Moweaqua, Illinois
M.
F. Hollis' Saw Mill Boiler Explosion
January 6, 1888
The boiler in M.F.
Hollis’ saw mill about three miles
west of Moawequa, [sic] exploded yesterday
afternoon at 3 o’clock, instantly killing the
engineer, Joe
Henderson.
 His head was blown off
from his body. A large part of the boiler was
thrown a distance of 100 feet. The mill and shed
was completely torn up. Several of the mill
hands who were at some distance from the boiler
were more or less seriously injured, none
fatally hurt. Henderson was a married man, and
leaves a wife and several children.
Coroner Brunt,
of Taylorsville, was notified of the death of
Henderson and will arrive in Moawequa to-day
[sic] to hold the inquest.
The loss on the mill is about $800. The mill
was burned down recently and was rebuilt less
than three weeks ago. The boiler was of 20 horse
power. The cause of the explosion is unknown,
but it is supposed that the engineer let the
water in the boiler get too low and then pumped
cold water in. There is no means of knowing the
cause because the engineer is dead and he is the
only one who could tell anything. The mill will
probably be rebuilt.
Saturday Herald, Decatur, IL 7 Jan 1888
Transcribed by
Jenni Lanham. Thank you,
Jenni!
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