|
Denison
1926 Y.M.C.A. explosion Dallas
Morning News "3
Hurt When Boiler Bursts" James
Morris Jr. was seriously scalded and otherwise injured, his father, J. E.
Morris general secretary of the Y. M. C. A. and a negro porter were
severely injured when a boiler in the Y. M. C. A. Building here exploded
Saturday evening. The large brick and steel (building) was rocked by the explosion
that was heard for several blocks. Partitions
of tile and brick were blown from their places, pipes ripped from the
structure, with broken glass and framework scattered and twisted in the boiler
room over a section of the basement. Boilermakers
had been employed on boiler repair work Saturday afternoon. The boiler was
reported ready for service and fired up. Attention was attracted to the boiler
and J. E. Morris, secretary, with his son and a negro porter, went to the
boiler room. They started to remove the fire from under the boiler when the
explosion occurred. James Morris Jr, 19, was blown to the floor and boiling
water spread over his body and debris completely covered him. His father was
blown against a partition and stunned, being partly covered with wreckage
when firemen arrived.
Firemen
answering the alarm worked ten minutes before rescuing young Morris, and he was
carried to the City Hospital, where attending physicians said he was seriously
injured. It
is believed the safety valve on the boiler stuck, causing the trouble. The
boiler was wrecked, as the water and gas pipes. Boys playing basketball on the
court in the gymnasium were blown from their feet by the concussion. The
building was not damaged greatly above the basement. The walls were not
cracked. The greatest damage being confined to a section where the boilers were
located and adjoining walls.
Dallas
Morning News 21
Dec 1926 page 19 Victim of Denison Y.M.C.A. Blast Dies Denison, Texas, Dec
20 (Special to the News) - James E. Morris
Jr., 18, who was injured Saturday evening when a steam boiler in the
local Y. M. C. A. exploded, died in the city hospital Monday evening. He was
the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Morris. His father was secretary of the
Y. M. C. A. where the accident occurred. Funeral services will be held at the
Waples Memorial Methodist Church at 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. The
accident that resulted in the death of the young man did several thousand
dollars damage to the Y. M.C. A. building and resulted from a cut-off valve
from the boiler to the radiator system being closed. Young Morris was a student
in Austin College, being a graduate of the Denison High School two years ago.
He was a member of the Denison De Molay Chapter. Others injured when the
accident occurred suffered only slight bruises. *He
died 20 Dec 1926 and is buried in the Fairview Cemetery.  Y.M.C.A. History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |
