Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-11-27
BLOWN TO ATOMS.
City Startled by the Explosion of the Manhan Powder House.


 Windows Shattered and Buildings Shaken all over the Ciry-The Shock | Felt as Far Away New Haven
 People who are not early risers were | startled this morning about half past 1 seven by a tremendous explosing. followed | by low rumbliDg sound as If an earth | quake was in progress. Many who looked from their windows saw dense black col umn of smoke rising in the western part of the city and splinters of wood flying in all directions. Many people thought the ex- plosion occurred in their own building. so close did it appear. The powder house owned by the Waterbury Brass Co and situated ill the vacant lots opposite the New England deyot, had once, more been blown to atoms. One human life went out with it
 The vlctim was Michael J. Kelly. 10 years of age. who lived with his wife aud family of eight children at l. .127 West Main street. He had been employed at the powder house for nine years as assist ant to William Engert, who has charge of the powder mixing.
 This. morning, as was his custom, MT Kelly went to the West Brass mill to find out what amount of powder was required for the day. He received his orders and that was the last seen of him. The build
  by p feet in dimensions Here was kept the dry powder in bags and on shelves were numerous glasses filled with wet powder.
 WILLIAM ENGEETs >IpEY.
 William EnGert. who has charge of the powder house. said to the DENocEAT re- porter that there was probably one bun- dred rounds of powder stored there. The only way he could account for the eXplo- sion was that Kelly in preparing the order for the shop dropped one of the glasses. which caused concuSsiOn. The room. he said, bad been thoroughly cleaned yester- day. It was caTpeted and nothing that the victim could have walked upon could have caused the explosion. Mir Engert has been twenty-two years employed Tn his present position and thirteen years ago was himself the victim of an accident when he was badly burned He said that Kelly was a very careful man
 GHAsTLY SIGHr
 People flocked to the scene of the ex- plosion and search for the unfortunate mans body began. In a hollow fifty feet in the rear ot the destroyed house the trunk was found Every bone in the legs was broken and the upper part of the body was completely torn away. This. MT En- gert said. proved that Kelly had been bending, over the powder which caused the explosion. Small pieces of flesh were found clinging to the picket fence which surrounded the powder buildings \ care full search was made and n large number of pieces of the body were picked up around the lot. Portions had fallen into ;he canal which flowed close by. Pieces of the head. several teeth and tufts of hair were also found, and bore Chastly evi- dence of the terrible force ot the eXplo- sion. Some pieces were found 100 yarcs away. They were gathered in il heap and were viewed by Medical EN imluer ANtelle, who lad them taken to MuIrarty's morgue.
 FORCE OF THE ENri"sIoN-
 The building was entirely demolished. Within few feet stood another small building. whore was stored in winter the balance of powder wkich was kept on hand. This building was badly wrecked The fence surrounding was crippled and torn as if gatlinG guu had been at work. Pieces ot wo od were carried clear over the railroad tracks. The building was literally reduced to kindiiug wood
 The damage and wreck wns not confined to the locality of the accident. Tue New England station presented a sorry sight Every window on the south side sash and all. was demolished Not a building in the vicinity escaped The Atwood prop erty. opt t,osite the station all the tenement houses, Lilley. Swift < Cos and the Iotch- kiss block. all looked as if they had been through a stormy cannonadinG. Buildings in the center clear to Els Book Haunt on Bank street. where large plate glass win dow was blown out. suffered. The Cooley house. Lilley block, and Bronson library. in which building several of the largest windows in the Tear were demolished. all bore evidence of the shock The West Brass mill itself had many win dows demolished. \ large plate glass window in the store of John Vaile on Grand street was destroy ed. It Is impos- sible to estimate the number of windows tenement houses broken. The shock was felt all over the city. In Naugatuck and Waterville it was felt almost aS plainly as in this city, and at New Haven the shock was felt. City hall suffered also The windows in the police court room, council room and selectmeD's office are badly wrecked.
 THE EXPLOSIVE.
 The explosive in the destroyed building was used in the manufacture of percussion caps and primiDgs. It is termed powder in general way. but is actually illuminate, ard possesses much more power and force than the ordinary powder.
 THE VICTIM
 Michael ]. Kelly the victim, was a sober, industrious man. He often talked Of the danger to which he was exposed and fully expected to meet the terrible death that finally claimed him. He had often been advised to seek some other employ ment. but kept putting of the time. The wages were high and he was absolutely with out fear. although more than once he told his friends that he fully expected to be killed. How he exploded the deadly stuh will never be known I. might have been causfd by dropping one of the glass vessels, or perhaps sand or other foreign substance created friction and made ine explosion Kelly leaves a wifi ani eight children The oldest 17. and tine youngest six months old. He WIS a member of Sheridan Council. k of c and of Court l Stephen J. MeaDy, A. O F of A The funeral will take place from the family residence at 8 o'clock to morrow morning to St Patrick's church. A LEAF FROM HISTORY. The explosion set the older residents of Waterbury to talking of the first accident of this kind which occurred at the Man | han. Some people assert that there have | been as many as six explosions there since | the business was first started In 1857. But the most disastrous of all occurred on | April l. 1864. when five persons lost their lives and several others were badly burned At that time the work was con ducted in the yard just east of the stone building There are a good many men and women Tn Waterbury to-day who can tell some thrilling stories of that awful day. The explosion occurred between : and s o'clock in the morning. Among those who met death in this accident were James McAuliffe and four women. the Misses Fox. Drass McGrath and Jones. l The next accident occurred abodt 1870. when two men were killed. One young man named Foot was thrown out of il e building and hurled across the New Eng L. I IL