Accident as it appeared in the LeMars Semi Weekly
Tuesday April 8, 1924
NIGHT FIRMAN BADLY SCALDED
Alex Roberts Is Painfully Injured When Boiler Flue Bursts
HALF DAZED BY SHOCK
Blinded with Pain Makes Way to Nearby Home
Alex Roberts, a fireman employed at the Iowa Light, Heat and Power Co., was seriously injured Friday night and is now in a local hospital recovering from his wounds. At first it was thought his injuries were fatal, but physicians in attendance say he will recover. The accident in which he was hurt occurred about a quarter to eleven, Friday night, when he was at his work firing (?) in the boiler room and a flue suddenly burst. Mr. Roberts was in the act of scooping up a shovel full of coal when the explosion occurred, and he was enveloped in a cloud of steam, scalding water, and flying debris.
The force of the hissing vapor threw hot cinders and live coal from the fire box over him scalding his face, chest, and legs.
Half dazed with the shock and pain and thinking that the other men engaged at work in the engine and boiler rooms were badly injured, or, perhaps, killed, Roberts made his way to the residence of P.J. Simeon, where his appearance with coal black face, hair standing on end, hatless, coatless, breathless, and writhing with pain from the burns, startled the family and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Calhoun, who were spending the evening there. Roberts told the Simeon family he thought the other men had been hurt or killed.
Mr. Simeon and Mr. Calhoun hastily summoned a doctor to attend to the injured man who was conveyed to the Community Hospital, and then proceeded to the power plant as quickly as possible.
Harry Landgraf employed at the plant, was at the door of the fireroom when the explosion took place and was thrown several feet landing out of harm's way. The engineer at the plant, Hans Hansen, had just stepped upstairs a minute or two before the flue blew out.
Hansen on going to the boiler room was confronted with a flood of scalding water over the floor and hot steam still belching forth. He and Landraf were under the impression for several minutes that Roberts had been caught in the explosion and that he was lying lifeless behind the boilers and their feelings were relieved when Simeon and Calhoun appeared on the scene to render any assistance they could.
Alex Roberts was seen at the hospital yesterday. He is badly burned about the face, hands, chest, and legs, but his condition is much better than was expected and he has shown remarkable recuperative power and nerve since the accident, and is progressing favorably.
Mr. Roberts said the explosion occurred so suddenly that he could scarcely tell what happened. He said something hit him on the back of the head and he was spun around facing the escaping steam and hot cinders. His first thought was that the explosion had wrecked the plant and killed his fellow workmen, and he started out instinctively to secure help and hardly realizes how he got out of the boiler room.
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Obituary as it appeared in the LeMars Sentinel
July 30, 1926, Page 1, Column 7
Life Long Resident
Alex Roberts, aged 42, a life long resident of Le Mars, died Tuesday at a hospital in Cherokee. His death was preceded by an illness of two years. The illness was brought on by injuries he suffered in an explosion while working in the Iowa Light, Heat, and Power Company plant. He received terrible burns at the time and illness developed which affected him physically and later mentally. He was sent to Iowa City for treatment without beneficial results and later to the hospital at Cherokee where he gradually grew worse until death took him.
Alex Roberts was born in Le Mars on July 22, 1884, and attended the city schools. He worked in livery stables and later was in the auto livery business and at other occupations.
He was united in marriage in 1903 with Miss Dora DeJong, of Rock Valley. He leaves to mourn his death his wife and a large family of children. They are Roy, Ethel, Cleo, Vera, Frances, Ronald, Helen, and Robert. One daughter, Mrs. John Scott, died October 28, 1925. He also leaves a brother, George Roberts, of Madison, S.D. and four sisters, Mrs. Thos. Golden, Mrs. J.M. Edwards, Mrs. George Bauerly, of this city, and Mrs. Wm. Talbot, of Minneapolis. The funeral will be held from the home, First Avenue N.W. at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Rev. J.A. Hills, of the Presbyterian church officiating. Members of the W.O.W. will have charge of the services at the grave.
"Smiley" Roberts, as he was called by his friends, was well liked by all with whom he came in contact. He was hardworking and industrious and a good citizen and neighbor.
