Our American Family - Person Sheet
Our American Family - Person Sheet
NameClara Frances HEINZ 276
Birth Date10 Aug 1868
Birth PlaceSpringfield, Greene County, Missouri
Death Date24 Sep 1947276 Age: 79
Death PlaceVenice, Los Angeles County, California
Spouses
Birth Date10 Oct 1864
Birth PlaceShiplake, Oxfordshire, England
Death Date5 Jun 1907276 Age: 42
Death PlaceLeadville, Lake County, Colorado
Memoaccidental explosion
Burial Date7 Jun 1907
Burial PlaceLeadville, Lake County, Colorado, Evergreen Cemetery
FatherJames CHILVERS (1833-1897)
MotherAdelaide UNWIN (1830-1891)
Family ID6091
Family Media
ChildrenBeatrice Elizabeth (1895-1963)
 Annie Mabel (1896-)
 Florence Margaret (1898-1945)
 Merele (1903-)
 Frances Ruth (1901-)
Birth Date?
Family ID8184
Marr Date11 Aug 1907
Marr PlaceLeadville, Lake County, Colorado
Marr MemoColorado, County Marriage Records and State Index, 1862-2006
Notes for Clara Frances HEINZ
Church records also have her listed as Clara (Oppenheimer) Chilvers.
Notes for Samuel (Spouse 1)
ENGLISH IMMIGRANT ANCESTOR

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From: The [Leadville?] Herald Democrat, Thursday, June 6, 1907:

EXPLOSION OF HEATED METAL
Sends Bolt of Iron Into Brain of
Samuel Chlivers - Death
Instantaneous.

By the explosion of a piston head of an engine which was being heated on a forge, Samuel Chilvers of 539 West Second street was instantly killed at the plant of the Englebach Machinery company on South Leiter avenue at noon yesterday, and Edward Kuhlmeyer of 218 West Fifth street was blown out of the room, but escaped uninjured.

The accident was of a peculiar nature, Chilvers and Kuhlmeyer together were working over the forge engaged in heating a piston head for the purpose of shrinking It to fit on a piston rod.

Chilvers was singing merrily, as was his habit and a few minutes previously had been talking jokingly to Kuhlmeyer. The explosion occurred suddenly and could be heard for several blocks away. The piston head burst into a thousand pieces, several of which struck Childers on the back of the head, crushing in his skull at the base of the brain. Death was instantaneous.

Kuhlmeyer, who was standing within a few feet of Chilvers, was blown through a door several feet from where he was standing by the force of the explosion. A few particles of the bursted pieces of machinery struck him on the body, but he was only slightly injured, and able to continue with his work.

The cause of the accident is explained by machine men who are familiar with the circumstances in the fact - that there was moisture in the piston head and its being heated generated steam, which naturally caused the explosion by expansion. It is the custom of machinists to fit piston heads upon the rods by shrinkage, and this same task had been performed hundreds of times before by Chilvers in his work as a machinist. The presence of the moisture in sufficient quantity to cause the explosion and without any means for the steam thus formed to escape, is very rare.

Coroner Howell took charge of the body soon after the accident occurred. He pronounced death due to accidental causes.

Chilvers had been a resident of Leadville for more than fifteen years. He was widely acquainted here, and popular. During his residence in the city, he was at all times engaged in following the trade of machinist, and was considered an expert In that profession. He was noted for his pleasant disposition and congenial nature, one of his characteristic traits being his habit of singing or whistling while at work. He possessed an excellent voice and frequently sang in public.

During his early residence, in Leadville, Chilvers was employed in the machine shops of the Maid of Erin mine. Later, together with Thomas Shelton, he went to Cyanide, near Florence, where he accepted the position as foreman in the shops of the Metallic Extraction company. His next position was with the United States Reduction company at Florence, leaving that place to return to Leadville, where he has resided since.

He and Mr. Shelton have always been fast friends, and when the latter took charge of the Englebach plant, he gave Chilvers a responsible position with that concern. That his services and his friendship were greatly appreciated was evidenced by the expressions of sorrow and grief uttered by Mr. Shelton when speaking of the sad occurrence last night. His many acquaintances also spoke in low tones when discussing the misfortune of their friend, their manner indicating that their loss of him was keenly felt.

Chilvers was born in London, England, 44 years ago. He learned his trade in his native city, and was employed In some of the largest machine shops there before coming to America. For a time he worked in Philadelphia and other eastern cities, coming to Leadville when this town was young. He was married soon after locating here, his wife and five daughters, the eldest being but 11 years of age, surviving. He was a member of Florence lodge of Elks, and of the local camp of the Eagles and the A. 0. P. Mr. Chilvers carried an accident insurance policy In the travelers for $5,000, but unfortunately last fall allowed it to lapse.

Funeral arrangements have not been made.

In speaking of the accident, Edward Kuhlmeyer, who was working with Chilvers said:

"Chilvers and I had been working together all morning. He was employed as a machinist and I was his helper. We had placed the bull ring of a piston on the forge and were heating it, for the purpose of expanding it to shrink the piston head onto the rod. That is the usual way of fitting machinery of this kind, and many times before we had done, a similar job.

"After we had had the piece on the fire for a few minutes, Chilvers said it was time to remove it, and allow it to cool. He sent me for some waste rags with which to wipe the heated parts. I secured a pair of old overalls, and was just about to cut them into small pieces with my knife, when the explosion occurred.

"I was, standing about seven feet from the forge and Chilvers and by the concussion was blown through the door, and nearly twenty feet-into the next room.

"The force of the explosion tore a hole through the roof of the building and when I got up, I stood under the door sill in order to avoid any pieces of roof that might be falling. One large chunk, weighting perhaps fifty pounds fell within a few-feet of me, and shook the building when it struck the floor.

"After the results of the explosion seemed to be over, I returned to the shop, but could see only a few inches In front of me on account of the dust. I saw Chilvers lying. on the floor near the forge and called to him repeatedly. 'Are you hurt, Sam?’ but he didn’t answer. I then shook his body, and saw the blood flowing from his head. I knew that he was either dead or badly injured, so I went to the office to phone for a doctor.”

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FUNERAL OF SAMUEL CHILVERS
- The funeral of the late Samuel Chilvers, who was killed in the explosion of the piston head of an engine at the plant of the Englebach Machine companv on Wednesday, will be held this afternoon. The funeral cortege will leave the late residence,530 West Second street, at 2 o’clock, going to the Presbyterian church, where services will take place at 2:30. Rev. J. B. McCuish will officiate. Chilvers was a member of the local camp of the Woodmen of the World and members of that order will attend in a body. interment will be in Evergreen cemetery.

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Last Modified 25 Jul 2020Created 10 Feb 2024 using Reunion on a Macintosh


Created 10 Feb 2024.
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