The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-07
POWDER MILL EXPLOSIONS.
Employees in Powder Mills Standing Ever
in the Presence of Death.

IN the presence OF DEATH
One who has never looked upon the
scene after heavy mill has exploded
can not imagine the destruction in
volved in the immense force exerted by
ton or two of first-class powder. The
first explosion after my connection with
powder works occurred in the packing
house where the powder was being put
in kegs for delivery to the Government.
1t took place about seven o'clock on a
short December morning, just as was
eating my breakfast. A pane OF glass
from the window six feet away suddenly
slapped the side of my head, and at the
same time heard and felt tremendous
report and heavy jar which made me
think the world was coming to an end.
Running out of doors | saw a heavy
column of smoke shooting up in the air;
all the tree-topS in the vicinity of the
building were full of burning powder
bags which gave the scene strangely
wierd look in the twilight of 4 dismal
winters morning. The only occupant
of the mill was blown into a thousand
pieces, the largest bit found being his
left arm. These relies of poor humanity
were scattered around in the woods for
fully half a mile from the mill. AT
night when the coroner arrived to hold
an inquest he asked for the corpse.
Some one silently pointed to a peach
basket placed on the stone wall; it was
full of small pieces of flesh and bones,
all that was left of Stalwart man.
The victims wife and daughter We're in
the house he had occupied not over two
hundred feet from the mill; the house
was racked to pieces, but neither re-
ceived scratch, and the horse i'll the
stable beside the house was found roam
ing around the yard unframed.
The next explosion | witnessed took
place at noon of July day. The hay
in the yard about the mills had been
cut and eigh: or ten men had been
working around the corning mill all the
forenoon drawing the hay away to the
barn. At noon they went TO dinner,
and while they were eating the mill eX-
ploded, killing only its regular attend
ant. If it had occurred either an hour
earlier or later eight or ten lives would
have been lost The mill stood on the
bank of the pond, about two acres in
extent The explosion forced the water
completely out of the pond and over
the dam, leaving nothing but the creek
running through the centre. Where
the building had stood a pit was dug
large enough to. hold twO-stOry house.
At one time man was discharged
from the works for neglect of duty. a
fortnight after he met one of the en-
ployeS in the village near and ques-
toned him as to whether the linen who
worked at night were changed at the
same hours as formerly. 1t was
answered in the affirmative. That night
about eleven O'Clock was awakened
BY violent pounding on the door and
a voice proclaimed that 1.-THE Office was
on fire" This building stood on
rather steep bill near. 1t was combi-
nation of office and carpenter shop, and
was used on occasion as a StOrage-hOuSe
for powder when other places were full.
On hearing the cry of fire L pulled on
nv ciOtheS-in my excitement getting
inside of two vests-and started out of
the house, picking up pail of water on
lily way a. IHO S"IO ihOU w lOLC-
man, tall, lank Yankee.
That's right" said he, hurry
up and follow met He threw
himself against the door and burst it
open. There was the fire flaming in
one corner of the carpenter shop. A
large pile of shavings had been raked
up and set on fire apparently with a
slow-match. As we entered the flames
began to gather Roadway and burned
up brightly. At that moment l hap
pened to think that there were about
two hundred kegs of powder stored in
the room directly over the carpenter
shop, and that the floor between con-
sisted only of loose boards laid down on
the beams My courage came near
leaving me, and | shouted to the fore
man, who was before me: ''f or God 5
sake, come back There's powder over
head ~ Il know that" said he with
the GOODNESS only Yankee is master Of
but we must put out the fire Taking
off his coat he threw it over the shay
| ings and then threw himself full length
on top of it. At the same time he called
out to me Nov throw on the water!n
and | did it, thoroughly drenching him
| and checking the flames materially. By
| the time the other wOrkmen came run
| ming up the fire was out. Turning and
graSping me BY the hand the brave
Yankee exclaimed Il would not have
entered this building in the face of
such danger as threatened us for all the
company is worth, if | hadn't thought
it was my duty" Examination
showed that the Office had been
robbed of several costly rifles and
/ other things and then the fire was
/ started to hide the crime. Several DAYS
after, the emplOye, who had met the dis
! charged workman on the day of the
fire, happened to remember about his
interview with him and reported it.
Two or three other suspicious circHm-
| stances were recalled. he was arrested,
and all the stolen goods found in his
room. He had robbed the office and
| set fire to the building in revenge for
his DISMISSAL. little thinking and per-
haps little caring how many lives might
have been lost in consequence. If the
| fire had not been discovered at its start
| and had communicated with the
| powder, the result would have been
! terrible to the whole settlement. The
criminal was sent to the State Prison
| for seven years.
The last explosion | witnessed, and
the one which finally led me to leave
the mills. has little ghost story con-
nected with it which may make the in
ere iuious laugh. but which nevertheless
| occurred just as / tell it. One evening
] in lime | Started fOT. home about ten
o clock. 1t was bright, moonlight