St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-08-30

corner of Thirty-eighth street and Wash
ton avenue. where they were kindly treated.
DIR. Mills conSoled their friends by saying
they had chance for their lives, and they
were removed to the city to the home of
Mr.. Guhls' father. Directly south of the
Lafiin-R Rand powder house, facing the Ar
cher avenue road to the northwest stood
the modest little frame house of Mrs. Eliza
DeYine. 1t had only one room. but it was
enough for its only occupant. She had
reached the age of 65, had seen her chill
dren marry and she had hoped to spend her
remaining days in the
PEACE AND oUIETNEss
of her little home. What little she re-
quired for her support she earned by MAX
ing dresses for the women in the neighbor-
hood. What she experienced when the eX-
ploSion took place, about seventy-five feet
from her, will never be written. When the
astonished and frightened neighbors were
satisfied that the rain of stones had ceased,
they found that Mrs. Devine's house was a
total wreck 1t hadn't the appearance
which characterized the ruins of Guhls'
house--that of having been blown away by
a strong gust Of wind-but it had simply
collapsed, melted as it were. The debris
was not scattered but it occupied the same
amount of space as did the house before
the explosion. The presence of a stone
weighing about 500 pounds on the top of
the ruins Indicated that the house was
squeezed together like a shell house and its
inmate was caught without chance OF eS-
cape. Willing hands were soon at work
and after much labor, she was eXtricated.
Her appearance made the hearts of the
,.,o -
leg, from the knee down, was crushed
into
SHAPELESS MASS OF FLESH
and bone. A large piece of glass had en-
tered just;undeTher left collar bone and had
been forced out through her armpit. Peter
Kenn, farmer, was driving past in his
wagon on the Archer road, and was imme-
diately in front of the great magazine when
the bolt struck. Kenn was blown 200 feet
in the cornfeld, and when picked up was
found to be frightfuly injured. One of
his horses was killed outright and hurled
into ditch at the side of the road. The
other animal was badly hurt and the
wagon was reduced to bits. Kenn's ribs were
fractured and his face and body terribly
slashed. Dirt and sand blown into the
cuts rendered his agony terrible. The
mans tongue was swollen until he could
hardly breathe. Every gasp told of
frightful internal injuries. At the
county hospital tonight. however,
he was still alive. The exploded
magazine contained, it is estimated, 140,
900 pounds of powder and half as much
dynamite. In the neighboring ten store
houses was
500, 900 POUNDS OF DYNAMITE,
and twice as much powder. Not one Of the
eleven buildings had lightning rod or con-
ductor. Justice Tierney's house was a
wonderful looking assortment of ruins.
The east wall and the roof were blown
down. and greater part of the material
composing them had disappeared into an
unknown somewhere. The second floor
of the main part OF the commodiouS house
was let down ON one side, and fur
niture, bedclothes toilet articles
and wearing apparel were heaped up
in an Undesirable mass of confusion.
The most marvellous feature of the eXplo-
sion is the miraculous escape of Mr.. and
Mrs. Tierney and their six children, who
came through the disaster almost without
injury. They were all ill the house, and
their faces were blown full of glass and
they reSembled convaleScent smallpox pa
tients, but not one of, them was seriously
hurt. When the first report of the eXpio-
sion reached the Jesuit Church of the
Holy Family at Twelfth street and Blue
Island avenue, five miles distant, 10
O'Clock mass was going on in the basement
of the editice. The rafters shook and the
building trembled like an aspen leaf.
There were between LOCO and l, 200 people
at the service. The Rev. Father Legaw
was the celebrant. The worshlppers got
uOOn thp benches and made
AN INDISCRIMINATE PLUNGE
for the staircase and windows. The latter
were knocked out, castings and all. The
utmost confusion prevailed. Men fell il
heaps over fainting women and children
To get out OH the grounds adjoining the
church basement was an uphill movement
and in the excitement many were knocked
down and tranlpled under foot Father
Legaw's admonition to the congregation
to remain seated was drowned in the pas
sionate appeals for help from trodden-or
women and children. Just at this time
Rev. Father Coughlin, the parish priest
made his appearance at one of the windows
through which the frantic crowd was surg
ing. The presence OF the reverend gentle
man had good effect, and, after assuring
the congregation that there was no danger
they were on the point of taking
their seats, when some one crieC
fire" The cry was taken III
| by hundreds and was heard across tn,
street at the engine house. No one wa
seriously hurt.