Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-26
Eleven Eouug Women Meet with Most
Horrible Deaths.

Eleven Eoung Women Meet with Most
Horrible Deaths.
WILEEsBAgRE (Pa.), February 25th.--A terri
bic disaster occurred at Plymouth, few miles
from here, this afternoon, by which the souls OF
eleven young girls were hurled into eter-
nifty. 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 factory employed 81 girls,
ranging from IL to 30 years, and several male
workmen. While the majority of the girls were
at their homes eating dinner, people estartled
by the deafening thunders OF aterriic explosion
They rose, terror-strickeI, and rushed to the
doors and windows, and in the distance saw
clouds OF smoke ascending from the squib fac
tory.
Soon large crowd had gathered around it,
and women began wringing their hands and
men turned away from the sight presented
when
THE CHARRED BODY or A YOUNG GIRL
Was seen lying in one OF the rooms. and the
fact became known that at least twenty persons
were in the building at the time of the explo-
sion. eating their monday lunch The scene
was fraught with terror, as the girls, some of
them bleeding and Others gssping tor breaths
frantically for help.
BRAVE MINERS REFUSED
About this time the miners from an adjoining
colllery came upon the scene, and as soon as
they saw the bleeding forms of the girls calling
Rt a as rushed toward the building in body
soon as they stepped near the door another ter
rife explosion took place. and the entire build
ing collapsed. burying in its ruins the forms
that moment before stood crying for assist
ance.
The brave 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.
AWFUL SCENES.
As mothers saw and recognized some familiar
token or piece Of dress by which they could tell
their loved ones, the scene was one that repre-
sented the extreme throes of sorrow and suffer
ing. The bodies as fast as they were taken out,
were removed to an undertaking establishment.
were so badly mutilated that they were scarcely
recognizable.
TIE YOUTHFUL VICTIMS.
The killed, so far as known, are: Kate Jones'
aged is; Maggie Lynch, aged 21; Hattie Jones,
aged 16: Gladdis Reese, aged Is: Mary Meters.
Lake. aged n; Ruth Powell, aged 10; Esther
Powell, aged %; Jane Ann Thomas, aged 16;
Charlotte Humphreys, aged II.
John Powell, the proprietor. was badly in.
jured.
a seRRow-sFRIoKEN COMMUNITY.
Business in the town of Plymouth is at a
standstll. and deathlike pail hangs over the
community. Several kegs of powder caused the
explosion, but how the were exploded is yet q
mystery
THE BODIES BLOWN TO PIECES.
At the main entrance the remains of five girls
were found. They evidently made an effort to
get out after the first explosion, but were caught
in the debris before they could reach the door
Not one was recognizable. Some had their heads
blown of. others their arms, and the majority
were minus both legs and arms
HEARF-BRoKEN RELATIVES.
The arrival OF relatives of the dead added
confusion to the scene. Their cries were heat
fact that mothers and sisters were unable to
recognize their dead.
Alter working for hours the rescuers succeeded
in getting out all the remains, which consisted
of trunks, arms, legs and skulls
THE FoREsLAN's STATEMENT.
Everyone inthe building at the time of the
explosion persisted with the exception of Fore
the first explosion took place. He rushed foI
the door to notify the girls when the second
explosion knocked him down in the basement
He managed to crawl out of this place.
THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION
Is a mystery. Reese said that squibs piled in q
box must have exploited from spontaneous
combustion He says he never allowed any
When powder was wanted it was taken from
the magazine, 100 yards away. Experts, how
ever. claim that there must have been powder
in the building or the force of the explosion
three stoves in the building, and it is stated
that on several occasions the girls, in order to
have little fun, would place powder on the
stove Just 10 see it shoot off,.