Awful Calamity - Explosion of a Boiler at the Electric Light Plant - Totally Demolishing the Plant - Robert Wilson, Fireman, Killed and Five Other Miraculously Escape Death - The City Now Practically Without Water and Lights" - Yesterday at 10:40, one of the immense twin boilers of the Rockdale water and electric light plant blew up. So great was the concussion that it shook dwellings and light structures all over the city. Iron and heavy timbers were whirled through the air like feathers and came down in almost every direction for 200 or 300-yards around. The entire plant, which furnished water and lights for the greater portion of the city, now lies in one tangled mass of brick, iron, broken and twisted machinery. The dome and top section of the boiler which exploded was thrown high into the air and landed on Ackerman St., near the home of Ed. Raspberry, some 300-feet away. Another section took an opposite direction and landed in J.C. Arnold's orchard. The flues were thrown in every direction, most of them landing around the home of Otto Lengert, which adjoins the power house. There were six men in and around the building when the catastrophe occurred. Five of the escaped with more or less cuts and bruises, but Robert Wilson, the fireman, who was evidently standing directly in front of the boiler at the time of the explosion, was blown across an 80-foot street with such force that his body tore out one panel of a heavy plank fence on the north-side of Wm. Schmidt's home. He was mangled and scalded beyond recognition and only lived a few moments after being picked-up and carried to the home of his brother, R.G. Wilson, in the northern part of the city. . . . Rockdale Messenger, September 19, 1901
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He married Susie Huddleston on September 11th, 1901 . . . a mere eight days before his untimely death . . .
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He married Susie Huddleston on September 11th, 1901 . . . a mere eight days before his untimely death . . .
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Awful Calamity - Explosion of a Boiler at the Electric Light Plant - Totally Demolishing the Plant - Robert Wilson, Fireman, Killed and Five Other Miraculously Escape Death - The City Now Practically Without Water and Lights" - Yesterday at 10:40, one of the immense twin boilers of the Rockdale water and electric light plant blew up. So great was the concussion that it shook dwellings and light structures all over the city. Iron and heavy timbers were whirled through the air like feathers and came down in almost every direction for 200 or 300-yards around. The entire plant, which furnished water and lights for the greater portion of the city, now lies in one tangled mass of brick, iron, broken and twisted machinery. The dome and top section of the boiler which exploded was thrown high into the air and landed on Ackerman St., near the home of Ed. Raspberry, some 300-feet away. Another section took an opposite direction and landed in J.C. Arnold's orchard. The flues were thrown in every direction, most of them landing around the home of Otto Lengert, which adjoins the power house. There were six men in and around the building when the catastrophe occurred. Five of the escaped with more or less cuts and bruises, but Robert Wilson, the fireman, who was evidently standing directly in front of the boiler at the time of the explosion, was blown across an 80-foot street with such force that his body tore out one panel of a heavy plank fence on the north-side of Wm. Schmidt's home. He was mangled and scalded beyond recognition and only lived a few moments after being picked-up and carried to the home of his brother, R.G. Wilson, in the northern part of the city. . . . Rockdale Messenger, September 19, 1901
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He married Susie Huddleston on September 11th, 1901 . . . a mere eight days before his untimely death . . .
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He married Susie Huddleston on September 11th, 1901 . . . a mere eight days before his untimely death . . .
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Inscription
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ROBERT
Husband of
Susie
Wilson
born
Dec 16, 1873
died
Sept 19, 1901
Although he sleeps
His memory doth live
and cheering comfort
to his mourners give
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