Steam Saw Mill in Ruins-1857

CLUFF, MESSER, PUTNAM, HOLIDAY, WILSON

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 5/18/2020 at 05:55:08

The Eureka, Anamosa, Iowa, June 16th, 1857

STEAM SAW MILL IN RUINS-The steam saw mill of Benjamin Cluff & Co., Grove Creek, Jones County, Iowa, blew up on the 4th inst., about 3 o’clock. P. M. Five persons were in the mill at the time, viz. Benjamin Cluff, George Messer, Wm. Holiday, connected with the mill, and Wm. Putnam and Orris Wilson. Benjamin Cluff and George Messer were at the saw mill at the time of the explosion, and were mortally wounded. Messer died on Saturday, at 8 o’clock, P. M. Cluff’s recovery is doubtful. Holiday and Wilson were both knocked over, but not badly scalded. Putnam was at the shingle machine and escaped uninjured. It is supposed to have been causes by a defect in the boiler, as it is said to be of poor American iron, manufactured at Detroit, expressly for this company, and has been in use about two and one-half months. It had on about half the steam allowed to the square inch, at the time of the explosion. The boiler was thrown entirely out of its place, and racked the building from one end to the other. The safety valve was found some sixty rods from its place. Brick was scattered one hundred yards around the building, and glass was broken out of a dwelling one hundred and fifty yards.