All Boyertown is in mourning today, and the tragedy that had its beginning in a small fire in a bakery has carried death into three homes. Four persons will be buried today who met their death through an explosion at the fire on Monday night. They are: Henry SHANER, aged 38, married, who leaves a widow and five children. Sexton of the cemetery. Frank SHANER, 12 years old, son of the above. George GRIM, aged 35 years, married, who leaves a widow and six children. Charles HOUGH, aged 13 years, son of Philip HOUGH. In addition to this list of the killed Allen FRY was also badly injured by the falling debris. He had a leg broken and is believed to be injured internally. A number of others were injured by the flying bricks, and were taken to their homes. Shortly before 11 o'clock on Monday night fire was discovered in the basement of the bakery of George CARVER, on Philadelphia avenue, and an alarm was promptly sent in. In was supposed that the fire had originated in an overheated flue, and by the time the members of the Friedship Hook and Ladder Company arrived the flames had spread to the second floor. The bakers were at work in the rear of the building when the flames were discovered, and pending the arrival of the firemen they began to fight them. When the firemen arrived on the ground they found that the flames had extended to the second floor, despite the efforts to check them, and were eating their way towards the roof. Apparently they were confined to the rear of the building, and here the firemen prepared to battle with them. A line of hose was brought around the rear and into the kitchen on the second floor. In the meantime a large crowd had gathered to watch the fire, and had pressed closely to the building. The flames were only visible in the rear, and the spectators imagined that the fire would be easily extinguished by the firemen. While the latter played the hose upon the flames, without any premonitory warning, a deafening roar was heard, and before the astonished crowd could realize what had happened, the front of the building was seen to bulge out and fall among the affrighted spectators. The rescuers began work and cleared the wreckage, brick by brick, being guided by their efforts by the cries of the unfortunate victims who were pinned beneath a mass of bricks, show cases, flour barrels and heavy joists. Henry SHANER, the sexton of the cemetery, was dead when found by the rescuers, and his son, Frank, who was standing alongside his father close to the building when the wall fell, was also dead. George GRIM and Charles HOUGH were alive when found, but died shortly after being removed from the debris. Fully ten persons were hit by the flying bricks that rained about the crowd, but they hurried to their homes to have their injuries dressed. Whatever the agency that caused the explosion, and it is believed to have been gasoline, it was very powerful. Eyewitnesses of the scene say the noise resembled the explosion of a charge of dynamite. Many windows in the vicinity of the bakery were broken by the concussion. Squire William H. FOX, of Boyertown, held an inquest on Wednesday evening upon the bodies of the victims. Augustus CONRAD, Jacob MCGARLEY and George MOORE gave testimony and the jury, Wallace Y. REIGNER, John G. SHELER, William S. RHOADS, Harry B. STAUFFER, Levi E. LEFEVER and Benjamin F. NYCE, rendered a verdict that the victims had met their death accidentally through the falling of the wall. All the victims will be buried today.
The Pennsburg Hotel was found to be on fire shortly after dinner on Monday. The Pennsburg Fire Company was called out and by the heoric efforts of the members the fire was extinguished ere much damage was done. The fire had started in the partition back of the large range in the kitchen. The lathes had become iginited by the heat of the range. After the walls and floors were cut open by the firemen and water thrown upon the fire by a small garden hose it was extinguished. Had the fire not been detected so early, the entire hotel, which is of frame might have been destroyed.
A son of Charles HEID, of near Powder Valley, this week fractured his leg while cutting timber. The young man was assisting the DeLong and Schugar sawmill company in clearing the GEISINGER forest. They had cut down a large treee and in its fall one of the men became entangled. Mr. HEID and several other employees ran to the unfortunate man's assistance and while engaged in this kind act the tree fell across Mr. HEID's leg. When the young man was freed it was found that he was badly injured and medical aid was at once summoned. Upon examination the physician found that the right leg was fractured below the knee. The unfortunate man was taken to his home where the physician reduced the fracture and made his patient as comfortable as possible.
Otto HEBEL, of East Greenville, was given a dinner party at his home Sunday in honor of his graduation from Shisslers Business College, Norristown. Mr. HEBEL was a member of a class of fifty that graduated from that institution last week and stood high in his class. Many of his young friends were present and a delightful time was spent.
