Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-04-26
From the Dubuque Herald, Apr. ~.
TEEKlBLE ACCIDENT.

Of From the Dubuque Herald, Apr. ~.
ny TERRIBLE ACCIDEN'
les Explosion Of the hey City MIL Doils
ed
Of At about half-past ; o'clock ycs.crt
ar afternoon the Key City Touring mills, sit
10 ted between Second and Third, on 10
We street. exploded with . noise resembli
Tor thunder, and in moment the engine hot
US and art of the mill was blown into atom
ST aud q number OF workmeu hurried to eter
a ~.
~ the EXPLOSION.
as The Key City nils are the property
Id Mayor J. X. Graves and were rented
TO 10 Messrs VILLAINS, jackson. 1 Co. for
k term OF three years. Lately these gentlems
10 have been crowded with work, and in u
Sc desire to put it through. the boilers were sui
h iec,ed TO a neavy pressure. These oo'iel
il were Of the tubular pattern, and had one
Is been used on the steamer ltasca. Abot
!, two months ago they were purchased an
/ placed in the mill, and every precaution WA
}. taken TO insure their safety, being cleaned O
I the inside and furnished with new drum head
> and safety valves.
The force OF the explosion was fearful. Per
sons in the upper part of the city imagined
that we we're visited with an earthquake, via
dows ratified, and the strongest buildings trem
bled perceptibly.
The excitement that ensuea can be better
imagined than described. Every one seemed
impelled by one common instinct TO the scene
of danger, dropping their business, rushed
| pell NELL to the mill, and here scene OF
! terror and destruction met their case that
well might appeal the sioutest heart.
The engine house, which adjcned the main
structure on the south side was blown to
atoms. hardly leaving one brick upon the 9th
err This building included hasement in
which were the engines end machinery, and
above this were large store rooms for flour
and wheat, a large quantity Of which was
stored.
The main portion Of the mill is built of
stone, and the walls Of this were badly rocked
and shattered by the explosion. The ground
in every direction was completely covered
with the debris ofthe ruins, and brick, barrels
OF flour and fragments ofthe engine and boil.
er were scattered hiiher and thither.Such was
the force Of the explosion that every building
in the square was more or less injured, and
he large brick block standing on the north
Some Of the larger pieces of the boiler were
flown seven or eight rods from the engine
,ouse, while smaller portions were thrown
,eyond Main street.
The FIRE bells sounded the alarm, and the |
ire companies were soon on the grounds. OF
curse the first energies Of the crowd were
eyoted to rescuing the unfortunate men, who
-ere known to be in the building at the time
the explosion. Amidst he excitement of
be moment it was almost impossible to obtain
correct number or names OF the persons
nus employed, although ii was estimated
lat four or five were in the engine room.
THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
But one man, Mr.. Charles Bush, the FIRE
ian, was killed outright. He presented
hastily spectacle, the hair being singed from
is head, and his head and his whole
ody covered with CHASTITY wounds.
Mr.. George Finn was found in the H. idle
the street, over forty feet from the engine
ouse. He had his upper lip blown off and
is teeth knocked out, besides numerous 9TH
r wounds and bruises. His recovery is
ouh,ful
The following is correct list Of the killed
nd wounded up TO the hour Of going to
ress:
Charles Bush, fireman, killed.
Herber, Rogers, employee, killed.
y. j. Williams, lessee, wounded.
l.. L. Williams, :. badly wounded.
I. Andrews, workman, injured.
I. Member LIST packer %
j. Q. Goddard, LIST engineer, badly hurt.
George Finn, teamster dangerously.
Eugene jordan, boy, fatally injured.
Henry Cot, boy, badly bruised.
Eugene Porter, bruised.
Three Of the men whose names arc given, |
Tere found in heap, covered with large |
'iie of dir, and bricks. They were conveyed |
o shed opposite, where they received every |
'iteniion from the physicians on the ground. |
dr. Rogers lived about ten minue,s after be- |
ng taken out. He had but lately hired in the |
nil, and only arrived 10 the city last Friday
rom Davenport. Mr.. Y. j. Williams, the
iewly appointed postmaster, met with a
harrow escape from instant death, and re-
'eised some bad bruises. Mr.. Jerry Howard
anne up and wished to take him off the
,round, but be would not listen to this, and
.dvised him to look out for the welfare Of the
,ther men. At the time o. the accident Mr..
ieor-e Finn, one of Merry's teams,ers, was
oading -four in front Of the door. He too,
IS before stated, is very badly injured.
CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION.
We have already limited the cause Of the
explosion, and the theory there givea may be
he correct one, as the boilers were carr wing
lightly pounds OF steam at the time. Others
attribute the accident to the presence OF lime
n the water used, and it is stated tina, only
= sterday n.orning Mr.. Goddard told some Of
us friends that it was not safe, and that
lsterent arrangement must be made. Otis
RS again state that the pump was defective
n its working and did not keep the boilers
properly supplied with water. The true
.ause, however, is yelled in much mystery,
md as yet everything is but a matter Of con-
ectare, as no one ii prepared to give cor