The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-11-27
THE NITRO.GLYCERINE HORROR
Particulars Of the Explosion at
ScrUbgrass.
r,.a,S~ kho Herald


Another of those horrible nitro-
slycerne explosions which, too fire.
quently, afford theme for comment
and reflection throughout the oil re-
gions, occurred at Scrubgrass at $50
Saturday morning, and resulted in the
instant death and total physical annihi.
lation of DR.. r. A. Wright and Harry
]. Wolfe. Like the long list Of similar
accidents which have preceded it, the
cause is shrouded in a mystery which
science cannot fathom, and which, in all
human probability, was not even known
10 the victime of the effect The pre-
ceding and following facts and events,
so lar as they have been obtained, are
these: DR.. Wright, who for about two
wears has acted as local agent at Scrub
grass OF the Roberts Torpedo Company,
had occasion to visit the magazine
in which he was in the habit Of storing
the ntro-glycerine which furnishes the
explosive power ofthe torpedoes. This
magazine, for such is the name these
HOUSES OF DEATH
are dignified with, was small and un-
preteptious wooden building. situated at
some distance from any dwelling, and
upon the flat, low lands lying cohtisu-
GUS to the Allegheny river. 1t was
erected for the use to which it was ap-
propriated, and is supposed to have con
tanned about three hundred pounds OF
the explosive compound. AS before
stated, DR.. Wright had occasion 70 60
down there, it is supposed, for the pur-
nose OF preparing a torpedo, and before
going invited Mr. Henry Wolfe, a young
man, and the railroad company's night
operator here, to accompany him. Wolfe
willingly accepted the invitation, partly,
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 lands, and in the vicinity OF the
sbauty. Here the accurate record OF
their movements ends, aud deductions
and iuferences from what was seen af-
terwards must supply the rest of the
narrative. The horse was bitched to
tree close at hand, and both men un-
doubtedly left the sleigh. 1t is con-
iectured that both entered the maga.
zine, certainly the Doctor led, and
Wolfe, if not inside, must have stood
close by. They could not have been
there but a few moments when the ex'
plosion took place. The report was
deaiening, and was distinctly heard at
Foxburgh, fifteen miles distant. The
force OF the shock may be appreciated
when its effects are told. Where the
bniIding stood large hole was scooped
out in he earth, and dirt and stones
we're snatched out and
HURLED EIGHTY RODS.
or the building there was left only
n;eces and those OF the smallest possi-
Bile des escription. Of the two men there
remained nothing, at least nothing dis
cernible, except few shreds of clothing
TO which were clingiug infniteslmsl
psr,icles of flesh and bones. The direc-
ton OF the force seems to have been
toward the river, and whatever remained
of the men was mercilully hid from the
human ewes beneath the ice. One dog
went with the men the other had
n;ece of hoard driven through him and
was found lying dead on the bank: The
horse, strange to cay, escaped with but
the loss OF one eye.
DR.. Wright was favorably and widely
known throughout the oil regions. he
was formerly an extensive operator, but
meeting with misfortune engaged IN
the business which led to his death. He
was about fortv years old and leaves a
wife but no children. Young Wolfe
WAS nineteen years Of age and had re-
sided in the village sbousa . year.