Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-18
A BIG EXPLOSION.
Renty Quarts Of NitrO-Glycerine
Work Great Destruction.
oNE MAN BLOWN TO PIECES
sd Scarcely Shred Of Him Found-fhs Wagon
Torn to Flinders- Two Houses Shattered.
Ths Shock Felt Pourlsen Miles Dis
t2nt-Ths Damage Done.
e.esaI 7sssgram to tAs Register.


WASHINGTON, PA. July 17.-Samuel
BIgley was driving light wagon which
,ontalued twenty quarts of glycerine
but the pike, on his way to Greene
,onptv. when the can contain
be- the liquid exploded with
errific force. Bigley was blown to
toms. and the horses were blown many
eet and instantly killed, scarcely any
BART Of the wagon has been found.
The accident occurred in front Of the
residences Of Workman Hughes, Sr., and
Lee Mlnton, which were completely
wrecked. The house Of Mr.. Hughes is
eopstructed OF brick and is so badly
tracked that it is considered unsafe.
Tbe furniture in all the houses in the
Immediate vicinity is worthless. The
residences also Of Carson Holder, Harry
Dsgue. Bent Lewis. Mr.. Myers, Prof.
Iombaugh, Z. E. Crumrine and G. w.
LacOck are wrecked.
Pieces OF Bigley's body were found at
distances varying from 800 to 500 yards
Instant from the scene Of the accident.
piece Of the mans jaw was discovered
Zoo yards east on the pike, and pieces OF
the backbone 500 yards south.
A little granddaughter Of Workman
Hughes, Sr., was painfully injured, as
WAS also Mrs. Hughes and several 9TH
ers Their wounds are not considered
aangerous, however.
For some time after the explosion 1t
FaS difficult to locate the scene, ana
peoDle were running in every direction.
After arriving at the place OF the acct
aent the scenes Witnessed were narrow
,nv In the extreme. Friends in town
did not know how many people were
hurt or killed, and their anxiety as 10
their welfare was very great. IL was
Soon learned that no one but the driver
WAS killed, and everybody set TO work
to render what aid was possible In the
wav OF getting valuableS from the
houses, the walls Of which were almost
ready to fall.
A large hole in the ground, two dead
bNgfeg, tue ilOtoU gIycerfne expert, COTG
the awful story. Mrs. Bigley and little
child were in town at the time Of the ae-
cident. Half the population of this city
are at the scene of the accident, and the
excitement is intense. There is hardly a
whole pane OF glass in houses left along
the entire Maiden street extension, they
having been shattered by the force Of
the conclusion. A piece of flesh said to
be from the head or neck of the unfOr-
fUnate man was picked up by Police
nan Barbour. A piece Of the axle Of
fhe wagon about three feet I'm length
MAS found by W. 3. McKennan, one
hundred yards away, twisted entirely
aOuhle, as neatly as il done by black
snth.
Pat Mofiat, Harry Hart and Grant
Powell We're repairing the telegraph
line near the scene Of the accident when
the explosion occurred. MOffat was
Knocked off the pavement into the gut
ter. His clothes were torn, but he eS-
capped without injury. A gang of col
ored wOrkmen were excavating for
new house within COO feet west Of the
scene. They escaped injury also. Sew
eral men were working on the b. &. o.
railroad In a cut 200 yards away and
we're badly frightened. Pieces Of flesh
md parts of the wagon fell all around
hem. Lizzie Holder aud Hannah HOf-
ferd were in the front room OF John
Holder's residence and, although COW
ered with broken bits OF glass, were not
hurt. Mrs. Holder and a neighbOr,
Ms. Prall, aged about "a years,
Nere sitting on the front
steps OF the Holders house.
only about ninety yards dittant from
HE scene. Mrs. Prall was knocked
oyer into Mrs Holders arms. She was
removed % her home at once. She is
now confined in bed, but has received
Is serious injuries. Miss Dora Long
hnd Mrs. James COnnOr were seated on
BE back porch of the Hughes resi-
hence, which is Immediately opposite
NE place where the explosion occurred.
Although badly shocked, the ladies
feel no effcts Of the terrible experience.
Mrs. Hughes was in the kitchen. The
toncusSiOn shook down stray swarm
"A honey bees which had "Settled, on
tree near the house, and many OF them
attacked the lady fercely. About so
strings were taken from her hair. Lit
liz Ina Hughes, 4 daughter Of James
hughes. of Ten Miles was on the front
orch and within about 100 feet from
~ he scene OF Of the explosion. She was
brribly bruised and cut, and her dress
~as almost torn of her person. She
as taken 10 William Workman's resi-
asnce. The attending physician states
az her real condition will not be
known until this evening. Many other
reople living in the vicinity were more
cd less injurned, but none seriously.
The loss IN real estate and personal
oroperty will amount to almost $4,000,
aivlded as follows:
orkmau Hughes, ST., house se..-...........Ss, ~ sO9
Norkman Hughes, Sr., furniture. l'oeV
Ee Mintou. house .-......... ......'.s.-. s,sSO
20 MintOn. furniture. ..-...s.-- -...-. iyySS
@ckson all.........-...---... .-.-----...- @@SSO @
BIZ Holder. two houses ......-...-''- A' A'.S90
| - Crumrlne- zee. '''-''''-'-' -
. MD NcStcr r........................ -
,Ob Holder. ...........-.--- -..-.-.--.s.. oSy
tdrew Stewart. ........... ...--.s. lyy
81 M. Lacock ..........-- ssss-.''.'' i.S
ard O'Neill..... ..-.--'' ~
nry Dague. e.-...--.--....-....s''.'- 49,. ASS ~,
-. Lewis. .-..'' 80
- Myers. .... --.- ...----' -
- Aollooukn. .-.---... ..ss .- .--. - -
pmon Iomoaugh. .....-..... .--.s.-....- ~
m -, -.--.. A.a-..o.s..- k, thaoo Oon-