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The Man Who Was Killed By An Exploding Beer
In the 19th century, when work safety conditions left a little to be desired, a brewery employee lost his life simply by doing his job
There’s nothing worse than when a fizzy drink is dropped or shaken and its contents are soon released all over anyone within its reach. Actually, there is something much worse; at least that’s what Andrew Adreon would tell you if he could, as the poor man was killed by an exploding beer more than a century ago.
The 31-year-old Adreon was married and lived in Cincinnati at the time of his demise in 1892. He worked at the Kauffman Vinestreet Brewery as a cellar-hand where among his tasks included visually checking the many casks in the basement that were in various stages of fermentation.
One evening, Adreon was doing his typical rounds, carrying a lantern for light. As he was examining one of the containers, his co-workers heard a tremendous explosion. The force blew the doomed employee across the room, smashing him against other casks. When he was found, his skull had been crushed by the force.
Despite the carnage, Adreon held on for a little while. He was found to have a pulse, but did not regain consciousness. By the time a doctor arrived to examine him, he had passed…