Richard BOLTON, of near Palm, received an icy bath while tapping ice at the J.C. Hancock ice dam near that place. The unfortunate man was dragged from the icy waters very much resembling a drowned rat. Fortunately, he escaped any bad results from the accident.
Daniel STYER, of East Greenville, on Tuesday afternoon fell down a flight of stairs and fractured a rib.
Daniel SCHULTZ, the Hosensack miller, his wife and son-in-law, Horace J. FREDERICK, had a narrow escape from death last Friday evening. Mr. SCHULTZ runs a large grist mill and procured a 30-horse power gasoline engine to make power in case of scarcity of water or break-down of machinery. As a few weeks ago some of the machinery broke down, he started the engine and ran the mill with it. Some parts of the engine on Friday got out of repair and the engine began to blow out gas into the building. Mr. SCHULTZ was attending the engine and Mr. FREDERICK was helping him. Mrs. SCHULTZ went into the mill toward evening and found the machinery running at heavy speed, although the hoppers were empty. She saw Mr. SCHULTZ sitting on a chair near the engine in a dazed condition and Mr. FREDERICK lying on the floor unconscious. She ran to stop the engine and in doing so came in contact with the escaping gas, so that she also fell to the floor unconscious. In the meantime her daughter Amanda rang the bell for supper, but nobody responding she thought something must be wrong. Bell in hand she ran to the mill to call the folks, but when she got there she saw the condition of her parents and Mr. FREDERICK. She ran to the barn where Michael WEIDNER, William MOORE and a Mr. STAUFFER were threshing and told them of the condition of those in the mill. They hurriedly dragged the unfortunates into the open air, where they soon showed signs of life. Dr. J.G. HERSH, of East Greenville, was summoned, who brought all to their usual health again, but said one quarter of an hour longer in that condition would have killed all.
Walter M. SHENBERGER and Miss Lillie A. MILLER, both of Red Hill, were united in marriage at the parsonage by Rev. O. F. WAAGE on Saturday. The bride is a daughter of Allen MILLER. Almoran K. REED, of Hillegass, and Mrs. Andora ROTHENBERGER, of East Greenville, were married on Thursday evening at the parsonage of Rev. O.F. WAAGE in Pennsburg. Mr. REED is well known in this section, being treasurer of the Hillegass Dairymens' Association. Mr. and Mrs. REED started housekeeping yesterday at the home of Mr. REED's mother.
Frank KRAUSE, of Salford, and Miss Sallie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John L. JOHNSON, of Schwenksville, were married on Saturday evening by Rev. William B. FOX.
Frank FOX, of Bechtelsville, and Miss Lillie SHARP, of the same town, will be married today at high noon in the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Bally. Rev. A. NATHE will perform the marriage ceremonies. The groom is engaged in the job printing business at Bechtelsville and the bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony SHARP.
The hotel of J.B. BERTOLET, at New Hanover Square, which was quarantined for some time owing to the prevalence of small pox in the family, was reopened this week. The house was thoroughly fumigated.
Enos M. GODSHALL, of Morwood, formerly proprietor of the hotel at that place this week purchased a restaurant at Sellersville for $4500. He expects to take possession next week.
The carpenter company under control of E.N. SCHULTZ, proprietor of the Chapel planing mill, has been disbanded. Mr. SCHULTZ decided to devote all his time to the mill. The other members may form another company.
Benjamin A. KEMP, who was employed as miller in the mill of John NYCE, at Perkiomenville, and formerly employed with his brother-in-law, L.M. LEIBERT, at Palm, left for his parents home at Orwigsburg, on account of not feeling well and on his way home he stopped off at Auburn, Schuylkill county where he visited his sister and was there taken seriously ill with small-pox, and died on Thursday morning of last week, after an illness of a few days.
A party was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Michael COVELY, of Bally, on Sunday evening in honor of their son Frank, who returned from Frankford, Indiana. Mr. COVELY has been away from his home for a period of four years, and his many friends took advantage of his return. The evening was spent in a highly entertaining manner. The EDDINGER brothers rendered some choice music on the organ during the evening.
The store goods of PENNEPACKER & BROMER, of Schwenksville, was appraised this week by Jesse CRESSMAN, of Sumneytown, and Charles HEIST, of Red Hill. Samuel GROB acted as clerk.
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