The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-12-04
Nitro-GIyoerine Explosion Killing
Two Young Men.

Oil City's foundations were shaken
on Saturday afternoon last, at 2
o'clock, by an explosion Of nitro'gly'
cerine on a boat moored at Fairs ice
house, just below the city, on the South
Side. Two young men lost their lives,
the ice house and an oil rig we're
transformed into kindling wood, j. G.
Abbot's barn was almost demolished,
the interior Of his residence wrecked
and rendered uuinhabitable, and the
windows blown out. Across the river
from the explosion Andrew Moyna.
hans house was treated almost as bad.
ly. 1t is a remarkable and fortunate
circumstance that aside from the ten.
porary shock and fright the families
were uninjured. Windows we're shat
tered in all parts of the city and doors
blown in. In all directions people
rushed from their .houses, thinking
they we're about to tumble down about
them. In the tall blocks in the bust.
ness part Of the city the occupants
hurried down stairs, feeling sure that
there had been a gas explosion in the
cellar and that flames would next
burst forth. On the South Side and
on Cottage Hill many persons thought
the same thing with regard ia their
houses. Edward Hoffman, aged %,
aud James. Fisher, aged 19, who were
killed by the explosion, were the sons
of widowed mothers. The body of
young Hoffman was found thrown
against the wreck of Wm. Wright's
oil derrick. Fishers body was nearer
the river. Their clothing was almost
stripped from their bodies, but they
were not mangled. Pieces Of cloth
we're found scattered in every direc.
ton. The two victims Of the explo.
sion had been hunting; their guns,
Colt magazine rifles, were found lying
near them. The one identified as
Hoffman's gave evidence of having
but recently been discharged. The
lever had been thrown back to eject
the empty shell, and the gun was in
that position when picked up by G. Ill.
Duncan. The theory grows out OF
this that bullet from Hoffman's gun
exploded the nitro-glycerine.
The glyccriue belonged to The Tor
pedo Company. 1t was loaded on the
barge at the company's factory on
Hemlock creek, near Warren, and
foated to Oil City, reaching there
early Friday evening, and landing at
Fairs ice house, between 6 and Z
o'clock. Wm. Hollister, an Old hand
at the business, was in charge of the
boat. He was aided by John Honhart
who made his first trip on this occa.
sion, and who also declares it to be his
last in the same capacity. On Satur
day morning team and wagon frsnl
Reinbold's livery was hired to trans
port the glycerine to the magazine
some three miles back ia the country
OH the road between Deep Hollow and
Salem. Hollister and Honhart under
took to do all the work themselves
The two men were mile and a hall
on their way to the magazine with the
second load when the explosion oc
Cured. They had removed 2,60C
pounds, leaving in the boat 3,40C
pounds. No one was left to guard the
cargo of con 1ensed destruction. Only
a red flag was on the boat to indicate
that there was danger. 1t is presumed
that Hoffman, perhaps ignorant o
the boats contents, used the red flag
for target, with the awful result nov
known. 1t seemed as though he haC
fred the gun and with the movement
of taking it from his shoulder, worked
. the lever to eject the empty shell, bu
had not time to reverse the movement
to throw another cartridge into the
barrel when the explosion came.
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