The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-03-23

inns F.ere cafpentsrs, working neal
BIZ and4lad taken tenpprary refuge
there ff0m the stornh The expI0si6h
was instant MID terrible. John Fritz
was thrown north, about eighteen rods
and was the most terribly mangled--
Robert Mcconnell was thrown about
ff~eiFe rods. sontfi, across the raflroad
track into a ~cornfield.- Near his
body was a piece OF the engine weigh
ing probably five hundred pounds
francis Mcdonnell was thrown north
west about ten rods. David Shook
twas thrown AZ little west of. south
about eight-rods styfking against 8
fence. Lewis Hoover and Jacob
Kpppp- were EACH about two rod:
south of the mill. David Hoover lay
about five rods west. terribly injured,
and survived TIL 6 O'Clock P. NJ
The main portion of the. engine was
laying about seven rods east of the
mill. Only small pieces Of the boiler
could be. found. The building OF
course, was literally demolished
John ~ Shook. one of the proprietors
of the milf, escaped the fatal result
BY the way freight, from Seville Sta,
ton on which he was coming to the
MILL being a few minutes late. The
shock was distinctly felt in this village
and a number of our citizens imme-
diate1y went to the scene Of the disas-
ter on d hand car, and rendered such
assistance as lay in their power. The
scene is said to have been beyond de
scription. Four of the seven leave
wives, aid three Of them families
The affair created an unprecedented
excitement all over the neighborhood
The cause of the disaster ofco,lrse is
not definitely known, as no one is left
to tell the tale. One person, whose
name We did not get, had just left
the scene OF the disaster, and escaped
injury - - Pc
Let this be a warning to others
Look well to the powerful agents that
are made the servants of man. Be
warned in time! .tf ., r.. r.--- .,1.s
Since writing the above We Lave
visited the scene iof the disaster; and
fennd ityeyeasmore terrible than :was
described Portions, of the brains and
fragments of flesh were found rs late
as Sunday. zt. .5l.,,Iscrs 400
The person above alluded to, whose
name we@did not then learn IS Madir
son E. Lance, who is buiiding-a new
house about twelve rods west of the
MILL an which the carpenters had
been at work. Mr.. Lance was at the
mill but a moment before. and on the
suggestion OF Mr. Mcconnell had
gone to hitch up his team preparatory
to going home. He had just led his
horses TO the wagon when the eSplo-
son took place, owe here insert The
report of our Milton correspondent
.R-" as related to him by Mr.. Lance
only person near, and'the' first
on the grouud.) -
"Mr Lance Immediately \ to a.
certain the extent of injury. For n
few minutes he could see nothing,
owing to the cloud OF. steam and
dust, but he soon discovered David
Hoover, who, although badly scalded
and severely bruised was still al We
As the cloud lifted, he discovered
Francis Mcconnell lying on his back,
arms stretched out, and his body ter[I
ribIy mutilated.. Next he a jacob
knapp and went 10 his assistance,
him up and wet his lips. He
attempted to speak but failed to ar
anything Ineligible. Cham
cling to glance across the railroad, he
the body Of Mr.. Neon
mel, who had been thrown some dis
and apparently had fallen on
his face, Bones and flesh seemed
together into an almost
,hapeless mass. Ascertaining that he
vas dead, Mr.. Lance returned to Mr.
who expired ima few minutes
many persons who. had
leard the report came TO. the rescue.
The bodies were placed on boards
The body of John Fritz was cut in
wO, and his h ad torn into pieces
The only survivor david Hooyer,
vas carried into q house near by. and
surgeon summoned. He survived
few hours during which time lie
Uttered terribly. Teams were pro-
and the bodies taken to their
Great excitement prevailed
Zen were seen riding frantically 10
md fro. unwilling to credit the re-
,ort they had heard. In n short time
he homes of the afflicted were alive
With people eager to see and sympa
hize. 1t wa. a shocking sight to see
hose whom but a few short hours be-
ore we had seen in health and
trength, brought home 50 mangled as
c. be undergraduate. The following
morning / visited the scene. of. disas
er, and a sight met my view thai
better be imagined than described
The Debris of the engine and, boiler,
ay scattered about here and there
lat; boot, or fragments of clothing
The logs near the mill e spattered
yer with the brains of the unfortu-
late men, Pieces of skulls were ly
no about, all contributing to make
UGH a picture OF desolation as could
lot be surveyed without horror The
hook must have been very great, for
here is sclrce,y u fr,gmens left
N the spot where the engine stood
Heavy pieces of machinery were
brown a great distance, and some of
he dwellings narrowly escaped being
demolished"
Jocob knapp was a prominent men,
Der of society, and his loss will he
argely felt and widely mourned.-
His age was 43 years. He leaves a
wife, but no children. His funcra
ind that of the two McConnells took
on Sunday at two o'clock, at
he knapp Meeting House, attended