The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-09-30


this afternoon, people III the vicinity OF
the corner Of Beekman and Front
streets, were startled 10y a terrible ex-
pIosion The explosion was not sud
den or loud, but was more of pro-
lOnged rumble or rattle, like distant
thunder. A cloud of smoke and dust
indicated the locality of the accident,
which was at Klueber & Goldschmidt' S
fireworks establishment, No. 126 Beck
man street police station, q few blocks
distant, soon arrived at the scene, and
aided by the willing hands of citizens,
commenced an exploration of the de-
bris made by the explosion The
building was completely shattered, the
front being blown out, and the interior
a mass e ruins.
Within fifteen minutes after the ac-
cident the bodies of three dead men
were found in the ruins, and were car
ried on stretchers to the Beekman
street police station. From whence
they were removed IN ambulances to
Park Hospital. Two other men We're
found IN the cellar OF the building ter
ribly injured. They were alive, but
their bodies were so shattered and dis
figured that they bore little sembiance
TO human beings.
The news of the explosion spread
like wildfire; every one who heard Of it
hurried to the scene OF the disaster
The appearance of No. 126 is indie
scribabIe Strong iron pillars were
snapped as If they were straws. The
basement is without an article of fJIrnI-
fure III It, white dust being all that
can be seen. On the first floor there
was one box Of the torpedoes unexplo-
ded, which was promptly removed into
the street by the Fire Marshal. In adj
dition to this box were several smaller
boxes Of fireworks of different kinds,
which did not EXPLODE. The windows
and doors were all blown to pieces.
room and desk containing papers, &c.
On the wall is o card bearing the in
scription 1.-The celebrated Iron Tor
pedoes for sale here" The floor is
atrewn with bits Of timber, paper, and
white dust On the second floor is a
large board with about three hundred
different kinds OF torpedoes and fire
works attached TO it. There are also
d few boxes Of fireworks. On the third
floor was found another large wooden
box containing torpedoes. The top
floor WAS occupied by few empty box
es. There was very little furniture of
any kind in the whole building.
Ransom Lutz, who keeps an Exchange
Office next door to the fireworks es-
Enlistment, says he was IN the store
and saw the fire and dust. The next
moment his windows were blown III,
and himself almost suilocated by the
dust. Coroner Young and Or. Marsh
were promptly on the scene, and at
once empaucled jury to review the
body OF Henry Brown, the only one
then known to be dead. The coroner
saws he is determinedtO investigate the
ease thoroughly. He thinks that the
manufacture OF such explosive matter
within city limits is against the law
Shortly after the finding of the bodies
the ambulance from the Park Hospital
arrived. and the wounded men were
conveyed TO the Hospital as fast as pos
sibie. One man, who is believed to be
.he driver, had the flesh nearly all
blown off his face and body. 1t is be-
Geyed that his eyes are gone also.
There Is not much hope of his recovery.
The other men in the hospital present
sights too horrifying for description,
nearly all Of them gasping for breath.
The doctors are doing their utmost to
ailay The suHerings OF the wounded
men.
THE DEAD.
Henry Brown, aged fourteen years,
OF No. | Market street, the head was
crushed in, his right leg broken above
the knee, and the lower parts half blown
away. The boy was last seen sitting on
the shafts of the wagon, innocently
swinging his legs, and it is surmised
that at the time Of the explosion he was
still sitting ON The shafts, and that he was
struck on the head from above, and
that the force of the explosion on the
track blew his leg into pieces.
Unknown man died from fracture OF
arms and legs. He was dressed i'll
greyish pants, and had over bis shoul-
der blue soldier coat, such as is worn
by the soldiers OF the United States ar
my La his pockets were large knife
and bunch OF SIX KEYS. The ring on
which the keys were, was broken in the
pocket Of deceased by the force Of the
explosion.
WOUNDED.
Michael Goldsmith, No CT Deane
street, Brooklyn, proprietor of the
store, iaceration OF face and shoulder,
lttDNSfN uCltttlit lltulN ilSlSlltIt L,
aged thirteen years, of No. 116 Colum
bia street, laceration Of face. John
Nolan, aged seventy-siX years, iaborer
residence corner james and OaE
streets, fracture of legs; will probably
die MaryJane Brown, aged ten years
residence No. 81 Beekman street, con,
fusion Of back, sent home.
Police Commissioned Alexander Freal
hurried to the Park hospital and rem
dered valuable assistance to Superin
tendent Brown, and the other surgeons
III attending the wounded
From the Commercial 18th.
Coroner Young is quite confident tina
he can complete the preliminary ar
engagements, and commence the inques
in regard TO tie Beehman street exrlo
sion, rs early as Monday afternoon, i
not before that tune Louis Klueber
partner Of Goldsmith, Ill the proprie
torshlpof the establishments is confined
III the Beelzman Street Police Station
awaiting the action of the Coroner
He says he cannot account for the eX
plosion. and all he knows about it i,
what he has gained from the accounts
IN the newspapers. He thinks the ex
ploslon was the result Of the careles
handling Of box Of torpedoes 4 MAJ
named Nelson, IN 1856, patented the Tn
ion torpedoes, and took Klueberas part
ner, Nelson sold out to him, and thel
he took Goldschmidt in as a partner
IluCber declines to state at presen
what the explosive compound in tn