Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-07-07
Fxnlosion and loss of life.

On Wednesday afternoon last, NoVLh lhe store
house of 7. Il. Vernon d Co, at Burgh Hill in
this County, was partially destroyed by the ex-
plosion of gunpowder.
1t seems that some boys were playing with
powder in the loft of the store, when some hiT-
tyJfpe pounds exploded, producing a shock which
was distinctly felt for some two miles, and the
report was heard SOM five or six miles further,
The roof was blown off, the gable end torn out,
the floor broken through. and solid beams OF
timber and ioists torn into splinters. Tn clerk,
Mr.. W. Cook, and a customer were in the store
at the time;-they were thrown down but net
injured. One of the boys escaped from the build
ing just before the explosion. the other two. be-
ing a son of Mr.. Vernon about twelve years old,
and a boy by the name of Adams, about ten,
wsre in the loft when the explosion took place.
Their clothes were burnt of. and they were hor-
rfbly burned. This sad affair adds one more
warning to the thousands before, of the danger
of permitting boys to handle %gunpowder.
LATER.
Since receiving the above, from a corespon-
dent, We are in receipt of the following letter
from Mr.. Edward Hayes, which gives the same
facrs, more in detail:
BURGH HIN, July LIST, 1858.
Editors " r. Chronicle-GENTs AT about
five O'Clock P. NJ, persons on the hill and viein-
atty, were startled by a heavy report, apparently
proceeding from the upper part of the store build
:--zc Tl,o,a,. Ucr,o, f. ~ whfla n 1pOS 80
cloud of white smoke projected two hundred feet
or more into the air, followed in a few moments
by the rafting crash of falling timbers. Anum-
Der of men were almost instantly upon the spot,
and upon examination it was found that from
35 to 40 lbs. of gunpowder stored in the garretof
the building, had exploded, and that two boys,
Willie Vernon, aged IL years, son of Thomas
Vernon Esq, and Edwin Adams, aged II years,
step son of Albert LOwery Esq, were fatally in
jured.
1t will probably never be exactly known how
the explosion occurred. The boys were in the
garret where the powder was stored, and one of
their ~playmates who came down a few minutes
before the explosion took place, says that they
were proposing to fash some pOsoder with wax ia
pers, Just before he came down. Both of the
boys were blown doca to the second floor of the
store and struck about 90 feet apart, among the
~splinters and shattered timbers of the third floor.
Willie Vernon ran from where he fell, to the
top of the warehouse stairs, a distance of some
50 or 60 feet, and was there met by his father
- 4 l. n. 49, r..
their residence. His clothes were all on fire,
and Mrs. Vernon, (uith the universal mother
t~nstinct.) instantly wrapped the skirt of her
dress around him to extinguish the flames,
while Mr.. Vernon dashed over him q bucket of
water which fortunately stood near. The first
words Willie spoke were, Eddy Adams is up
stairs" Two young men. Reuben George ami
Charles Roper went tohis assistance.
1t took some little time to clear the jam OF
fallen timbers so as to get at him, and Mr..
George had one hand badly burned in stripping
him of his burning clothes. Both young men
deserve credit for their ~promptness, for they
were not at all certain but a second explosion
might not occur at any moment, and there was
great danger from the falling timbers. The
room was full of smoke, making it impossible
to see what spots were and what were not safe.
DIR. Beebe was soon upon the spot, and rem
dered such surgical assistance as the case would
admit of. Edwin Adams died at 9 O'Clock, 4
hours after the explosion, and seemed to suffer
but little. Willie Vernon lived % hours. and
suffered most intensely, but became insensible a
few hours before death. There were four per
sons in the store below, none of whom were III
jured, though all were more or less stunned by
the shock. particularly the clerk, Mr.. Cook
He however soon recovered, and by his prompt
ness, prevented the addition of fire to the ca
lamity. 1t is difficult to convey in words an
idea of the force of the explosion, as manifested
in its effect on the building. The roof for some
&c feet was entirely blown off, but a portion of
it appeared to have fallen back near its original
position. The garnet floor (Which was very
heavily timbered,) was blown cown upon the
floor below, and Immediately under where the
powder stood, parts of oak joists were driven
Though the second floor into the sales room be-
low, as if shot from a cannon.
In the sales room itself, many of the joists
were split, and one large timber, 10 by - in.
broken The building was owned by Seth
Hayes Esq. Tho damage to the stock was very
Light, probably not more than $50.
Messrs. Thomas Vernon d Co. requests me to
return their sincere thanks to those who kindly
assisted in removing their goods. and doing
such other things as the exigeneies of the case
demanded. The firm will partially suspend
business for three or four days.
Respectfully Yours,
EDWARD HAYES.