The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-08
POWDER MILL EXPLOSIONS.
In One Two Men Are Fatally Burned.
Terrible Double Explosion inWarren County.
Ohio-Three Men Literally
Torn in Shreds.

Especial to the Cincinnati Commercial.l
LovELAND. O., Oct. 3-An explosion oc-
eurred at J. w. Kings powder mills, located
on the line of the Little Miami railroad, at
Kings station, a point between Fosters
Crossing and South Lebanon. The character
of this terrible explosion may be judged
when it is stated that the force was SO great
that 1t shook the houses in Loveland, seven
miles distant, as though by an earthquake.
The first explosion TOOK place in the grind
ing mill. followed IN a few seconds after
ward by the blowing up of the dry house.
It occurred about 3o'clock Friday afternoon,
and alarmed the residents for miles around,
many of whom fastened to the scene of the
catastrophe. The two buildings were blown
to atoms, while their inmates, three men,
who were engaged in manufacturing the
dangerous compound, were literally torn
into shreds. The head of John Simmonds
was found on the opposite side of the Miami
river, while Pastor, the other individual
who was at work with Simmonos in the
grinding department, has entirely disap-
peared. Not a single vestige of his remains
at this writing had been identified.
Pastor lived in the neighborhood OF the
mill, and is said to have been a man OF
family. Simmonds was unmarried. He
formerly resided at Morrow, but had worked
at the mill for some time. He was a man Of
considerable political influence. well liked
by his employers and respected by many
friends.
Charles Myers, the third party killed
by the explosion of the powder mill
at Kings Station. lived at Remington, on
the Marietta and Cincinnati railroad, and is
. son of DR.. Myers, formerly employed in
young man, about 20 years old, and quite
we'll connected in Montgomery.
The cas1ss of the terrible explosion will
probably forever remain a mystery. The
theory has been advanced that II YVES caused
by friction of the machinery in the grinding
department, which was likely the case The
mills turned out about 225 kegs OF powder
daily. and it IS more than probable that there
were close to 200 kegs on hand at the time OF
the explosion Nothing but large black
where the buildings mentioned stood.
The mill was quite extensive,
and other buildings belonging to the con-
Germ remain standing perfectly uninjured.
The explosion was ali upward, and was
marked by a bright flash, loud re eport and q
thick column of dense, black smoke that
was seen for miles. The rules and regula-
tions were very strict, and were vigorously
enforced, so that the proprietors are at loss
to determine the real cause. A vast crowd
from the surrounding country are fi0cking
to the grounds, all eager to see the damage
and speculate as regards the probable cause.
FATAL POWDER MILL EXPLOSION.
XKSIA, Oct 3-rhe soda corning mill OF
the Miami Powder company's works, SIX
miles north of this city, exploded yesterday
at about O'Clock p. N. Two young colored
men-John Harris and Ed. Brooks-who
were working ar the mill, were fatally
burned. Harris died at 8 o'clock last night
and Brooks died this morning at 10 O'Clock.
Both suffered intense egopy during the few
explosion is not known, but it is ru.
mored that it was done by a trap set
by an enemy to kill Brooks, who was in
temporary charge of the mill. Harris wa:
his tender. The mill had not been running
for half an hour for want of material, and
the machinery was perfectly cool Harri:
had just brought load of cake and placed
it in the mill, and Brooks had just started
the rollers when the explosion occurred
Had he been feeding cake in the rollsrs
at the time he would have beer
blown to atoms Charles Taggart had
been running the mill for some tim,
past, but upon discovering several pieces o
iron passing through the machinery, ht
became frightened and quit the position
about week ago. Brooks, who was theI
working In another department. engaged u
run the mill until another man could b,
procured. The mill, a small building, wa
torn to pieces by the explosion, but as i
contained little powder at the time, tn,
explosion was not heavy one, and the los
to the com pany is not extensive. The ex
plosion was heard so indistinctly here tina
it was thought TO be q cannon at Dayton
and nothing was known of the matter her
until this morning.