Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-02-05
The Gasoline Explosion at Bennington,
VT

BENNINGTON, VT, January q:
The Green Mountain Knitting Mills,
which proved the sepuicher OF nine hui
man beings, are of brick, one story in
height The main part of the mill was
6Ox6O feet. On the west side was wing
1875 feet deep. On the east side was one
100 feet deep, both of brick, and so feet
wide. The total cost of the mill, includ-
ing machinery, was $4,000. 1t was a
full four-set mill, and employed IS hands.
There was large L in the rear in which
was boiler used to heat the building,
and to supply steam for an engine when
sufficient power could not be obtained
from the water wheel. The company has
used portable gas apparatus, known as
the Springfield machine, in which gaso-
line was used to make gas by evaporation
for lighting the mill. The pipes holding
the gasoline were leaking in the boiler
room, and man was engaged in repair
ing them. During this operation the
escaping gasoline vaporized and pervaded
the room, as we'll as the apartments ad-
joining. As soon as the gas came near
the boilers terrific explosion was heard,
and in an instant the whole building was
filled with flames.
The explosion lifted the roof from the
side walls, which fell out, and it dropped
down upon the heads of the employees in
that part Of the building, crushing them,
and imprisoning them beneath the ruins.
The mass of timber and brick falling
without warning upon the women en-
ployed caused instant death to number
The explosion was heard distance of
eighteen miles, and was plainly discerni-
BILE at Arlington, some sixteen miles away.
Coincident with the explosion the entire
building was filled with flames, the all
pervading gasoline vapor igniting like
powder, and spreading through the whole.
Most of the doors were blown from their
hinges, and in a moment the whole build
ing was wrapped in flame. The firemen
were powerless to help the women i'm
prisoned there, who were rapidly burned
TO death.
The screams were horrible to hear, and
their agonizing cries for help were
enough to put energy and courage into
the nerves of every man, but all efforts
were fruitless, and the unfortunate women
persisted miserably. After considerable
time had been spent in subduing the
flames, a search was made among the
ruins, and the charred remains of nine
bodies were recovered. In every instance
there was no possibility of recognition
directly, and the only guide to the names
of the killed was the fact that the remains
found were supposed to be those of the
persons who worked at the benches where
these remains were found.
The excitement in the town was intense,
and nearly every able-bodied man and
woman was on the ground searching for
their friends. All the stores were closed,
and employers and employed were alike
busy. The inhabitants who have escaped
without having a relative or friend injured
or killed are consoling those who have
suffered, and there is no business done.
The dramatic performance was failure
from lack of attendance. Many sad and
touching stories are told me of husbands
seeking for their wives, parents and chill
dren, and brothers their sisters. One
young man, who was shortly to have been
married, finds his intended in the ruins,
and other incidents as narrowing are
heard.