Below is another account of a disaster in Quebec City around the same time my great-grandfather was a stevedore on the wharves of Wolfe's Cove, Quebec City.
QUEBEC WORSTED WORKS ALMOST ENTIRELY WRECKED.
THE DEATH ROLL NUMBERS TWENTY-ONE, WITH MORE EXPECTED TO DIE -- OVER TWENTY DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED -- A NARROW ESCAPE.
Quebec, Feb. 12 -- About 9:45 this morning the boiler in the Quebec Worsted Company's factory at Bare Point exploded, completely demolishing the engine house and about half of the factory. A large number of hands were buried in the ruins and a number are doubtless killed. T. TYLES, engineer, is the only name of the killed so far known. The work of removing the bodies from the debris is now actively going on. Thirty bodies have been removed up to the present.
Quebec, Feb. 12 -- The works of the Quebec Worsted Co., where this morning's fatal explosion occurred are situated at Bare Point, on the northeastern outskirts of the city. They cover a large area, and employ more hands than any other manufacturing establishment in the city. They had been closed down for two weeks while the boilers and machinery were being overhauled and refitted. Operations were to have been resumed this morning and about three hundred operatives were on hand. Owing to some cause, however, the machinery was not started, and they were dismissed. Many of them, however, remained about the building, a number keeping in the vicinity of the engineer's room for the sake of warmth. About 9:45 there was a sudden explosion which completely wrecked the engine house and dye-house, and damaged a large part of the main building. An immense crowd gathered immediately and the work of rescue commenced. The brigade were called, but fortunately the horrors of fire were not added to the calamity. "B" battery of artillery had been ordered out to assist the police in keeping order and controlling the enormous crowd of excited men and women who blocked every avenue of approach. Gross confusion is prevailing and it is impossible to get a list of the killed and injured, nor will a complete list be obtainable until the ruins are thoroughly examined. About twenty bodies have already been taken from the wreck.
HARVEY, foreman of Messrs. Carrier Lane & Co., of Levis, who was carrying out repairs to machinery and boilers says he was in the engine room when the explosion took place. He instinctively threw himself under the shelter of a large wheel and so escaped being crushed by the falling bricks and rafters. He was rescued half an hour later and was only slightly injured. He cannot account for the accident. The work of rescuing the unfortunates buried under the ruins is still going on. The Marine Hospital, which is situated in the same locality as the mill, has been opened to receive the dead and wounded, and is besieged by people seeking for missing relatives. The body of Engineer FRANCOUR, of the works, was found crushed out of all shape by a mass of debris which covered him.
Quebec, Feb. 12. -- The following is a current list of the wounded and killed in this morning's disaster, but there may be killed under the ruins yet and three of the wounded may die tonight:
Wounded:
GEO. WARREN, spinner, from Guelph, terrible cut in head and other injuries about the body, recovery doubtful.
ALFRED PIERSON, aged sixteen, recovery doubtful.
THOS. MORRISON, slightly injured.
JOHN ENRIGHT, SR., bobbin carrier, slightly injured.
G. ROUSSEAN, leg broken in three places and other injuries.
ALEX. MARTENAU, head badly cut and body bruised.
ARTHUR ROUSEAU, internal injuries.
PETERSON, nose terribly bruised and head cut.
ALEX. MARTINEAUX, badly hurt about legs and body.
ASSELIN, a girl, cut on head, mind deranged from injuries.
FRED ANGER and JOS. COUTOURE, cut about the head, injuries slight.
MR. LINDAY, secretary, left side terribly bruised.
WM. ADAMS, CHAS. RICHARD, ARTHUR PIERSON, BENJAMIN HARVEY, all slightly injured.
EMILY BAULIE, aged 14, both legs broken and internal injuries, recovery doubtful.
EMILA COTE, slight bruises.
W. STOYLES, dangerously bruised, recovery doubtful.
CHAS. VILLENEUVE, dyer, arms broken and internal injuries, may recover.
F. D. YON, seriously bruised and scalded, recovery doubtful.
ETSCAR COUTOURE, severe injuries and fracture of skull.
MISS LACANCE, severely wounded about head and neck.
EMMANUEL FILTUR, engineer, broken arm.
JOS. BEDIGARE, slightly wounded about head.
ALFRED ANGER, slightly bruised.
THOS. LEMETIN, severe wounds in face.
Dead:
ARTHUR TWEEDELL, mechanical superintendent of the Quebec and Levis Ferry company.
WM. FORREST, foreman of Reading department.
JOSEPH MICHAUD, mechanic in employ of Carrier, Lavin & Co., Levis.
THOS. STOYLES, head mechanic.
JOHN LEE, boiler inspector, of Montreal.
WM. FRANCOUR, mechanic in employ of Carrier, Lavin & Co.
AMANDA MERCIER, aged 14, daughter of Henore Mercier, of St. Sauveur.
JOS. DUFRESNE, watchman.
H. LAHBERTE, message boy about 14.
JOS. LAMONTAGNUE.
AMANDA HAMEL.
PIERRE CLEMENT.
GUSTAVE BLOUIN.
ARTHUR ROUSSIN.
PIERRE GIIROUX.
WM. ADAMS.
FRED alias BEBE HANLEY, and one unidentified, who is dying.
EMELIO BOULE.
GEO. MORRISON.
PIERRE PETERSON.
ALFRED PETERSON.
Winnipeg Free Press Manitoba 1891-02-13
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