Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-07-25
Particulars of the BarnesVille
Calamity.

The meagre account of the Barnesville ex-
plosion given in last weeks CHRONICLE was
not correct in many respects, and to-day we
CLEAN the following from the Enterprise
An awful calamity has descended upon
Barnesvlile-blasting in one moments time
ine lives and hopes of many, and casting the
gloom of death and sorrow over the entire
community. Wednesday morning at twenty
i've minutes of eight o'clock, a loud, rumbling
noise, like the bursting of buried magazine,
was heard in the Southwest quarter of the
town. Instantly all understood that terri
BILE thing had happened-and the minds of
the people instantly went in dread to the
Planning Mill or FIGURING Mill. The boiler Of
Davis & Starbuck's Planning Mill had ex-
ploded, and the large structure was leveled to
the ground. A cry of horror burst from
hundred throats a sense of dread oppression
fell upon all hearts-a weight of woe, which
while not realizing the extent of the disaster,
made one feel that the very worst had hap
pened The mill was literally torn to pieces.
Only at the northern end was there the
slightest resemblance of building standing
All the rest was a mass of ruins-torn into a
million of fragments, rended to pieces, and
lying mass of wrecked boards and laths,
bricks and mortar. Cries of anguish rose on
all sides. Never have we looked upon such
scene of agonized woe, of frenzied despair,
as was pictured at that moment. The worst
had happened, and all feared that loved
friends were lying beneath the Implying
ruins.
Soon after the explosion the fire in the fur
mace set fire to the building. 1t was known
that at least dozen men were employed in
the building, and the work of rescuing the
wounded and removing the dead was at once
commenced.
KILLED AND WOUNDED.
In few moments Geo. E. Hunt, the book
keeper, Jonathan Ellis, John Hunt, jr., and
John w. Bonawitz emerged from the ruins,
with only slight injuries. Soon afterward
VIM. Heizer was brought out, with severe
wounds about the head and apparently in a
dying condition. James blowers was able to
walk out, with assistance. VIM. Y. Dent,
forman of the mill, was found near the boiler,
hurt about the head and internally, with hip
dislocated and several ribs broken. Johnnie
Moore was lying on his side on a car wheel,
and under a turning lathe. He was severely
hurt about the head and shoulders. AS soon
as the wounded we're removed they were
promptly attended to by physicians and
friends. Samuel Blowers was found in a
STOPPING position, securely fastened by tim
Young Charlie Etzler was removed half an
hour later. He was lying on his back with
his legs stretched out, and large sill across
them, and with his head badly cut, and his
face pressed out of shape by the timbers. J.
Fl. Burchard was brought out of the ruins
dead. He was found under q lot of lumber
and machinery. His neck was lying on a
piece of timber, and held down by another
piece. He was lying with his face down,
and log across his back. Charles Etzler, sr.,
the last man removed, was dead when brought
out. Some persons are of the opinion that he
spoke some time before being rescued, but
this is doubtful. He had a long indenture
running upward across the forehead. when
found, he was lying on his side, with his face
downward aid covered with some light tim
bers. He was an, industrious intelligent man,
with many warm friends among the people.
lie leaves wife and five children. James
Padgett, the fireman and acting engineer at