Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-10-24
Loss OF LIFE.


A Man Blown to Atoms In Bridge
port -FuImfnate Explosion - Com
sternatiOn I'm a Factory.
BRIDGEPORT, Oct 23.-One of the full
inmate departments of the Union Metallic
Cartridge company was blown up with
terrible force about o'clock this morn
ing, causing great CONSERVATION among the
900 employees in the mandatory.
George Baker and his son, Frederick W.,
were employed in the department at the
time A moment before the explosion the
son became frightened and left the place.
The father remained and was blown to
atoms, fragments of his body being scat
tered in every direction. The deceased
was over fifty years of age, had been in
charge of the department for a long time
and was considered very careful opera
tor.
The force of the explosion shattered q
large quantity of glass in the main build
ing on the opposite side of the street and
other buildings in the vicinity
The large force of operatives employed
by the company, mostly girls, became SO
frightened and excited over the accident
that they left the shop.
The affair cansed great excitement about
having relatives and friends employed in
the works. The exact cause of the explo-
sion cannot be determined at this time.
In the rear of the main factory, isolated
from other buildings, are two small struc-
lures, in which illuminate is mixed, each
of the four buildings being located in an
excavation. The illuminate houses are
fourteen feet square, built of wood, COW
cred with tin, and set into the earth SO
that the top of the banks are flush with
the line of the roof. This department was
in the sole charge of Baker, careful and
trusted man who has been in the employ
of the company for the past fifteen years.
Baker had descended into the mixing
pound Of the ingredients, which
are from twenty-five to thirty per
cent. illuminate, when without warning
there was thunderous report and he was
ushered into eternity. The fragments of
the demolished building were scattered
about the yard, although the bulk of the
remnants fell back into the excavation.
Huge pieces of tin were suspended from
the trees surrounding the pit. The body
of the unfortunate man was found in a
crouching position in a corner of the pit.
An iron railing which was attached to the
| stairway leading down into the building
was GWlSG0O anu D6uG dS II IL QaQ Do6n
piece of pliable wire The whole scene
was reminder of the awful power of full
| inmate.
| The cause of the terrible accident can
never be known. The only person who
| could explain it is dead.
The body of deceased was a horrible
| sight. The features were black and un
recognizable. The flesh was scorched, an6
only few shreds of clothing remained OF
the body. The feet were somewhat injured
but otherwise the body was not mangled
excepting few bruises.
Baker had been employed by the com
pany for fifteen years, and two years agt
was given sole control of the fulminat,
houses. He was about forty-ive years O.
of age, and has been special officer
About eight years ago when a terribl,
fatality, in which five were killed occurred
at the cartridge factory, Baker was absen
from his work, enjoying the pleasures o
an excursion. He also was fortunatel,
away several years ago upon the da..
another explosion occurred.
Shortly after the explosion E. T. Wash
burn saw piece of clothing floating il
Pembroke lake, a short distance from tn
destroyed house. 1t was small section O
the pantaloons which were worn by Bake
and were torn into shreds. The clothin
found in the lake contained pocket, an
in this was found small sum of money,
| cigar holder and several 22-calibre cal
tridges.