HENRY PROCHAZKA

COMMUNITY IS SHOCKED BY A SAD TRAGEDY
Henry Prochazka Meets Death at Roxana, Ill.
Manitowoc has seldom experienced a greater shock or more sorrowful
visitation than came late yesterday in the announcement of the tragic
death at Roxana, Ill., of Henry Prochazka, son of Mrs. M. Prochazka,
North Ninth street. Mr. Prochzaka's (sic) death was due to injuries
received in an explosion at the plant of the Roxana Petroleum company
while testing new apparatus which had been installed by the Univeral
Oil company with whom he was employed as engineer. Three others were
injured in the accident, all of whom are reported in critical condition,
among them being C.P. Dubbs, president of the Universal Oil company and
inventor of the apparatus of which test was being made.
News of the fatality was brought to the family here by Robert Nagel of
Milwaukee, a chum and fellow employee of Mr. Prochzaka, to whom the sad
task of conveying the message was assigned by his company. Mr. Nagel
was not at Roxana but received the news at Chicago, where the company
maintains a branch office and immediately came here to convey the news
in person rather than send a message, arriving last evening. The body
arrived here today on the 1 o'clock train and was taken to the grief
stricken home.
Details are Lacking
Just how the explosion occurred is not known. The company with which Mr.
Prochazka was employed is engaged in the extraction of gasoline by
patented process, from the residue left after the gasoline has been taken
therefrom. In other words, it is a salvage from the remaining waste after
the first process of extraction has been completed.
Up to a year ago, when the Universal Oil Products corporation conceived
the idea of reclaiming more gasoline, the by-products were considered
waste material and were used merely as a fuel oil. The newly organized
company, however, perfected a process of further extraction by use of
high pressure condensation and had only been organized a short time. Up
to this time the experiments were considered to be highly successful and
the company was about to realize on its investment.
There are so many elements of danger connected with the elimination process
that until full details are learned a guess can only be hazarded as to what
occurred. It is more than probable that some of the condensory apparatus
failed to withstand the tremendous strain to which it was subjected under
high steam presure and gave way.
Planned visit Home
The decedent had planned to visit his mother and sisters here during the
holidays and the tragedy of his death at this time was accentuated thereby.
He recently had received word that he was to be stationed at Chicago and
was only to have remained a few days longer at the plant where final
experiments were being tried out. He had been with the Universal Oil Products
company as an engineer for only a few months and had been making tests of
appratus in various cities.
Was U.W. Graduate
Born in this city August 29, 1890, Mr. Prochazka was 31 years of age. He was
a graduate of the schools here and graduated with honors at the University
of Wisconsin in 1912 from the mechanical department of the college. Later he
was assistant chief engineer at the Madison school and when the war broke out
enlisted for service and was assigned to the chemical warfare division with
which he served from August 1918 until March, 1919, being stationed near
Willoughby, Ohio, at a secret post by the government.
Later he returned here and was engaged at Milwaukee with the Traction & Light
company of that city until August of the present year when he became associated
with the Universal Oil Products company at Alton, Ill, the company also
maintaining offices at Chicago.
Was Only Son
Mr. Prochazka was the only son of Mrs. M. Prochazka and is survived by his
mother and two sisters, Misses Adeline and Clara both of this city. The body
upon arrival this afternoon was taken to the home and funeral services will
be held at Sacret (sic) Heart chruch Friday morning at 10:30, the Rev. W.J.
Luby officiating. Services will be attended by Guy Drews post of the American
Legion. Deceased was a member of the local lodge of Elks. Pallbearers will be
Messrs. Anton Wit, Oscar Richter, Willian (sic) Dueno, Louis Kellner, John
Carey and Edwin Ewen.
A Beautiful Character
To have known Henry Prochazka was a rare privilege. Quiet and reserved, his
was an exemplary and upright character that drew a large number of friends,
staunch and abiding. Never did a mother have a son in whom she could repose
more trust. Never was there a brother more fond of his home association and
it was his endearing virtues that made the many occasions of his visit bright
spots that were looked forward to in the little family circle. His one regret
was that the nature of his work took him away from his home.
The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the stricken family but there
is a sustaining comfort in the thought that this only son reared in a Christian
home atmosphere, died as he lived, a moral, upright personification of true
manhood.
Manitowoc Herald News, Wednesday, December 7, 1921 P.1
*********
[bur 12-09-1921/age 32 yrs/cause: killed by explosion/bur on A Prochazka lot]