, 1869-03-23
TBE opURcH RUN DISASTER,
!Hu1lhtr Pnr1IcplzIs-Eoion David.
SON GtA0s


SON tead.
With reference to the terrible explosion
aud loss OF iitt at Church Run, Pennsylvania.
on hursday afternoon, we gather tnc ful.
lowing 'usfneS particulars from the Tltus'
vile hruld
ard half o'clock, At the Office of Colonel
Dnv1dsor. on the territory leased by him
On Church Run, about Que NILE from the
city 20 Tar IS the iacts Gao be asccr-
taloed, the parties were engaged IN pre-
ra1lcE a torpedo for one OF the wells.
planned, they we're ali Instde the house,
aud y bile Griffin, Todd and Bills were stand.
inE about The torpedo, jlrrIog down the
charge. he Colouel u was about walking
toward the door. 1t Il thought that the
charge contain. d about seven pounds OF full
m'uallrg powder this own ia7euuon}, while
about twenty al iticpal pounds we're near,
The explosion resulted from percussion, aud
The shock *ss (erceptibly telt Ill over tae
city. The bulldltg vas VI course hlo ~ into
iraemenis. and iss inmste*,, 18th II. e1eep-
I heis clio hing was almost entirely stripped
from thtir ocdxs, whict were shocklns'y
l1cerated in every part. A crowd Of
men wss speedily gathered IRON the rfciui-
ty. Colo.ei Davidson WAS foucd to be
enc:ue the lLtcrsess palu. His right t0ish
vas severed to the bone, as though laid open
by AZ axe, ard bis Guest, back, arms and
head were COZ. red with chastity bnrne, his
face buried TO crisp, and the sight OF one
sye destroyed. His fr.t inquiries were con.
feared Terc more severely hut, and desired
that they should be Intended TO. A litter
waa constructed, upon which. as sEse lily as
possible, he WAS borne to the Bush House
snd placed usdes medical attention, but he
expired lefore midnight
Nv Griffin IN ali sAtnf4Nn
Chicago about three years a9o, and spen:
most Of that interval At West Pi.hole, whcs.
be IVES engaged in the oil business. Daring
the last year he became interested with Col
or Fl Davidson In patent which the latter
had secured uoou ! torpedo Of his Own in
der, which for blasting purposes Vas con-
slcrred scarcely inferior 10 nltro-glyce.ioe.
Mr.. TODD was aiso from Chicago, aud Is sup
rosed to have been interested In The same
improvements. He had eeec resident Of
the oil regions for A>ont tatee years past.
Mr. Bills vas fom Allegheny City. sad had
but recently entered the employ Of the COM
pany Tor exploding torpedoes. AL Of the
| parties msde their homs 1t t6e Bush House.
Few Of OFT citizens were better k1o IN or
more sincerely respected thau Colonel Da.
| y1dson. At the ou.hTeak Of the rebellion he
entered the military service - Colo=el Of an
| Illinois regiment Of volunteers, raised at
| Peoria. Previously be had bee7 practising
law il that city, and had alled the po:ltion
Of District Attorney there At the conelu-
non OF the war, on returning from the ser
yiet, he came to the oil region. where heshas
since remained as practical operator,
and With Eomewnzs ysrisble suecess.
Removing to this city from pltho,c In
1865, be commenced operations upon
Church Run. He WIS an ardent Republican,
and during the political campaign two ye1Es
| aRo, and the Presidential campaign Of 1883,
his services we're generously given to the
party. tn advocacy Of the political priuciples
which be c1eishcd AZ personal convictions.
Colonel Davidson had many acquaint ntauces
and friends among tho business men Of Erie.
he will be remembered as the feTvent orator
4 who addressed the "Tauners" Ct Erie
County On the occa1iou Of theit mosterl-g In
Waterford, Just previous to the election oi
I last fail. He was nm OF INST generous
| Impulses aud his loss will be deeply felt,