Delta chief., 1885-06-24
EXPLOSION IN PUEBLO.
A Foolish Young Man Pays for His Folly
with His Life

with His Life.
Special to the Denver Tribune Republican.
PUEBLO, Colorado, June 17.--This
afternoon at half. past O'Clock frightful ex-
plosion shook the city, and in moment the
people crowded the streets and began looking
for the cause OF the disaster. The first thing
In the minds OF most people was that 1t WAS
dynamite explosion, but sober second
Thought soon dspelled this idea, and the sight
OF huge volume OF black smoke near Bes-
semer, rising heavenward, seemed to indicate
that an explosion had occurred at Bessemer.
The Tribune Republicans correspondent
sprang into buggy and drove in the direction
of the dense column OF smoke as rapidly as
possible. Arriving at Bessemer 1t was learned
that powder gazine had been blown up,
but no one knew whether anyone had been
hurt. Hurryipg on about half 3 mile further
ont the reporter was Mortified TO meet a Mr..
Reiss driving towards town a. rapid gait,an
supporting in the buggy alongside OF him,
with his left arm, q man completely denuded
of clothing, with his hair burned from his
head, his left eye burned out, ghastly wound
In his left side and another in bis left shoulder,
and his body covered with wounds Fl ON which
sckening or horrible looking sight was never
witnessed. This man was young fellow
named Charles Nelson; about IS years OF age,
who works as of bearer at the Colorado
Coal and Iron Company's brick-yard. Hurry
ing on, the scene Of the explosion was soon
reached, and here another horrible sight WAS
presented. About Hfty yards from where the
powder magazine had stood, was stretched
the body Of a man, cold and stiH In death
He was unrecognizable, so badly WAS he
burned. His clothing had bee torn almost
completely from his body; his eyes were
burned out; his hands were partly blown of,
and his body was covered with CHASTITY look
ing wounds caused by flying bricks and piece
OF sheet-iron from the lining OF the magazine.
Several pieces of sheet-iron, from an inch to
FsiI inches In length, were imbedded In the
mans body, but, singular to relate, none OF the
large bones seemed to be broken. The concus-
sion had no doubt killed the unfortunate but
foolish fellow. This was John Weaver, q
young man about 81 years OF age. About ten
feet from Weaver's body WAS a forty five cali
bre Winchester repeating rife, and this It WAS
surmised had done the damage. Around
Weayer's body was a cartridge belt about half
filed with cartridges
In every direction for n distance OF 200 yards
from the powder house the soap-wced and
grass, covering the prairie, was on Ere, indicat-
ing that the blaze from the burning powder
must have shot out In solid sheet In a direc-
tions. Not brick was left standing where the
powder house had stood, but fragments Of
them were found Ia every direction for 800
yards.
The house wes about lsx2o feet in size. II
was built OF brick and lined with sheet Iron,
with heavy sheetiro door. The floor OF the
powder house had been built about eight in
ches above the ground, ard underneath where
II stood was hole ten feet deep and about
thirty feet In length and width. The powder
house contained about 100 kegs OF black
powder belonging TO the Colorado Coal and
Iron Company, AMI the loss will be between
a, 900 and 5000. II Is said there was no
giant powder In the house.
Returning to Nelson's home, we found that
half dozen physicians were attending to his
wants. while his aged father and mother and
other relatives were bending over him, crying,
weeping and lamentiDg, making the scenc
most heartrendlng one. The young man was
conscious andh he talked rationally, but few Of
the physicians expressed any hope for his
covc.y. He was horribly injured above the
waist, but his lower limbs were injured very
little.
He explained the explosion by saying that be
and John Weaver the dead man, had gone out
bunting. Weaver carried Nelson's gun, al
ready mentioned, and when near the powder
house Weaver said to Nelson "1'm going to
shoot at the door of the powder house" Mel:
Weaver insisted and Nelson says he stepped
back Of Weaver about five feet, when the latter
raised the gun and fired. This ia all the rccol-
lection the poor fellow has OF what occurred.