OBIT: Newton R. DOREY, 1915, Blair County, PA

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EXPLOSION OF BOILER FATAL AT PINECROFT
Taylor Thompson and Newton Dorey Victims of Sudden Letgo of Sawmill
Boiler
WERE FIRING UP ENGINE
Little Lad Was Instantly Killed and Thompson Died Within an Hour of
Accident
CAUSE OF EXPLOSION IS UNKNOWN

On the farm of T. G. Thompson, back of Pinecroft towards Brush
mountain, there occurred about noon yesterday a tragic accident that
sent a shock up and down the length of Tuckahoe valley.  Two lives
were the toll of the explosion of the boiler that furnished power to a
small sawmill used for the sawing of wood.

The victims were Taylor M. Thompson and his nephew, Newton R. Dorey,
who had just come home from a skating excursion in time to help fire
the engine.  That the accident was not due to lack of water in the
boiler is sure, as it had been drained each time it was used on
account of the danger of freezing by standing out in the winter
weather.  It was necessary to fill it with buckets and thus the
quantity put in was always known, in addition to being shown on the
gauge.  The boiler was a small one, about six-horse power, and had
been in use for a number of years in various work about the farm.  As
no one else was near and the victims are both dead, the cause of
explosion will never be known.

Mr. Thompson and the boy were firing up preparatory to sawing winter
wood when the blowup occurred.  The lad's body was blown about
seventy-five feet away.  There was a deep gash in the back of his
head, a number of cuts on his back, and it was thought his neck was
broken.  His death was instant.

Mr. Thompson was blown about the same distance in another direction.
He had both legs broken, his face scalded and internal injuries that
resulted in his death nearly an hour later.  It was at first hoped
that he might be saved, and the Altoona hospital ambulance was
summoned, but he was dead before it could reach the place.

The boiler went up in the air and a large section of it fell through
the spring house roof and landed in the yard.  One piece of the fire
box was found more than 100 yards from the scene.  Fragments were
scattered everywhere, the fire box being blown to pieces.

Deputy Coroner Neaffer went to the Thompson farm in the afternoon and
after an investigation decided an inquest useless.  The only persons
who could have thrown any light on the cause of the accident were its
victims and no witnesses were at hand.

Taylor M. Thompson, a son of T. G. and Anna Thompson, was born
December 20, 1886, being 29 years old at the time of his death.
Surviving are his parents, two sisters and one brother:  Mrs. Jennie
Brooks, of Centre county: Grace, at home; Samuel, of Altoona.

Newton R. Dorey was a son of John and Grace Dorey, born September 27,
1904. There are three sisters, Lavinia, Violet and Margaret.

Funeral Director G. E. Fuoss, of Bellwood, was summoned to prepare the
bodies for burial.  The funeral will take place on Thursday afternoon
at 2 o'clock, with public service at the home.  Interment in Logan
Valley cemetery,

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, December 29, 1915, page 1