Norman Plantz

1887 - Yes, date unknown

• Name	Norman Plantz
  Born	1887	, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1921	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Delivery, Meat
  Residence	1921	33 Weber St. W. Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Residence	1921	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Methodist
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-323978
  Died	Yes, date unknown
  Person ID	I323978	Generations
  Last Modified	7 Nov 2024

  
  

  Family	Jennie,   b. 1883, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Children	1. Helen Plantz,   b. 1915, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Alvin Plantz,   b. 1918, , Ontario, Canada
  Last Modified	12 Nov 2024
  Family ID	F244220	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  One Killed, Two Seriously and Five Slightly Injured in Explosion at C. C. Felt Plant Mr. August Houtschild Fatally Injured by Falling Debris. Cause of Explosion Not Known. Occurred in Solution Mixing Room. AN INQUEST IS DECIDED ON. As the result of a serious explosion at the plant of the Canadian Consolidated Felt Company this morning one citizen has lost his life and a others were more or less severely injured. The man who lost his life is Mr. August Houtschilld [Haufschild] of 21 Pinke street who was killed in the blowing- out of a wall. The following official statement has been issued by the company on the accident. "At 10.20 o'clock this morning a gasoline explosion in the fire proof room called the coolskin solution mixing room occurred. In the room there was a mixing kettle jacketed with steam in which a solution was being prepared and over that an iron collecting hood connecting with an exhaust fan to remove the gases. Next door was the drying room for felt after it was impregnated with the solution. Both rooms were fire proof. There were two men in the mixing room at the time, one man in the drying room, and three men outside the door of the mixing room. Nobody was smoking. There were several witnesses testified to this. We don't know how it happened. The explosion blew the roof off the mixing room and off the drying room and smashed a galvanized iron garage next door to the drying room. The dead are August Houtschild, 21 Pinke street, married. The injured are. Mr. Charles Sheryer, 20 Gateman lane, severely burned; Harry Trebelcock, 227 Victoria street severely burned; Norman Plauntz, 14 1/2 David street, slightly injured on right leg, employed by D. Christner coal firm. who was delivering coal at the time the explosion occurred; Adam Bauer, 22 Pinke street, injuries to head leg and back, not thought to be of a serious nature. S. Linder jr., S. Growski, S. Boichuck injuries of a minor nature. Larry Mason, who was in the room at the time explosion occurred, was blown through the door, across the lane and up against the coalbin and was uninjured. Arrangements have been made by the Company at the hospital to spare no expense, special nurses have been engaged. The officials of the Company are visiting the families effected this afternoon and the service-nurses of the company are at the home of those injured. A staff of physicians is at work The company wishes to express appreciation of the splendid work and the prompt response of the fire department and the prompt attendance of the doctors and all others who assisted. As soon as the explosion occurred the factory buildings were cleared in less than three minutes by the fire drill. The factory fire company saved the life of Mr. Scheyer before the fire department arrived keeping a wall of water between him and the flames. An inquest will be held. The factory is not running this afternoon but will be in operation tomorrow morning. One of the worst accidents The explosion was one of the most serious accidents that has ever occurred in this city. When the fire alarm sounded at about 10.20 o'clock this morning it was not long before the intelligence was spread throughout the city that an explosion of a serious nature has occurred. When the firemen and others arrived on the scene it was immediately learned that there were lives at stake and that seconds would count in the saving of the same. Accordingly they set about and did heroic service with the employes and members of the company in rescueing the men who were buried in the debris. The explosion as stated above occurred in the mixing room behind the original building facing Maragaret avenue and east of the big new building on Breithaupt street, with coal bins to the east of the same. The force of the explosion completely demolished the solution mixing room, which was built of brick, concrete and steel, lifting the roof into the air, blowing out the walls of the building breaking most of the glass windows in the big building which was about sixty feet to the west of the scene of the explosion. Timber pieces which were ripped loose by the explosion were hurled several hundred yards into air. Parts