Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-10-11
Appalling Disaster.

y lSFrlDle dctlutDt occurred Ou OCtooSi
lst, at the Indiana State Fair, resulting in
frightful loss of life, of which the Indian
apolis Journal gives the following graphic
account:
One o clock in the afternoon was the hour
assigned for the trial of portable engines and
saw mills, and into the competition several
firms entered, among them Sinker Co.,
engine builders, and Long, Joseph 4 Car
ter, ,sawyers. The test bad been completed,
and the victory, if victory it Is. had been
won by the Sinker machine. Seven min
utes and half of saving had been done,
with every part of the engine and mill strain
| ed to the utmost tension, after which the
| fires had been permi ted to go down and
the machines to rest. About three O'Clock.
| Mr.. Sinker's foreman thought it advisable
! to saw up the logs on hand, so as to clear
up for removal on the morrow. The engine
was started, and the task accomplished, with
the exception of two turns" The pit be-
meath the saw was filled with sawdust, aud
| a temporary rest was taken, to allow two
colored helpers to clean it out. large
| circle ofinterestcd lockers on were gathered
about the area occupied by the machinery,
| while here and there over the grounds were
scattered twelve or fifteen thousand people.
At moment of undisturbed quiet, while
the hum of the machinery was hushed and
attention directed toward the ring where the
fast trotting was about to commence, u noise
ike the explosion of park of artillery sa
luted the ear, and concussion of the earth
as of an earthquake sent thrill of fear to
| the heart. A volume of steam, binding
cloud of dust and smoke, the air filed with
debris of timber, of pieces of iron, OF shreds
of clothing, parts of human beings, of
groans, and of shrieks, men falling hither
and thither, and ranks opening as if plowed
through by grape and shrapnel, told the
fearful tale of an explosion. The engine, a
minute before thing of beauty, obedient
to the touch of man, was torn and rent by a
mighty convulsion; its comeliness gone, its
parts scattered to the four winds, hardly a
joint lett in integrity. That which in one
second had been the implement o. industry,
in the next was turned into a sickle of death,
reaping and moving its victims in a swath
confined by no rule and measured by no reg
ularity.
The scene was one to appal the stoutest
heart. The immense crowd, only informed
enough to know that terrible accident had
occurred, surged and swayed like mighty
pillows, breaking over every confine and
threatening to add to the list of deaths, by
trampling beneath their feet some of the
weaker and the smaller, who were reeling a
bout in the vortex In utter helplessness.
First impelled by curiosity, the jam was to-
ward the spot from whence the sound came
the MANNED and wounded lying about the
vicinity were overwhelmed, and doubtless
some were killed outright who might have
lived had they been allowed air and given
attention at once, When curiosity was APP
peased by the ghastly sights which met the
eye, and when the people, in dazzled and
bewildered way, came to comprehend the
character OF the disaster, panic seized them
and even a more fearful Gala ,:iity was threat
ened through their terror. Strenuous exer-
tious were made by the cooler and calmer
TO quiet and allay excitement, and, alter
time, something like order was evoked. 4
survey OF the extent of the causalty, reveal
ed the fact that twenty-tour persons had
been killed, and about one hundred wound-
ed OF the wounded a number have since
died. This is truly one of the most fearful
and appalling disasters that has ever oc-
CURED in this country