The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-10-17
AWFUL EXPLOSION.


~ loSion. resulting IN the loss OF sew
eral lives. the iniGring Of many people
and the destruction Of much property.
occurred in the upper yard OF the ex-
tensiye powder-works OF T. !. Dupont
de Nouns a Co. IN Brandywine creek.
three miles north Of this city. Tho
shock was keenly felt here and caused
intense excitsnent There were six re-
ports resembling the booming Of can
non about second apart The frst
thought was that there had been an en-
plosion - the powder works bu; the
reports seeming so near, and not being
characterized by the usual rumbling.
and there being no smoke visible in the
direction Of the mills. IL was imagined
that the explosion had occurred in the
city. The hazy atmosphere held the
smoke and caused the reports 70 sound
differently from those OF preceding ex-
plosions-
Physicians were sum moned by tele-
phone and we're soon hurrying toward
the powder manuiactury. This was
the first indication the public had OF
the exact location Of the catastrophe.
Immediately thereafter crowds Of pco-
pie went to the scene OF disaster. The
explosion was heard and the represent
tative Of the United Press rightly con-
featuring the cause, procured team
and rapidly drove TO the rowder-works.
When he reached Mount Salem Meth
oiist Episcopal Church. mile from this
city. and saw broken frames in the
church windows. he felt sure that his
surmises were correct
More than one-half OF the window
sashes Of the large building were out.
and OF those that remained the
glass was broken. Soon thereafter a
cloud Of blush smoke was seen and the
smell Of burning powder was observed.
Following curve in the road. the re-
porter beheld an appalling spectacle.
Women and children. sons and daugh-
ters Of men employed in the powder
mandatory, we're madly rushing here
and there. seeking information about
the safety Of their loved ones.
The yard in which the mill stood was
literally filled with fallen debris and
where the buildings had been the only
traces left were empty cellars and few
foundation stones
Ike little village OF Duponts Banks.
Immediately outside the powder-yard
presented most pitiable appearance.
= hundred dwellings were either de-
m0lishsd or badly damaged Buildings
were unroofed. fronts OF houses we're
bloHn out and were wrecked Inside
che dwellings, the devastation was COM
pleta The rooms on the ground floors
were strown with broken crockery.
cruc6el stoves and remnants Of tables,
etc- The soda milla stone buslding
about two hundred yards from the
Is wrecked. The soof Of the
charcoal mills fell. and tho buildings
themselves took 6re from the funaces-
Effective use Of the 6rs apparatus II
bhe works soon extinguished she 6res-
Where the corning and packing house
Dtnod there are holes In the ground ven
lees deep
The lsrge storage magazine, eonts.n-
ing several ,oas Of powder and built %
corrugated iron. Is situated about =
quarter Of mile from the wrecked millA
Il with another smaller mill escaped,
llso the Glasing room and press ROOM
Four Of the Duponts and several clerks
we're IN the once when the explosion
sook place Every window was blown
y and much Of the plastering fell from
he walla but beyond scratches, cuts
Md bruises no one was hurt Two
(orses befng driven through the gard
we're killed, while their driver escaped
VIM. r Green was working in tho
magazine that blew up frst He w1s
Dacking powder for the Government
Et IL supposed that his soldering iron
became too hot and ignited the powder
Ten men we're killed. but the bodies
Of but two have been found While
daylight lasted portions Of the other
bodies were being collected limb
here. and an arm there. : piece Of the
trunk in another place. The list Of
dead % far reported Is = follows
VIM. r Green. . solderer. aged forty;
leaves widow and four children. His
BODY was found whole but % badly
blsckened IS TO be barely recognizable.
w. McGarvey. laborer. aged forty,
single; head blown on.
M8Itlm BViaMs a&r4 otAty NV 49,
ployed in the granting mill; leaves :
family.
Jim Dolan, : laborer. aged sixty;
single
John H Hsrrigsn, laborer, married;
aged thirty.
Michael Harrigan. laborer.
Patrick Dougherty, aged thirty; sim
gle.
John Newell. laborer, aged hfty;
leaves . family.
John Herlihe. iAborer-
Mike Herlihe. laborer.
Mira Rosa Dougherty, aged eighty
found crushed by the roof Of her house
All the names given above were mer
employed In and about the mills tina
exploded. and with tho exception o
Green and McGarvey, their bodies have
not been found
The injured are a. follows:
Daniel HarkinA aged seventy; e
tally
Patrick Gilpen. badly hurt he Va
otanding in the door OF his house 20
yards from the mill.
Thomas Dougherty, aged i've months
seriously injured BY stove falling d
him.