The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-10-26
BLOWN TO ATOMS.

a "Squib' Factory Near Wilkesbarre, Pa,
Destroyed by a Powder ExpIosion-Sever-
al Persons Killed and Others Fatally
Wounded.
WHKEsBARRE, Pa. Oct 24.-About one
o'clock yesterday afternoon the mining
town Of Plymouth, four miles from this city,
was the scene of great excitement. The
Excelsior gas squib factory exploded with
terrific force. AS soon as the explosion oc-
Cured those near by ran to the rescue. of the
operatives who were buried in the debris.
Sympathetic hands were. soon employed in
removing as tenderly as possible the black
ened and disfigured victims. Five
dead bodies were found. One girl, Matte
james, aged sixteen, when found had moth
ing on but her c0rsets and shoes, her clothes
having been literally torn to pieces. She
was burned to crisp The others present.
ed almost as sickening an appearance. AS
the injured all resided near by they were
taken to their respective homes as quickly
as possible and medical aid summoned.
All the local physicians and one or
two. from a distance responded promptly
to the call, and everything was done to ease
the terrible sufferingS Of the unfortunate
children. The scenes in their homes were
heartrending. Mothers tainted and fathers
trenbled with grief as the black and diSfig-
ured forms of their loved ones were borne
by S0rroWing neighborS into the house.
The news of the disaster spread
rapidly, and mechanics, miners and
men engaged in other employment quit
work and hurried to the scene. In some
of the houses it was difficult to get through
the crowds that filled them Women
thr0nged the apartments where the sufferers
were placed The mother of Mamie Norris,
aged sixteen, whose body is one mass of
scarihed flesh, and who can not live, re-
marked that her daughter said when she
came home"to dinner that just before she
left the factory a little bird flew in at an open
window and alighted on her shoulder.
This the poor girl considered a
premonition of death, for she said
to her mother as she came into
the house: Mother, | am going to
die to-day, know am" Miss Norris
home is one of apparent culture and refine
ment. A fine upright piano, a gift to
Mamie, stood in the handsomely furnished
parlor. She is an only daughter She was
conscious when seen by the correspondent,
and was apparently resigned to her fate.
Eight hands were employed in the
factory, whose ages ranged from
eleven to sixteen. Matte James, whose
body is crisp and filled with powder, is
about sixteen She is unconscious and is
wrapped in cotton. Her death is hourly ex-
pected. In another room lay the body of
hnl. hTotboV orad nIaxyaD xxbo xrb;lo +o,,;
bly, burned, is not thought to be hurt in
ternally. The doctors think he will recover.
About the children moved the forms of the
gray-haired parents, trembling with grief.
Mary Quinn lay in her home on the hill,
above the iron bridge, blackened and burned
like the rest Of her companions She is
twelve years old, and can not live.
Hattie Moss, aged fifteen, was blown in
to a creek which runs behind the factory,
and, though her feet are badly burned, it is
thought she will recover.
John Evans, fourteen years of age will
also recover, though burned severely.
James Steele, aged fourteen, is terribly
mangled, and his life is despaired of.
Lizzie Edwartts was lying bandaged from
head to foot, but she said the physicians had
hopes Of her recovery.
No one appeared to know what caused
the explosion. Mr.. Smith, superintendent
of the factory, had not returned from din
ner, and could not explain how it happened.
He said that besides a quantity of powder
used for manufacturing the squibs, there
was about a key and half of damaged
powder scattered in five different kegs.
Lizzie Edwards told her mother that they
were burning wood in the stove, and
that spark flew out and ignited some straw
on the floor which set fire to the powder.
Mr. Smith could not estimate the loss sus-
tanned The factory was located in an old
shed that stood on Skeer's property, about
one hundred feet from the road leading to
Rundown. 1t was started last April. 1t is
expected that at least five of the injured
children will die r,