Tuesday April 8, 1924
NIGHT FIRMAN BADLY SCALDED
Alex Roberts Is Painfully Injured When Boiler Flue Bursts
HALF DAZED BY SHOCK
Blinded with Pain Makes Way to Nearby Home
Alex Roberts, a fireman employed at the Iowa Light, Heat and Power Co., was seriously injured Friday night and is now in a local hospital recovering from his wounds. At first it was thought his injuries were fatal, but physicians in attendance say he will recover. The accident in which he was hurt occurred about a quarter to eleven, Friday night, when he was at his work firing (?) in the boiler room and a flue suddenly burst. Mr. Roberts was in the act of scooping up a shovel full of coal when the explosion occurred, and he was enveloped in a cloud of steam, scalding water, and flying debris.
The force of the hissing vapor threw hot cinders and live coal from the fire box over him scalding his face, chest, and legs.
Half dazed with the shock and pain and thinking that the other men engaged at work in the engine and boiler rooms were badly injured, or, perhaps, killed, Roberts made his way to the residence of P.J. Simeon, where his appearance with coal black face, hair standing on end, hatless, coatless, breathless, and writhing with pain from the burns, startled the family and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Calhoun, who were spending the evening there. Roberts told the Simeon family he thought the other men had been hurt or killed.
Mr. Simeon and Mr. Calhoun hastily summoned a doctor to attend to the injured man who was conveyed to the Community Hospital, and then proceeded to the power plant as quickly as possible.
Harry Landgraf employed at the plant, was at the door of the fireroom when the explosion took place and was thrown several feet landing out of harm's way. The engineer at the plant, Hans Hansen, had just stepped upstairs a minute or two before the flue blew out.
Hansen on going to the boiler room was confronted with a flood of scalding water over the floor and hot steam still belching forth. He and Landraf were under the impression for several minutes that Roberts had been caught in the explosion and that he was lying lifeless behind the boilers and their feelings were relieved when Simeon and Calhoun appeared on the scene to render any assistance they could.
Alex Roberts was seen at the hospital yesterday. He is badly burned about the face, hands, chest, and legs, but his condition is much better than was expected and he has shown remarkable recuperative power and nerve since the accident, and is progressing favorably.
Mr. Roberts said the explosion occurred so suddenly that he could scarcely tell what happened. He said something hit him on the back of the head and he was spun around facing the escaping steam and hot cinders. His first thought was that the explosion had wrecked the plant and killed his fellow workmen, and he started out instinctively to secure help and hardly realizes how he got out of the boiler room.
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Obituary as it appeared in the LeMars Sentinel
July 30, 1926, Page 1, Column 7
Life Long Resident
Alex Roberts, aged 42, a life long resident of Le Mars, died Tuesday at a hospital in Cherokee. His death was preceded by an illness of two years. The illness was brought on by injuries he suffered in an explosion while working in the Iowa Light, Heat, and Power Company plant. He received terrible burns at the time and illness developed which affected him physically and later mentally. He was sent to Iowa City for treatment without beneficial results and later to the hospital at Cherokee where he gradually grew worse until death took him.
Alex Roberts was born in Le Mars on July 22, 1884, and attended the city schools. He worked in livery stables and later was in the auto livery business and at other occupations.
He was united in marriage in 1903 with Miss Dora DeJong, of Rock Valley. He leaves to mourn his death his wife and a large family of children. They are Roy, Ethel, Cleo, Vera, Frances, Ronald, Helen, and Robert. One daughter, Mrs. John Scott, died October 28, 1925. He also leaves a brother, George Roberts, of Madison, S.D. and four sisters, Mrs. Thos. Golden, Mrs. J.M. Edwards, Mrs. George Bauerly, of this city, and Mrs. Wm. Talbot, of Minneapolis. The funeral will be held from the home, First Avenue N.W. at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Rev. J.A. Hills, of the Presbyterian church officiating. Members of the W.O.W. will have charge of the services at the grave.
"Smiley" Roberts, as he was called by his friends, was well liked by all with whom he came in contact. He was hardworking and industrious and a good citizen and neighbor.
