The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-16
INDIANA AND ILLINOIS NEWS
Details of the Boiler Explosion Near
Harrodsburg, Monroe County.
Three Men Instantly Killed, Fourth Fa-
tally Injured, and Several Others Seri-
Ously Injured and Gleanings.
INDIANA.
Three Men Instantly Killed and Others Sc
riously Injured.


Special to the indianapolis Journal
BLOOMINGTON, July ia terrible explosion
occurred late yesterday evening, about FIVE miles
west Of Harrodsburg, at saw-mill, adding an
other to the catastrophies that have occurred in
this section Of the State within the past year
Three men were killed instantly, one cannot
live longer than few days, and three others are
very seriously injured
AS usual on such occasions, the accident is the
result of either carelessness or gross ignorance
The mill is a stationary saw-mill only IN opera
ton few weeks, but an old worn-out boiler had
been put in use, and added to this was the add
ton of new inspirator, which, to unaccustomed
hands, is very dangerous piece of machinery
about an engine It is supposed two of the
killed were experimenting with this inspirator
when the accident occurred.
Just at 3 o'clock terrible shock, that
seemed like it might be earthquake, was
heard for miles, and soon neighbors gathered
from every direction towards the place from
whence the shock seemed to come. As the saw
null was reached fearful spectacle presented it.
self The building was blown to atoms and for
hundreds of feet timber and pieces of boiler from
the weight of two hundred pounds down to
dead and dying were lying on the ground, some
partly covered by the rubbish and almost be
You'd recognition from the SCOT and steam. The
first reached was William c. Graves. He was al
most dead, and as few boards were
removed it was evident he only had a few
minutes to live, his head being partly torn
of His breast was also bruised, and
both arms were broken When moved to the
shade he groaned few times and expired. Mr..
Graves had only come over to the mill a short
time before to spend few hours with the em-
ployes, they being relatives, and was near the
boiler when he met his fate.
The next men found were John and Wesley
Carter, the proprietors of the Inflated concern.
They lay perhaps thirty feet from the engine,
with which they had been experimenting at the
time, Wesley being the engineer. When found
he was dead, it being apparent that he had died
instantly. Many of the bones of his body were
broken, his breast being cayed in by some large
flying missile The dirt and steam had so dis
figured him that he was almost beyond recogni
ton. Near by lay the body of his son, John.
who, with his father, was trying to work the in
spifator. A portion of his head was gone, and
both shoulders broken his ribs mashed, and
body bruised all over Like his father, he
was only recognized by the clothes he wore.
Both were moved to house near By, where kind
neighbors paid the last service to their mangled
remains By this time physicians had been sent
for and probably hundred neighbOrs were on
the scene, caring for the injured. Under lot
Of rubbish and boards lay another unfortunate,
Mr.. Collins, who was unable to speak; his
"a \. Al
placed beneath the shade Of tree His head
had been fearfully injured, portion of the back
skull being torn off. Hisarms were also broken,
and near the temple were two horrible gashes,
which, it is feared. are necessarily fatal He
was newcomer in the neighborhood, and had
only worked IN the mill short time. HIS recov-
cry seems impossible.
Another of the seriously wounded is an old
man by the name of John Foddrill an employe
in the saving department.. He was injured in
che side by a piece of timber, and also has a
broken arm 1t is feared he will not recover
Billy Graves, another sawyer, was badly
bruised by pieces Of timber striking him. and
one leg is broken.
John Reed, an employe, had one shoulder bad
lymashed He was knocked fully thirty feet
Uut Lis III are uOb SUCH dS 10 prove danger
GUS
An employee by the name of Callahan is also
seriously injured about the body. He was in
the mill at the time, and was struck by flying
timbers. Several of his hurts are painful, but
viii soon heal
Three workmen presents were uniniured,
though the shock stunned them at the time
@ne man was knocked senseless for several min
utAs. Another tells your correspondent Of being
behind pile of lumber, when the earth seemed
to give way beneath him, and almost instantly a
man went flying over his head. At the time he
was bending down, which, likely, saved his life
All around little pieces of iron lay about as if
they had fallen from the clouds The loss to
the mill is, perhaps, $4,000. By 5 o'clock Eve
physicians were on the ground, and everything
possible was being done for the unfortunate vic
tins. Only two months ago three men were
killed, and several badly injured, by dynamite
explosion, in the northern part of the county
The situation of the mill is on theextreme south
west edgeof Monroe county, about mile from
the Greene county line.