Metuchen, New Jersey
Train Boiler Explosion
March 11, 1907
ANOTHER BOILER EXPLODED TODAY
And Two Pennsylvania Trainmen Suffered Fatal Injuries
METUCHEN, N. J. March 11 -- Two men were killed and several others
seriously, two of them fatally injured as the result of the explosion of a
boiler of a freight engine of the Pennsylvania railroad early today. The
dead are: Engineer Fisher of Newark and Head-brakemen
Smith of Scranton,
Pa.
The freight left Jersey City for the West late last night and when just
opposite the depot here the boiler exploded, hurling bits of iron and steel 200
yards away.
Freight cards were piled one above the other and there was hardly anything
left of the engine except its wheels, while the tracks on both sides were torn
up. Several of the crew were buried under the overturned cars, including
firemen and one brakeman, and both of these will probably die as a result of
their injuries. The wreck caught fire, but the flames were quickly
extinguished.
George Fresh of Trenton, a fireman, died this morning from his injuries.
This makes the third victim of the explosion.
Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN 11 Mar 1907
EXPLOSION SHAKES TOWN
Three Tainmen [sic] Killed by Bursting of Pennsylvania Engine Boiler
Metuchen, N. J., Mar. 11-- Three men were killed and a number of other hurt,
and Metuchen was shaken and threatened with many fires to-day, when the boiler
of a locomotive on the Pennsylvania Railroad exploded while drawing a freight
train through the town.
The dead
WILLIAM J. SISHER, engineer, of Philadelphia
C. S. SMITH, brakeman, Trenton
W. H. FRITSCHE, fireman, Trenton
The train left Jersey City at 1 a.m., and was passing through Metuchen under
good headway, when, just opposite the railroad station, the boiler of the
locomotive exploded. Portions of the boiler were blown two blocks away and
tore their way into buildings. The bodies of Engineer
Sisher and Brakeman
Smith were found a hundred yards from the railroad tracks. Many of the freight
cards were piled in a heap and several of the train hands were injured, but none
seriously. The broken cars caught fire, but the blaze was soon
extinguished.
A part of the locomotive was blown into Hahn's drug store, two blocks from
the track, and another piece of steel entered McCutcheon's pharmacy. Both
stores were set fire simultaneously, but in neither case was there any serious
loss.
Miss Daisy Martin, telephone operator in the railroad station, was thrown
from her chair by the explosion and slightly injured. The station caught
fire, but was not destroyed.
The Washington Post, Washington, DC 12 Mar 1907
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