Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-11-10
NITRO-GL YCERLNE EXPLOSION


day morning gives the following details OF
the terrible nitro-glycerine explosion which
took place at Fairport on Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday afternoon, at about a quarter to
five o'clock, the people of PaiDessille were
startled by sudden conclusion OF the doors
and windows and Earring OF buildings, as
though some heavy body had been hurled
against, or a heavy tornado of wind had sud
denly struck them, with a force almost sufn-
cient to crush them ln This was followed
by a dull, heavy reverbcraton, similar, yet
still unlike, the firing OF heavy guns at
distance. Buildings were Jared, and trem-
bled as though shook by an earthquake. In
stantly people were seen rushing into the
streets to ascertain the cause; many were
seized with a sudden panic and fear that we
were being visited by those disasters The
reverberation and rolling sound AS OF distant
thunder was still preceptible after many OF
the people had got into the streets, Mt least
from three to five minutes after the first con-
cussion was felt. AnImmense cloud OF blood
red smoke was first seen 10 arise in the direc-
ton of Fairport, and then to change its color
to a lighter hue, and spread itself out IN the
heavens. This terrible phenomenon at once
seemed to explain the cause OF the great com
motion. All at once understood that 1t was
either the explosion of The nitro giycerlne
mandatory or of their magazines. Teams
were immediately brought into r.qulsition,
and quite number Of our citizens started
tor the scene. On arriving at Falrport it
would be impossible to describe the scene
which the town presented. The whole place
seemed at first Il complete mass OF ruins.
| The buildings were shattered, the doors blown
| off their hinges, this windows all smashed IN,
| plastering OFT, crockery, lamps and looking
| glasses demolished, cnimneys torh down,
| stoves overturned, and everything iii the
| houses in utter chaos. But il the scene was
| terrible within, it was still more so without.
| The whole population nearly were in tie
streets, wild and crazed. The crash had
| come so suddenly, and the conclusion had
been so great, SO affecting their minds and
nerves, that many OF them for the time were
perfectly insane. Some OF the men we are
told were for few moments attacking each
| other, and women were insaney struggling,
while all were loudly weeping and waiting.
| Children were running wildly about, scream
| ing in terror, as II seeking protection, while
| others were struggling and screaming in the
| arms of their mothers, who were rushing
| hither and thither, not knowing what 10 do or
| where to go.
| 1t is said to have been one of the most
| hear,-rending scenes which could be imagined
| In a few moments it was ascvrtained that both
the magazines OF the Glycerine Company
situated on the west side OF tie river, had
| exploded and that four men who were AT
work in Or near them were blown TO atoms.
! And here a new scene OF terror was witnessed
| The cries and grief OF the wife and little ones
| of one of the lost men, on learning bis fate,
| filled the stoutest hearts with pity. 1t was Il
scene never to BE- forgotten.
| Great Indignation is expressed against the
| proprietors Of the glycerine establishment.
,i.r
from Titusville, Pennsylvania. One OF the
| firm, Mr.. Wheeler, started to go from here to
the scene of the disaster, but was met by a
| wagon load OF excited and infatuated indlyid
| uals, who threatened to lynch him. lie was
| advised by friends that it would not be safe
| for him to go to FalrpOrt until the excitement
subsidized, and he returned to gainesville.
| The immediate cause of tue explosion is
not and never Will be known. 1t is supposed
that MIR. Malone was digging pit for new
! magazine, and that one OF the men were en-
| gagged in putting glycerlne into cans from the
jars in the magazine ready for shipping, while
the other two were in some way assisting, by
carrying glyeerine backward and forward be-
| tween the magazines and the mandatory.
The explosion OF the two magazines, which
were near each other, was simultaneous, SO
far as people in the vicinity could judge, they
hearing but a single report. the men were
| all blown to atoms. SO far as we have heard
only one piece OF flesh has been found, not
larger than a man. ban,l. and n hone. an.
narsn,Iv mart of a rib
rho conrmssion. or force of the cxnlosion.
nracedad the renort So that the first wnrninp
thatthe neonle of Fairfield had was the crash.
;ny in ot their doors and windows. the tuIiing
of mastering un,etting of turniture. ana
| raeking and cracking of the buildings. Peu-
pie both in and out of doors, were thrown
,;,Ien,Iv nown and several - ere mad. fnr a
short time ;nsensble There is mot bn,,sr
| - h;lIi,r &c ,,a ,,,darsta,1 Lt, in Iii
port, whlchs now IN anywise tehahtaoie'
81 - vas a 'u'.o- t1 ,, ,h
street instantly, and exposed to the cold winds
of the night 10 add 10 their terror it was
reported that 'here was at ieaSt 'hoa'Ana
49,, -, ,ha7r n;ds, which p,i,rht -, sny, ,in,e
explode. and finish the destruction of PROPERTY
with perhaps greater loss OF hfe Some lett
the place and lied to gainesville for security,
while others gathered IN groups in their brok-
en- homes and tattered houses, wearing the