Accident as it appeared in the LeMars Semi Weekly
Tuesday April 8, 1924
NIGHT FIRMAN BADLY SCALDED
Alex Roberts Is Painfully Injured When Boiler Flue Bursts
HALF DAZED BY SHOCK
Blinded with Pain Makes Way to Nearby Home
Alex Roberts, a fireman employed at the Iowa Light, Heat and Power Co., was seriously injured Friday night and is now in a local hospital recovering from his wounds. At first it was thought his injuries were fatal, but physicians in attendance say he will recover. The accident in which he was hurt occurred about a quarter to eleven, Friday night, when he was at his work firing (?) in the boiler room and a flue suddenly burst. Mr. Roberts was in the act of scooping up a shovel full of coal when the explosion occurred, and he was enveloped in a cloud of steam, scalding water, and flying debris.
The force of the hissing vapor threw hot cinders and live coal from the fire box over him scalding his face, chest, and legs.
Half dazed with the shock and pain and thinking that the other men engaged at work in the engine and boiler rooms were badly injured, or, perhaps, killed, Roberts made his way to the residence of P.J. Simeon, where his appearance with coal black face, hair standing on end, hatless, coatless, breathless, and writhing with pain from the burns, startled the family and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Calhoun, who were spending the evening there. Roberts told the Simeon family he thought the other men had been hurt or killed.
Mr. Simeon and Mr. Calhoun hastily summoned a doctor to attend to the injured man who was conveyed to the Community Hospital, and then proceeded to the power plant as quickly as possible.
Harry Landgraf employed at the plant, was at the door of the fireroom when the explosion took place and was thrown several feet landing out of harm's way. The engineer at the plant, Hans Hansen, had just stepped upstairs a minute or two before the flue blew out.
Hansen on going to the boiler room was confronted with a flood of scalding water over the floor and hot steam still belching forth. He and Landraf were under the impression for several minutes that Roberts had been caught in the explosion and that he was lying lifeless behind the boilers and their feelings were relieved when Simeon and Calhoun appeared on the scene to render any assistance they could.
Alex Roberts was seen at the hospital yesterday. He is badly burned about the face, hands, chest, and legs, but his condition is much better than was expected and he has shown remarkable recuperative power and nerve since the accident, and is progressing favorably.
Mr. Roberts said the explosion occurred so suddenly that he could scarcely tell what happened. He said something hit him on the back of the head and he was spun around facing the escaping steam and hot cinders. His first thought was that the explosion had wrecked the plant and killed his fellow workmen, and he started out instinctively to secure help and hardly realizes how he got out of the boiler room.
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Obituary as it appeared in the LeMars Sentinel
July 30, 1926, Page 1, Column 7
Life Long Resident
Alex Roberts, aged 42, a life long resident of Le Mars, died Tuesday at a hospital in Cherokee. His death was preceded by an illness of two years. The illness was brought on by injuries he suffered in an explosion while working in the Iowa Light, Heat, and Power Company plant. He received terrible burns at the time and illness developed which affected him physically and later mentally. He was sent to Iowa City for treatment without beneficial results and later to the hospital at Cherokee where he gradually grew worse until death took him.
Alex Roberts was born in Le Mars on July 22, 1884, and attended the city schools. He worked in livery stables and later was in the auto livery business and at other occupations.
He was united in marriage in 1903 with Miss Dora DeJong, of Rock Valley. He leaves to mourn his death his wife and a large family of children. They are Roy, Ethel, Cleo, Vera, Frances, Ronald, Helen, and Robert. One daughter, Mrs. John Scott, died October 28, 1925. He also leaves a brother, George Roberts, of Madison, S.D. and four sisters, Mrs. Thos. Golden, Mrs. J.M. Edwards, Mrs. George Bauerly, of this city, and Mrs. Wm. Talbot, of Minneapolis. The funeral will be held from the home, First Avenue N.W. at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Rev. J.A. Hills, of the Presbyterian church officiating. Members of the W.O.W. will have charge of the services at the grave.
"Smiley" Roberts, as he was called by his friends, was well liked by all with whom he came in contact. He was hardworking and industrious and a good citizen and neighbor.
