The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1871-01-12
From the Springfield (SIass,l Republican,
Dec. II, ls7O.l
NitrO-Glyeerine Explosion at HOOsac
Tunnel

/ The magazine of the nitrO-glyeerine
works, at the west shaft of the Hoosae
Tunnel, which exploded Friday after
noon, was situated in q ravine about
200 feet from the works, and was sur
rounded by board fence ten feet
high. The trees in the vicinity were
stripped and the fence destroyed, leav-
/ ing some Of the standards of the fence,
while only one timber stuck upright
in the ground remained of the maga-
zine. A cavity of five feet in diane
ter, and about three feet deep, marks
the spot where the explosion COM
menced. There were about 500 pounds
OF nitrO-glycerine in and about the
magazine at the time, of which $50
pounds were eOngealed and inside Of
the magazine, while about the same
quantity had been placed there about
two hours befOre-the result of the
mornings work. The foreman in
charge, John V. BeIsOn, had left the
bOarding-house, about 200 feet from
the magazine, ten minutes previous
ly, with pail of hot water, intend
ing to have a bath, as was his habit
after getting through his work. He
had also removed from tie house.
placing it in his OvercOat pocket, a
small vial of nitrO-glyeerine, a sam
pie used for showing visitors. A stove
fed with anthracite coal is kept burn
ing during the fall, winter and spring,
to maintain an equal temperature.-
One theory is that he hung his coat
near the stove and thereby caused the
explosion, Abut as he was as thor
Oughly acquainted with the prop
critics of the explosive as any other
man in the country, it is Inferred
that he had forgotten the vial
was in his coat, slipped on a few sec
onds previous. The instant before
explosion one Of the hands remarked
a smoke rising from the magazine.
The shock was so great that the win
dOWs Ofthe house and factory were
blown out, and the boards on the
front of the factory were lOsened from
the plates. Several cans of CONCEALED
nitrO-glycerine were found unexplOd-
ed. The explosion was plainly heard
and felt as far south as Cheshire. The
saddest thing about the sudden taking
on Of Mr.. BelsOn is the fact Of his
sending for his two children to come
on from the West, sixteen days pre-
VIous. The friend to whom his letter
was addressed, was absent, and their
departure was therefore delayed.
They left CORY Penn, last Tuesday
and were showed in at Dunkirk, and
did not arrive till Friday, two hours
after their fathers sad death. They
had been in charge of a relative, their
father being a widOwer. It was some
years since he had seen them, and he
counted much on their arrival, in
tending to make a home and to mar
ry again, the day succeeding the aeci-
dent. Mr.. BelsOn was greatly respec-
ted by those who knew him. He had
been engaged with Mr.. MOwbray, the
proprietor Of the works almost unin-
terruptedly for ten years, and was in
every respect a competent, faithful
superintendent, and one whom it will
be difficult to replace. None of the
hands are anxious to leave on account
of the accident, and Mr.. MOwbray
will at once resume operations, giving
his personal attention, as formerly, I
to the manufacture. The funeral Of
Belson took place at the Methodist /
Church in North Adams, Sunday af- /
ternOOn.