The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1872-11-27
A NitrO-GsIycerine Horror
Or. r. A. Wright and Harry J.
Wolfe the Victims.
PARTICULARS OF THE SAD AFFAIR.
Special to tho Titusyille Herald.
ScRuBeRAss. Nov. %. 70.

SCRUBGRAss, Nov. %, 70.
Another of those horrible nitro.gly.
cerine explosions which, too frequent
ly, afford theme for comment and re.
Election throughout the Oil Regions,
occurred here at $3.50 this morning,
ana resulted in the instant death and
total physical snrihilation of DR.. r.
A. Wright and Harry j. Wolfe. Like
the long list of similar accidents
which has preceded it, the cause is
shrouded in a mystery which science
cannot fathom, and which, in all hu.
man probability, was not even known
to the victims of the effect. The pre-.
ceding and following facts and events
so far as have been able to obtain
them are these: DR.. Wright, who for
about two years has acted as local
agent here Of the Roberts Torpedo
Company, had occasion this morning
to visit the magazine in which he was
in the habit of storing the nitro. .gly-
cerine which furnishes the explosive
power of the torpedoes. This maya
zine, for such is the name these houses
of death are dignifed with, was a
small and unpretentious wooden build.
ing, situated at some distance from
any dwelling, and upon the fiat low
land contiguous to the Allegheny river.
1t was erected for the use Ia which it
was appropriated, and is supposed to
have contained about three hundred
punds of the explosive compound. As
before stated, d.. Wright had occa-
sion TO 60 down there this morning, it
is supposed, for the purpose of pre-
pairing torpedo, and before going in
vited Mr., Harry j. Wolfe, a young
man, aud the railroad company's night
operator here, to go with him. Wolfe
willingly accepted the invitation !;
party, it is believed, out of curiosity
to see the magazine, and not unlikely
anticipating some pleasure from the
ride. They drove rapidly out of the
village, followed by the Doctors two
dogs, and soon got down on the low
land, and in the vicinity of the shan.
ty. Here the accurate record of their
movements ends, and deductions and
inferences from what was seen after
wards must supply the rest of the mar
rative. The horse was hitched to
tree close at hand, and both men un-
doubtediy left the sleigh. 1t is con.
jectured that both entered the maga-
zine, certainly the Doctor did, and
Wolfe, if not inside, must have stood
close by. They could not have been
there but very few moments when
the explosion took place. The report
was deatening, and was distinctly
heard at Foxburgh, fifteen miles dis
tant. The force of the shock may be
appreciated when the effects are told.
Where the building stood large hole
was scooped out in the earth, and dirt
and stones were snatched out and
hurled eighty rods.
OF the building there was left only
pieces and those of the smallest posi-
BILE description. OF the two men there
remained nothing,at least nothing dis.
cernable, if except a few shreds of
clothing to which we're clinging in.
finitesimal particles of flesh and bones.
The direction Of the force seems to
have been toward tho river, and what
ever remained of the men was merci-
fully hid from human eyes, beneath
the ice. One dog went with the men
the other had piece of board driven
through him and was found lying dead
on the bank. The horse, strange to
cay, escaped with but the loss Of one
eye.
Immediately following the catastro-
phe, there was rush to the scene OF
of it, but nothing could be done save
reflect on the sad event which has so
mysteriously and efiectually removed
from our midst two men with whom
we have been thrown IN daily contact.
a feeling of gloom and sorrow has
come over the community, and many
an eye fills with tears in thinking OF
this sad reminder Of the truth so forci.
bly, brought home, "that in the midst
of life we are in DEATH"
DIR. Wright was favorably and wide,
ly known throughout the Oil Regions
He was formerly an extensive opera,
tor, but meeting with misfortune, en-,
gagged in the business which led to his
death. He was about forty years OLE
and leaves a wife but no children.
Young Wolfe was nineteen years o
age and had resided ia the villag,
about year. He made many friends
while here and was highly esteemed
by all who kuew him. B.