FOUR KILLED and Fourteen Wounded, Two of Whom Will Die.
This is a result of the boiler explosion in Pullen & Haywood's Mill in Little River County, Rocky Comfort, Arkansas, April 27, 1892.
The bursting of the boiler in Pullen & Haywood's Mill yesterday, resulted in the death of E.W. Pullen, W.W. Haywood, W.A. Clem and Frank Castleberry, a child about 8 years old and wounding the following: Mrs. Castleberry, seriously and will die; J.W. Kitmer, seriously, and will die; Miss Dora Castleberry, Miss Ona Pope, Edmond Pope, aged 9 years; Warren Stewart, aged 12 years; R.A. Clem, aged 49 years; Robert Pullen, son of E.W. Pullen; Maude and Allen, aged respectfully 6 and 10, children of W.W. Haywood; Headly Short and wife 70 years old; Dickson Knight, Choctaw Indian, aged 35; and Allen Thompson, aged 16.
Mr. J.W. Kitmer has a father and sisters in St. Louis.
The boiler bursted on top of the fire box, causing it to rebound endwise, striking the floor near the saw, then turning endwise again, striking the ground about twenty-five yards from the place it was located. This is the third boiler explosion that has occurred in this part of the county in the last year or so. From all accounts, the boiler was a second-hand one, and was very recently brought into this county. But little lumber had been sawed. Mr. E.W. Pullen was from Clark County and has relatives here. Mr. V.S. Clem is also from Clark County.
Mr. E.W. Pullen was buried today.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT:
Richmond, Arkansas, April 28 - Never in the history of Little River County have our people been so shocked as they have by the recent disaster, which occurred on the 26th inst. about 2 P.M. by which three persons were instantly killed and fourteen wounded. In company with several craftsmen, your correspondent visited Rocky Comfort yesterday to assist in burying Mr. E.W. Pullen, a good citizen and a Mason of High standing, whose untimely death was mentioned in yesterday's special. Reaching Rocky Comfort too late to participate in the funeral ceremonies, we sought information concerning the sad tragedy, which furnished the only topic of conversation in that quiet town on our Western border.
The saw mill, owned by Messrs. Pullen and Haywood, has been recently built, or rather, removed to its present locality, and is situated six miles northeast of Rocky Comfort, on the "line" or Government road, marking the boundary line between Arkansas and the Indian Territory.
The engines had been but recently repaired, a new saw purchased, and everything seemed to be in nice shape, and its enterprising owners were congratulating themselves upon the bright prospects for a "good run" in that growing section.
A number of ladies and children had repaired to the scene to witness the new mill start, little dreaming of the terrible fate that awaited them. About 2 o'clock P.M., only a little while after the whistle had blown and the merry hum of the saw was making the woods ring with loud noise, a fearful crash came. The boiler had exploded, caused presumably by the water getting too low in the boiler and the "crown sheet" becoming heated, and upon turning in a fresh supply of water, the explosion came. The killed were Mr. E.W. Pullen, Mr. Haywood and young Castleberry, the fireman.
Mrs. Castleberry's arm was broken, and her legs badly bruised, and skull fractured, and she has since died.
Young Clem, son of Mr. Allen Clem, was badly wounded and died on yesterday.
Four others, probably two ladies and two men, sustained serious injuries from which it is feared they will not recover.
Of the eight others hurt, they will soon recover, as their injuries were bruises or burns from hot water.
Doctors Savage and Sager, the excellent physicians of Rocky Comfort, were doing some heroic work in caring for the wounded and alleviating their suffering.
BOILER EXPLOSION
Three Men Killed, Four Wounded, and Two Women Injured.
Richmond, Arkansas, April 27 - The distressing news has just reached this place of the most terrible explosion that has ever occurred in this county. Mr. E.W. Pullen, who has a steam mill six miles west of Rocky Comfort, in this county, had just returned from the foundry at Texarkana with some parts of the machinery, which had been repaired. The parts had been put together and the mill started on Tuesday, April 26, in the presence of a number of by-standers, when the boiler exploded, killing Mr. E.W. Pullen, his engineer and fireman, and wounding four others, perhaps mortally.
Of the wounded, one was a woman who had both arms and limbs broken and in this mangled condition, she is still living.
Mr. E.W. Pullen was one of our best citizens, being Worshipful Master of Rocky Comfort Lodge, R. and A.M.; Royal Arch Captain of Richmond Chapter No. 87, Royal Arch Masons, and a zealous Knight of Honor.
The undertaker of this place will send coffins this morning to the scene of the disaster.
