The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-03-21
Powder Mills Blown Up.

a,-- BOSTON, March IL, 1878.
The Northeastern portion Of Middle
sex county was startled a few minutes
before nine o'clock to-day by the report
of terrific explosion, which was heard
in Lowell, seven., an miles away from
the point at which the explosion oc-
CURED. 1t was soon learned that the
shock came from the blowing up of two
mills of the American Powder Company
at South Acton. The company has been
running on extra time to fill orders for
the Turkish government, the powder be-
ing shipped from New Haven. Those
who heard the report and were close
enough to the works to see the smoke de-
scribe it as very picturesque. Soon after
the shock was felt and the rumbling
noise that accompanied it, huge volume
of smoke rose to the height of about five
hundred feet, and foated away on the
morning air. The two mills destroyed
and completely shattered to pieces were
the water press mill and mill No. 4.
Both were new structures erected since
the explosion of last year.
Two worknen in the press mill-Low-
ell Foster, of Winchendon, aged twenty
four and unmarried, and Turpener, be.
longing in Kingston, N. Y, aged thirty
and unmarried-were instantly killed,
their bodies being thrown some three
hundred yards from the mill. Turpener's
head was found quite distance from the
other portions Of his body, and at the
present time only about half of the re.
mains have been seen. Both bodies were
terribly mutilated, and in fragments they
we're picked up at different points. Eos.
ter's body was completely cut to pieces,
and some portions Of the bodies were
found a quarter of a mile distant mashed
to jelly. One arm was found in one
place, portion of a leg in another ant
tufts of scalp, with the hair on, in an.
other. The bodies are not recognizable,
only on account of the fact that their
size was known by their comrades. Th,
cause of the explosion is not known for
certain, but Edmund Hooper, foreman
on the line, says when near the press mill
where Foster and Turpener were work
ing, he heard piece of machinery breas,
and, knowing there would be trouble,
sprang behind a tree and ran for the
woods outside the grounds, the explosion
following Immediately. Several other ef
the employees were injured, but none
seriously. The Office of the company,
Situated some 600 feet from the press
mill, was demolished, the doors being
torn to pieces, the clapboards thrown of
and the windows smashed into thousands
of pieces, covering the floor and the desk
and other furniture. The keg shop ne;Ir
by was also battered and demolished, not
a whole window remaining. All about
the grounds and over an area of sever,l
acres are strewn the debris, nothing rs-
naming of the exploded mills but the
iron machinery and heavy framing tin
bers.
The amount of powder destroyed is not
known, but it was only the accumulation
of this morning. Both the men killed
were new workmcn here, but Tupener
was an old powder-maker. Hundreds of
people, men and women, came in from
the surrounding towns within an holr.
The shock was distinctly felt at Wal
than, some twelve miles distant. The
remains of the men killed are now at the
boarding house, and they present a sick.
ening appearance. This is the third
time within nine months that these m lis
have exploded, and two of the former
workmen left the work only short time
since, not daring to risk their lives longer.
The loss is estimated at 100000.