Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-10-05
THE LAST EXPLOSION
Particulars of the Boiler Explosion
at indianapolis.
Twenty Persons Killed and over One
Hundred Wounded.
Memorable and Fearful Spectacle,
heart-rending SCenes---MOunded
Dying and Dead.

o'clock a terrible eXpIOsiEu occurred on
the west side of the Fair Grounds, caused
by the bursting of a portable engine, from
the Sumter Machine Works, of this city,
which had been running circular saw in
q race with some mill machines.
The explosion sounded like the discharge
ofa heavy piece of artillery, and scattered
the boiler abogt promiscuOusly, throwing
heavy pieces several hundred yards.
Considering the crowd on the grounds
and around the machinery, the small NUM-
Der of killed and wounded il considered Z
miracle. Numerous hair breadth escapes
are related by those present. Some Of the
victims were literally torn TO pieces, and
the remains we're collected together from
various parts of the inciosurs. The ap-
pearance Of the victims was appalling,
and could not be Witnessed by the stout
est heart without shndaer. Many ladies
in the immediate vicinity ofthe explosion
tainted, some OF whom had to be removed
from the grounds in carriages.
INDIAN APoLIs, October l, g p. M,--Th6
accident al the Fair Ground this evening
is the most heartrending that has ever oc-
Cured in this vicinity, and has east
gloom over the entire city.
Fhe explosion occurred few minutes
before fOUr Qiclosk, when the grounds
were crowded with visitors. The boiler
was attached TO saw-mill OF AlessTs.
SinksF 4 Co, Of this city, and had just
been fired up for tast Gf speed with an
other saving machine. Arrangements
were made TO take il up as soon as the
trial was over. SO far az can b6 ascer-
taiued to- night, there were nineteen per-
sons killed.
A little babe was killed in its fathers
arms, The father escaped without injury.
Gov. Baker wss on the ground at the
time Of the explosion; : portion Of the
boiler passed over his head, and struck his
cOschmsn, few feet in his rear, inJurlng
him severely.
The scene at the fair ground after the
accident was most heart-rending. Many
oftho killed were torn in fragments.
or one family, consisting ofmOther and
three children, the mother was killed and
the two older childred badly scalded,
while the youngest was uuhnrt.
A gentleman and lady were walking to-
gether; the gentleman was killed and the
lady unhurt.
ADDIuoSAL AND PULL PARTICULARS.
The telegraph has already furnished
some Of the particulars Of the dreadful
accident al tise Indianapolis Fair on Fri
day evening last. f'bs bollsYiag addi-
tional particulars are nom the IIlliaaAF-
oils Journal Of Saturday:
The heart sickens and the brain reels
with the fearful tale of yesterdays horror.
-Four days Of uneXampled pleasure and
prosperity had attended the State fair.
In the midst Of the excitement and gildi-
ness of the closing hours, without a mo-
ment's warning of its dread approach,
death, in most horrid shapes and with
fantastic tortures, elasped its ley fingers
around the whole sgene OF Joyous pleas
urs, enveloping it with q deep and damn
ing pail, such as has but seldom been
drawn about even thu most doomed 10
cality. In the disordered brain OF the
poet we have been used to such sickeniDg
Dhantonls as the sndden arrest of the
reYel and .tha dance by the unwelcome sp-
proach OF disaster and death; We have
read with bated breath and quiVeriug lips
OF such scenes as Avondale, and vet have
failed to feel their fullest terror for lack OF
personal apprehension. Yesterday the
Pandora box of evil opened for US, and in
the twinkling of an eye, an arena of
pleasure and mirth was metamorphOsed
into literal acres OF death, Of torture, and
of terror.
Il vac alter the battle. One O'Clock
Yesterday aftsraOoD was the hour AS
signed for the trial Of portable engines
and saw mills, and into the competition
several flrius entered, among them Sinker
& Co., engine builders, and Long, Joseph
* Carter, saWyers. The test had been
completed, and the victory. if victory it
~. %
Seven minutes and half of saving had
been done, with every part of the engine
and mili strained to the utmost tension,
after " hich the fires had been permitted
to 90 down and the machine to rest.
About o'clock, Mr.. Sinker's foreman
thought il 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 eE-
ception Of two turns" The pit beneath
tho say was filled with sawdust, and a
temporary rest WIS taken 10 ALLOW two
colored helpers to clean it ont. \ large
circle OF interested lookers-on were gath
cred about the area occupied by the ma
chinery, while here and there over the
grounds were scattered twelve or itteen
thousand people.
The scene was ona to sppal the stogtest
heart. The immense crowd, only informed
enough 10 know that a terrible accident
had occurred, swayed and surged like
mighty biliows, breaking over every con-
fine and threatening to add 10 the list of
deaths By trampling beneath their feet
some of the weaker and the smaller, who
were reeling about in the vortex in utter
helplessness. First ,impelled by curiosity,
the jam was toward the spot from whence
the sound came; the manned and wounded
living about the vicinity were over
whelmed, and doubtless some were killed
outright who might have lived had they
been allowed air and given attention at
once. When curiosity Yas appeased by
the ghastly sights which met tie eye, and
when the people, in dazed and bewil-
dered way, came to comprehend the char
acter of the disaster, a panic seized them,
aud eEen p more fearful calamity was
threatened through tleiB terror. StFepp-
GUS exertions were made by the cooler
and calmer TO quiet and allay excitement,
and after asstime something like order was
evoked, and survey made of the exteut
of the casualty.
The engine was sets up about seventy
| five wards west Ofthe Power Hall, and the
saw mill some fifty or one hundred feet
| due north of the engine. The force of the
explosion seemed to be lateral. Heavy
/ pieces Of the machinery were blown to
/ the north and to the west a long distance I;
( a few Of the lighter parts were found some
/ DISTANCE TO the east, but more were thrown
/ back ward. Those who saw it say that
nothing was thrown higher than thirty or
forty feet. The bodies Of several men