Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-10-15
Sad Finale ofthe Indiana state Fair--
Twenty Persons Instantly Killed
and Large number Wounded.

On the hcels Of the Avondale disaster. comes
another quite as heart-rcndng. About O'clock
j. NJ, on the LIST inst. the last day Of the Indi-
ana State Fair, thousands Of people were pre-
pairing 10 leave tho grounds for their homes,
when terrific explosion took place Ia Power
Hall, which brought terror TO the hearts Of all
present. The cause Of the explosion seems to be
the result Of neglect Of the engineer to keep a
proper amount Of water in the boiler, as parties
stated that but 10 minutes previous to the explo-
sion, blue steam came from the lower guage, aud
that there was 100 pounds Of pressure.
Twenty persons were instantly killed, many
Of them blown to atoms, aud Il was known thr-
ty.Gve or forty were wounded, several fatally,
while many others were taken to their homes
by their friends, who are not reported in the list
We have room to give but few Of the appaul-
ing incidents as reported by an eyewitness for
| The Cincinnati Taas, which aro as EOlloWs.
| The excitement, both on the grnund and
throughout the city, was most intense. Up to
late hour at night persons were searching for
missing friends,
Oa the outside OF the uniertaker's Office the
scene was the most exciting have ever wit
messed, Fathers in search Of children, wives
for their huSbaues, and friends for friends.
| INcInGETs-A portion of the boiler weighing
| about live hundred pounds, was thrown dis.
lance O, one hundred yards, alghtins in one of
the cattle stalls. little babe about six months
old, was killed in its fathers armS--the father
! escaped uninjured. Governor BaklF. with his
family, was seated in his carriage at the time O(
the explosion. piece OF tue boiler passed
over his head and struck his eOachman, ineiet-
lug serious and probably fatal wound. A
mother and three children were standing in a
group noar the boiler. The mother was instantly
Killed, aud two of the childrea badly soalded.
a gentleman aud lady were walking by with
lOc&ed arms. The gentleman Was killed and
the lady uninjursd Quite a number were
thrown TO the grOund with considerable force,
! many of whom wer0 picked up in an inSsnSible
condition. A man walking 10 frunt Of tho Ex
scStive Headquarters was startled al seeing the
skull of a man dOp 10 trOat of him, tho aesh
actual v acalded uff the bones, but the eyes and
teeth slill remaining ia the soekcta and Jaws. -
Several Yards from the disaster was found =
pair 81 legs held together by the mersst shred
Of hesh. At one place was the headless trunk
Of man at another was ;he leg Of a woman
! with her boot aud stocking upon Il the arm oI
9 man Was found driven into popular board
! while mot far from Power Hall Nas seen the
body OF man - horribly mutulated that his
heart stomach, liver and lungs eoald be readily
seen. Whom FIRST discovered his heart was ill
palpitaung, and The motion OF the organ was
plainly observed.
In the Agricultural Hall were lying four bod
ies, jembled, alm0st unFeeogp.Ssbis mass oI
eharred, rlasted aud sealded humanity.
Nc. John y. foudray, with friend, vas sit
ting 10 a carriage on the east side Of Power
Hall. The! both saw piece Of tho boiler com
log toward them, when Nc. foudrays frlent
pushed him aside, and the deadly iroa imbed
ded itself in the ground not three feca bshias
hm. The SealPd man Waa Ooad ueAt N,