The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-10-25
FRIGHTFUL DETAILS.
Particulars of the Explosion at Kings
ton, Pennsylvania.
shocking Disaster which Has Put a
Whole Town I'm Mourning
Graphic Description of
the Terrible scene.


town Of Kingston, two miles from here, was
the scene Of a terrible explosion, by which
eight young persons were terribly burned.
Three have already died. The explosion took
place at the Excelsior squib factory, which
was completely wrecked The factory
was situated in the western part of
the borough, and consisted of one
frame building about forts by thirty feet.
About o'clock the neighbors were
startled by three loud reports in rapid sue
cession, which made the ground tremble and
broke every window within circuit of 300
yards. The terrified women living in ada
cent houses rushed from their shaking tene-
ments, dragging their children after them.
The force of the explosion tore Off the roof
of the building and blew out one side, while
the flames and smoke were issuing from every
portion of the wrecked structure
Through the binding smoke the blazing
forms of the unfortunate victims were seen
TO staggcr, shrieking wieldly in their agony.
A small creek runs within ten yards of the
factory, and two girls were seen to rush down
the bank and endeavor to extinguish their
clothing by plunging into the stream. They
were Hattie Norris and Lizzie Edwards, both
about 10 years old. They were terribly
burned, there being scarcely portion of their
bodies not charred almost to crisp Hattie
Norris died within an hour, and Lizzie
Edwards cannot live till morning. One boy,
John Evans, about Is years old, was found
on the other side of the creek, where it is sup
posed be had been blown by the explosion
He died after removal to his home Matte
James, aged 90, the forewomal, was found
blazing heap in field twenty yards from the
factory. Her clothing was burned from her
bodyi and she was charred almost beyond
recognition. She was removed to her home,
but died about 4:30.
James Steele and Albert James, two lads
about 10 years old, were found near the build
ing half buried in the blazing ruins They
were both fearfully burned, but James Steele
will probably recover, having no serious in
juries except upon his legs and feet. Albert
James, a brother of Matte James, was burned
principally about the head and chest and can
not survive. Mary Moss, aged IS, ran toward
the creek, but fell before she reached
it. When picked up her clothing was blaz-
ing. She is terribly burned about tho head
and body, and will probably die before morn
ing. Lizzie Quinn, aged 16, dragged herself,
all blazing, to neighbours fencd. She was
helped over and the flames soon extinguished,
but her injuries are very severe, and there is
little hopes of her recovery
The names Of the killed and injured are as
follows: Killed-Mattie James, body burned
to complete crisp and filed with powder;
Hattie Morris, flesh scarified into u mass Of
cinder; John Evans burned to a crisp. In
jured-Lzzie Edwards, seriously burned, but
may live; James Steele, terribly burned and
death thought to be certain; Albert James,
terribly burned but may recover: Mary
Moss, feet burned, she was blown into a
creek; will recover; Lizzie Quinn, burned to
u crisp and win die.
In the confusion of the moment it was re-
ported that three or four more were within
the blazing building, and a scene of terrible
excitement ensued A chain was formed to
the creek, and pals of water were passed from
hand to hand and their contents flung upon
the flames. Others sought to tear down the
building with poles and ladders, while many
OF the women who had gathered rouHd
the spot tainted with the heat
and excitement, and were carried off
by their friends. 1t was finally discovered
that all the inmates had been rescued, and the
useless effort to quench the flames was aban-
doned
All the injured persons resided in the'imme-
date vicinity, and were well known by nearly
everybody in Kingston. They are all of re-
spectacle families, and the two young women
whose deaths are announced were daughters
of well-tO-do parents.
How the explosion was caused cannot be ex-
actly ascertained, but it is thought that a spark
flew out of the store into some loose powder
The squibs are made of powder and straw,
and are used by the miners as slow matches
in firing their blasts 1t is claimed by the
owner of the factory that there not was more
than twenty pounds of powder in the build
ing, but the terrible force of the explosion
seems to indicate far more. The factory had
been only working for about five months,
the process of manufacturing being one
newly invented by Mr.. Smith the proprietor.
1t was by the purest accident that work was
carried on in that building. A larger one is
being built, and had it not been for the sick
ness Of man who was completing the in
ternal fittings the factory would have been
removed two days ago.
LATER.-Two more victims of the ex-
splosion at the squib factory in Kingston,
Mary Quinn and Hattie Moss, are Dead
dying in terrible agony. Lizzie Edwards
and James Steel are praying for death to
relieve them of fearful suffering.