Tuesday April 8, 1924
NIGHT FIRMAN BADLY SCALDED
Alex Roberts Is Painfully Injured When Boiler Flue Bursts
HALF DAZED BY SHOCK
Blinded with Pain Makes Way to Nearby Home
Alex Roberts, a fireman employed at the Iowa Light, Heat and Power Co., was seriously injured Friday night and is now in a local hospital recovering from his wounds. At first it was thought his injuries were fatal, but physicians in attendance say he will recover. The accident in which he was hurt occurred about a quarter to eleven, Friday night, when he was at his work firing (?) in the boiler room and a flue suddenly burst. Mr. Roberts was in the act of scooping up a shovel full of coal when the explosion occurred, and he was enveloped in a cloud of steam, scalding water, and flying debris.
The force of the hissing vapor threw hot cinders and live coal from the fire box over him scalding his face, chest, and legs.
Half dazed with the shock and pain and thinking that the other men engaged at work in the engine and boiler rooms were badly injured, or, perhaps, killed, Roberts made his way to the residence of P.J. Simeon, where his appearance with coal black face, hair standing on end, hatless, coatless, breathless, and writhing with pain from the burns, startled the family and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Calhoun, who were spending the evening there. Roberts told the Simeon family he thought the other men had been hurt or killed.
Mr. Simeon and Mr. Calhoun hastily summoned a doctor to attend to the injured man who was conveyed to the Community Hospital, and then proceeded to the power plant as quickly as possible.
Harry Landgraf employed at the plant, was at the door of the fireroom when the explosion took place and was thrown several feet landing out of harm's way. The engineer at the plant, Hans Hansen, had just stepped upstairs a minute or two before the flue blew out.
Hansen on going to the boiler room was confronted with a flood of scalding water over the floor and hot steam still belching forth. He and Landraf were under the impression for several minutes that Roberts had been caught in the explosion and that he was lying lifeless behind the boilers and their feelings were relieved when Simeon and Calhoun appeared on the scene to render any assistance they could.
Alex Roberts was seen at the hospital yesterday. He is badly burned about the face, hands, chest, and legs, but his condition is much better than was expected and he has shown remarkable recuperative power and nerve since the accident, and is progressing favorably.
Mr. Roberts said the explosion occurred so suddenly that he could scarcely tell what happened. He said something hit him on the back of the head and he was spun around facing the escaping steam and hot cinders. His first thought was that the explosion had wrecked the plant and killed his fellow workmen, and he started out instinctively to secure help and hardly realizes how he got out of the boiler room.
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Obituary as it appeared in the LeMars Sentinel
July 30, 1926, Page 1, Column 7
Life Long Resident
Alex Roberts, aged 42, a life long resident of Le Mars, died Tuesday at a hospital in Cherokee. His death was preceded by an illness of two years. The illness was brought on by injuries he suffered in an explosion while working in the Iowa Light, Heat, and Power Company plant. He received terrible burns at the time and illness developed which affected him physically and later mentally. He was sent to Iowa City for treatment without beneficial results and later to the hospital at Cherokee where he gradually grew worse until death took him.
Alex Roberts was born in Le Mars on July 22, 1884, and attended the city schools. He worked in livery stables and later was in the auto livery business and at other occupations.
He was united in marriage in 1903 with Miss Dora DeJong, of Rock Valley. He leaves to mourn his death his wife and a large family of children. They are Roy, Ethel, Cleo, Vera, Frances, Ronald, Helen, and Robert. One daughter, Mrs. John Scott, died October 28, 1925. He also leaves a brother, George Roberts, of Madison, S.D. and four sisters, Mrs. Thos. Golden, Mrs. J.M. Edwards, Mrs. George Bauerly, of this city, and Mrs. Wm. Talbot, of Minneapolis. The funeral will be held from the home, First Avenue N.W. at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Rev. J.A. Hills, of the Presbyterian church officiating. Members of the W.O.W. will have charge of the services at the grave.
"Smiley" Roberts, as he was called by his friends, was well liked by all with whom he came in contact. He was hardworking and industrious and a good citizen and neighbor.
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