Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-28
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 a Faithless Husband.

WLKEsBARRE, Pa, Feb. 25.-A terrible
disaster occurred at Plymouth, few
miles from here, this afternoon, by which
the souls of ten girls and one man were
hurled into eternity. Back of tho Gay
lords coal shaft stood the factory of
John Powell, used for the manufacture of
squibs used by miners in loosening coal
in the mines. The factory employed
eighty-fo girls, ranging from twelve to
twenty years, and several male workers.
While majority of the girls were at their
home eating dinner, the people
were startled by the desfening thunder of
the terrible explosion. They rushed terror
stricken to their doors and windows, and
in the distance saw clouds of smoke as
oending from the squib factory. Soon
large crowd had gathered around it and
the women began wringing their hands
and the men turned away from the sight
presented when the charred body of a
young girl was seen lying in one of the
rooms, and soon the fact became known
that at least twenty persons were in the
building at the time of the explosion,
eating MONDAY lunch. The scene
was fraught with terrors as
the girls, some of them bleeding and
others gasping for few breaths of
fresh air, rushed to the windows and
screamed franticalIy for help. About
this time dozen miners from an adjoin-
ing colliery came upon the scene, and as
soon as they saw the bleeding forms of
the girls calling for aid, they rushed
toward the building in body, but fate
prevented their preferred suooor. AS
soon as they stepped near 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 braver of the men, when the smoke
and flying debris had settled, rushed
among the ruins, and one by one the
bodies were found and taken out, charred
beyond recognition, bleeding and
mangled. AS the mothers saw and REQ
ognized 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-
strucJion. The bodies, as fast as they
were taken out, were removed to the
undertaking establishment, where they
were placed in a row. Their features
were so badly mutilated that they were
scarcely recognizable.
The killed, so far as known, are:
Kate Jones, aged Is.
Maggie Lynch, aged 81.
Hettie Jones, aged Is.
Gladys Reese, aged Is.
Mary Walters, aged II.
Maggie Richards, aged IL.
Mary Lake, aged IL.
Rnth Powell, aged 10.
Esther Powell, aged %.
Jane Ann Thomas, aged 16.
John Powell, proprietor, badly injured.
Business in the town of Plymouth is at
a standstill. Several kegs of powder
caused the explosion, but how they were
exploded is as yet mystery.
Another theory advanced for the ex-
plosion, is that pot Of sulphur on tho
stove, which was used to dip squibs into.
must have boiled over and ignited some
loose powder which fired the kegs. The
scenes around the undertaker's estab-
lishment, where the bodies of the victims
we're taken, were heartrending. Eleven
bodies lay there, headless, armless and
legless. From pieces of scorched clothing
and small buttons the victims were ident-
flied. The bodies lay on the floor, Gov
cred with coarse burlaps, and we're mark
ed as soon as identified. The
crowd outside numbered hundreds, and
was augmented as each ambulance
brought an additional body. Up to a
week ago eighty girls had been employ
ed, but an accident to a portion of the
machinery made it necessary today off all
but q 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 squibs. At midnight
Foreman Reese was raving in delirium.
The bodies will be removed TO the homes
of the victims tomorrow and tae funerals
will be held Wednesday evening.