The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-11-08
DEADLY DYNAMITE.

An disqualification OF the Terrific Force
of the Compound-Five Men Torn to
Atoms and Scattered Over a Radius of a
Mile by an Explosion of Dynamite In
Pennsylvania.
CONFLUENCE, PA, Oct. g.
One of the most remarkable and shocking
disasters of the year occurred near what Is
known as Brooks Tunnel, on the Balti
more & Ohio Railroad yesterday morning
about nine O'Clock, resulting in the killing
Of five men. The railroad company have
been strengthening and widening the tun-
mel, and some distance out magazine had
been erected, in which was stored 1900
pounds of dynamite which was to be used
for blasting. About the hour named
freight train had just passed through the
tunnel and was sidetracked to allow pas
senger train overdue to pass. -Four of the
crew walked back to the vicinity of the
magazine and were engaged in converse.
ton with the Waterman when people
living in the vicinity were startled by
a terrible conclusion. Houses for many
miles around were shaken to their
foundations, and windows for a distance
of seven miles were shattered. Horror
stricken, the people ran from their houses,
and upon investigation it was found that
the dynamite had exploded with fearful eff
feet. Everything in the vicinity gave evil
dence of the terrific force of the explosion.
Trees were uprooted, huge rocks torn asun-
der, and telegraph poles for half mile
Frustrated. Nothing remained of the mag
azine, while the five men who were present
were missing. They had disappeared as
completely as if they had never existed.
Search was at once made, and parties of
men examined the ground over a space of
acres about the scene of the explosion, but
amid all the wreck and ruin no trace of a
man could be found. 1t was not until She
search was extended to distance of half
mile from the tunnel that the first terrible
discovery was made. One of the searchers
saw on the ground fragment of burned
clothing, and, picking it up, was Mortified
to find that it inclosed piece of flesh and
shattered bone. Itwas part of a human be-
ing, but what part could not be readily told,
so crushed and mangled was the fragment.
Further search resulted in discoveries of
thelsame CHASTITY nature. Small pieces of
bloody clothing were found and other
pieces of flesh and bone. To none attached
anything giving it an identity until hui
man IOOC ana nanQ were found, ana these
were at once conceded to be the foot and
hand of Reynolds, the engineer. They
were identified by a peculiar ring on the
hand and by the shoe ON the foot The
other fragments of flesh picked up were 80
few in number and SO small that it was i'm
possible to form any idea as to whom
among the unfortunate men they had be-
longed.
The dynamite which exploded with such
destructive results was stored in tin cans
on the hillside, the total amount in the
magazine being about 200 pounds. Late
reports which come in show that the shock
was felt distinctly at distance of twenty.
five miles. The tunnel is situated eighty
five miles east of Pittsburgh.
The cause of the explosion is enshrouded
In mystery, as the five men who might
have thr own some light on the affair are
dead. 1t is quite probable that it will never
be known. Not far from the accident a
gun was found and it is supposed one of
the victims discharged it, the conclusion
causing the dynamite to explode. An in
quest was held by the Coroner to-day and
a verdict of accidental death rendered.
Great excitement prevails here, and hum
dredS have gone to the scene of the disas-
ter. The names of the unfortunate men are
as follows:
George Reynolds, engineer, Confluence,
Pa.
Charles Tice, fiagman, Confluence, Pa.
Robert Hammond, Waterman, Cumber.
land, Md.
w. A. Dean, tunnel blacksmith;
II. R. Burchild, helper, both of Corn.
wallis Va