the fire was put out."
Source: The Norwalk Reflector, Norwalk, Ohio, 01 January 1871.
Note:
William Frederick AUSTIN was born at E. Townsend, Huron County, Ohio, on 24 October 1861, the son of Agnes Rowland and Julius AUSTIN of Wakeman, Ohio. He died at the age of 10 years in the explosion on 28 December 1871. Burial at the Wakeman Township Cemetery.
Back to: Biographies
"The boiler was carrying sixty pounds of steam. The gauges had just been tried but from a defect in the boiler the terrible catastrophe has happened. The boiler, after running a while, showed signs of weakness and much complaint was made in regard to its safety by those not connected with the shop. The blistered piece was taken out and a piece put in. Since the repairs, they had run a day and a half. Pieces of the boiler were found forty rods from the scene. The engine house, which was of brick, and all the northeast corner of the shop were blown entirely out. The building took fire and it was with great effort that the fire was put out."
Source: The Norwalk Reflector, Norwalk, Ohio, 01 January 1871.
Note:
William Frederick AUSTIN was born at E. Townsend, Huron County, Ohio, on 24 October 1861, the son of Agnes Rowland and Julius AUSTIN of Wakeman, Ohio. He died at the age of 10 years in the explosion on 28 December 1871. Burial at the Wakeman Township Cemetery.
Back to: Biographies
Transcribed from the old Huron County OHGenWeb site
© 2005-2014
All Rights Reserved.
© 2005-2014
All Rights Reserved.