of the high water tank over the factory were torn loose and brought down. The concussion of the explosion was so great that it was not only heard many blocks away but was also felt. Residents around Frederick street report having felt the shook. Blown out but not Injured. The accident has its tragic side, and to those who got through it safely it recalls the fact of a narrow escape. Among those who went through it is Mr. Larry Mason of 227 Breithaupt street who was blown through the door across the lane and up against the coal pile and escaped with practically no injuries. Slight bruises on his shoulder were the extent of the same. He was not incapacitated in the least but within a few seconds after he found out what had happened went to the rescue of those who were less fortunate than he and he performed splendid service in first aid work. Questioned by the Record Mr. Mason said that he was in the southeast part of the building, the solution mixing room, near the door which faced the coal bins across the lane running parallel to the main line of the Grand Trunk railway. Charles Scheryer was in charge of the mixing kettle at the northeast corner. They engaged in boiling a solution of boiled linseed oil, resin and gasoline. Mason was standing near the door talking with Sam Linder who was just outside the door, behind him was Sandy Boischuck, nearer the coal bins. Further to the northeast, outside, was Stanley Potavrkt. In the northeast rear outside was Adam Bauer, driver and the deceased man, August Houtschild, yard man who were loading garbage on to a wagon to which was hitched a horse. Soherer said to him to turn on a little more gasoline as there was little in the mixture so far. He went over to the rear wall and was reaching for the tap but had not yet reached it when the explosion occurred. He next found himself outside being thrown back from the coal bins. He rushes to the building away at the rear another one of those outside running with him in the excitement not knowing what had happened. They turned around and saw the ruins. They rushed back and heard and saw Mr. Bauer at the rear who was underneath the roof, his moaning indicated that he was seriously injured. They had to remove the roof to get him out. He was then removed to his home. HELP CAME FROM OTHER FACTORIES Among those who assisted in the removal of Mr. Bauer to his home was Mr. J. Schnurt who noticed the explosion from the third storey of the Wunder furniture factory. Immediately he rushed down by the fire escape and went over to the scene. His first aid knowledge came in useful; he, as is known, has been overseas. He assisted bringing Mr. Bauer to his home. Dead Man Hidden Underneath Ruins Mr. Mason said that he did not know how the other men got out. Scheyer was in the northeast corner badly burned and scalded. It was evident that his injuries were very serious. He was finally brought out. Mr. Trebelcock his foreman who was in the drying room at the rear of the mixing room also was pinned underneath the bricks and was later brought out by the fireman and others who were on the scene. Linder was also found underneath bricks and timber in the south west corner. Where Norman Plantz was he did not know. Efforts were immediately directed after getting Scheryer and Trebelcock out to Adam Houtschild who was buried and hidden underneath the ruins. The firemen and others set about to remove all material and they succeeded in about three quarters of an hour later but unfortunately it was found that life was extinct, his skull and face having been severely injured, the wall and falling material evidently striking him with fatal results. He was removed to Schreiter's undertaking rooms. Asked as to whether he thought it was the kettle or the gasoline tank that exploded, Mr. Mason said it was his opinion it was the kettle. It might be stated this is heated by steam. Coroner Honsberger and several other Twin City doctors soon were on the scene. It has been decided to hold an inquest. The first sitting was held at four o'clock this afternoon. Besides the Fire Chief Guerin and his men, valuable assistance. was rendered by Mr. C. Pritschau. the employs of the company and members of the latter and by others. Those in Hospital The injured men at the hospital are Mr. Trebelcock and Mr. Scherver M. Plauntz was at the hospital only about an hour. It seems his team ran away and that in being thrown off his leg was injured. He went to the hospital to have it attended to but was able to leave for his home soon afterwards. Fortunately no fire broke out in the demolished building. The News Record 14 Aug 1919, Thu Page 1

  
  

• Sources

  [S2264] Census - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - 1921, Sub Dist. 26 Page 7.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1887 - , Ontario, Canada Occupation - Delivery, Meat - 1921 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Methodist - 1921 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth