Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-03-01
A HORRIBLE DISASTER
Nearly Twenty Human Beings Hurled
Into Eternity Without Warming.
Several Kegs of Powder Explode and
Lay the Factory in Ruins.
Another Case of Murder and Suicide
Caused by FanhlesS Husband.

WTLKssRARRE, Pa, Feb. ga terrible
disaster occurred st Ply mouth, few
miles from here, this afternoon by which
the souls of ten girls and ol e man were
hurled into eternity. Back OF the Cav
lords coal shaft stood the factory OF
John Powell, used for the manufacture Of
sQulbs used by miners in looseniuS coal
IN the mines. TIE factory employsd
elGhty-four girls, ranging from twelve to
twenty years, and several male workers
While majority OF the girls were at their
hems eating dinner, the psopls
were startled by the deafsninS thunder of
the terrible explosion. They rushed terror
stricken to their doors and windows, and
In the distance saw clouds of smoke as
ceudInS from the sQuiL factory. Soon q
large crowd had gathered around 1t and
the women began wriuGinS their hands
and the men turned away from the sight
presented when the chsrred body of a
young girl was seen lying in one of the
rooms, end sooA the fact became known
that at least twenty persona were in the
building st the time of the explosion,
est,ng noon day lunch. The scene
WAS fraught with ;srrors rs
:he girls, some of them bleeding and
others SaspinS for a few brsaths OF
fresh air, rushed TO the windows and
screamed frauticslly for help. About
This time dozen muers from an adj djoiu-
lug colterv came upon the scene. and rs
soon rs they SAW the bleeding forms Of
the girls calling for aid, they rushed
toward the building in body, but fate
prevented their preferred sucSor. As
Sour IS they stepped nesr the door an
other terrific explosion took place, and
the entire building collapsed, burying in
the ruins the forms that but moment
before stood crying for assistance.
The hraCer Of the men, when the smoke
and flying debris had settled, rushed
among the ruins, and one by one the
houres were found and taken out, charred
beyond recognition, bleeding and
mHngled. As the mothers saw and REQ
oGnlzed some familiar token or piece OF
dress by which they could tell their loved
ones. the scene WAS one that represented
the extreme throes of sorrow and de
strucJlou. The bodies ss fast rs they
were taken ont were removed 10 the
undertaking establishment, where they
were placed in row. Their features
were so badly mutiIated that they were
scarcely recognizable.
The killed, so far rs kuowu, are:
Kate Jones, aged Is.
Maggie Lynch, aged n.
hettle joues, aged Is.
Gaddys Reese, aged 10.
Mary Walters, aged Il.
Maggie Richards, aged II.
Mary Lake, aged Il.
Ruth Powell aged 10.
Etther Powell, aged -.
Jaue Ann Thomas, aged Is.
john Powell, proprietor, badly injured.
Business IN the town of plymouth is at
standstil. Several kegs of powder
caused the explosion, but how they were
exploded Ia as yet Il mystery.
Another theory advanced for the ex-
plosIou, Is that pot of sulphur on the
stove, which was used to dip squibs into.
must have boiled over and iEnItcd some
loose powder which fired the kegs. The
sCeIes around the under,akrr's estsb-
llshment, where the bodies of the victims
were taken, were heartreuding. Eleven
bodies lay there, headless armloss and
iegless. From pieces of scOrched clnthing
and small buttons the yictIms we're ident-
ided. The bodies lay on the floor, Gov
cred with coarse borlaps, aud we're mark
ed as soon IA identified. The
crowd outside numbered hundreds, aud
was augmented IA each ambulance
brought an additional body. Up to II
week ago eighty girls had been employ
ed, but an ao1ident to a portion of the
machinery made 1t necessary play off all
but few of them.
Eye witnesses say there were five re-
ports, two heavy and three light. The
heavy ones were powder kegs and the
light ones boxes of sguibs. At midnight
Foreman Reese was ravIng III delirium.
The bodies will be removed to the homes
of the victims tOmorroS aud tie funerals
will be held Wednesday evening.