The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-02-26
INTO ETERNITY.
An Explosion in Factory in Penn
sylvania, by Which Eleven
Lives Are Lost.
Ten Of the Victims Girls. Whose Re-
mains Are Taken From the Ruins
Terribly MangIed.
HeArtrcnding Scenes at the Undsrtsksrs
When Mothers and Relatives 90
20 Claim Their Dead.

WLKEssARRE, Pa. Feb. ga terrible
disaster occurred At Plymouth, n few miles
from here this afternoon, by which the
souls OF ten girls and one man were hurled
into eternity. Back OF the Gaylord shaft
stood the factory OF John Powell, used for
the manufacture OF squibs used by miners
In loosening coal In the mines. The fac
tory employed eighty-four gIrls, ranging
from ~ 70 20 years and several male work.
men. While majority OF the girls were
at their homes eating dinner. the people
were startled by the deafenIng thunder OF
terrific explosion. They rushed terror
stricken 10 the doors and windows, and In
the distance saw clouds OF smoke ascend
lng from the squlb factory. Soon large
men hurried away from from the
sight presented when the bodv
OF young girl was seen lying In one OF
the rooms and the fact became Known that
at least twenty persons were In the build
Ing At the time Of the explosion eating their
MONDAY lunch. The scene was frauRht
bleeding, others gasping for few breaths
OF fresh air, rushed TO the windows and
screamed frantlcally for help. About this
time dozen miners from an adjoining col
liery came on the scene and as soon a. thew
saw the bleeding forms OF the girls calling
for aid, rushed toward the building In q
body, but fate prevented their proiiered
succor. As soon as they stepped near the
door another terrific explosion took place
and the entire building collapsed, burylnR
In the ruins the people who moment be-
fore stood crying for assistance. Brave
men, when the smoke and flying debris had
settled, rushed among the ruins and
one bv one the bodies were found
and taken out charred beyond recognition,
bleeding and mangled. As mothers saw
and recognized some familiar token or .
piece OF dress by which they could tell their
loved ones the scene was an indescribable
one. The bodies, as fast as they were taken
out, were removed 20 the undertaking es-
tablishment, where they were placed In q
row, their features so badly mutIlated that
they were scarcely recognizable. The
killed, a. far as known, are as follows:
KATE JONES, MAGGIE LYNCH,
HATTIE JoNEs, GLADDIE RosE,
MARY WATERS, MAGGIE RICHARDS,
MARY A. LAKE, RUTH POWELL,
ESTHER PowRLL, JESSIE CoNNELL,
GEoRsE ). REEsE, Engineer.
John Powell, the proprietor, was badly
Injured. Business In the town OF Plymouth
Is nj q stAndstlll and death, like q pail,
hangs over the community. Several kegs
OF powder caused the explosion, but how
they were exploded II As yet q mystery.
At the main entrance the remains Of ave
girls were found. They must evidently
have made an effort 10 get out after the frat
explosion, but were caught In the debris
before they could reach the door. Not one
was recognizable; some had their heads
blown Oh, others the arms, and majority
were minus both legs and arms. The ar
rival Of the relatives OF the dead added con-
fusion 10 the scene. Their cries were heart
rending. What made II more pathetic was
the fact that mothers and sisters were un-
able to recognize their dead. After work.
Ing an hour, the rescuers succeeded In get
ting out all the remains, which consisted of
trunks, arms. legs, and skulls. Every one
In the building at the time OF the explosion
| perished with the exception OF Foreman
Reese. He was standing at the stove when
the first explosion took place. He rushed
for the door 10 notify the girls when the
second explosion knocked him down In the
basement He managed 10 crawl out Of
this place.
| A theory advanced for the explosion is
that pot OF sulphur on stove which was
used 10 dip squibs into, must have boiled
over and lRnited some loose powder, which
| fired the kegs. The scenes around the un-
dertakers' establishment where the bodies
OF the victims were taken, were heartrend-
Ing. Eleven bodies lay there, headless,
armless and legless. From pieces OF
scOrched clothing and small buttons the
victims were identified.