The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-12
G. A. n. ENCAMPMENT AT LOUIS
VILE MARRIED BY ACCIDENT.
Explosion of a Caisson I'm Charge of
Militiamen, Members of the Best
Families of the Falls City.
FIVE TORN INTO FRAGMENTS
AND TWO MORE MANGLED AND
BURNED, ONE PROBABLY FATALLY.
Five Men Killed and Twelve Injured
by q Head-On Collision on the
Great Northern Road.

LOUISVILLE, Sept. 1.-THE festivities
attending the G. A. r. encampment were
marred by an explosion this morning that
killed five men and wounded two more,
one probably fatally. All the victims, ex-
cept one, colored man, were members of
Battery A, Kentucky National Guard. and
resided in this city. They were on their
way to Phoenix Hill to fire a salute when
the caisson exploded. The dead are:
CORPORAL, A. l.. ROBINSON
PRIVATE c. WOODS.
PRIVATE A. M'BRIDE
DRIVER w. ADAMS (colored.)
The wounded are:
SERGEANT FRED COHN
PRIVATE f. WILLIAM HOBBS.
AS soon as the accident occurred the city
ambulance called and the wounded
men were taken TO the Norton Infrmary
where their injuries were attended to. 1t is
feared that Fred Cohn will die. The whole
left side of his face was blown off, Even
il he should recover he will be blind and
horribly disdgured. Hobbs was badly
burned about the face and bruised
The place where the accident occurred
was on Broadway. between Fourth and
Third streets, one OF the finest residence
districts in the city Fortunately few people
were on the street, owing to the early hour
G:30 o'clock. or the list Of killed and in
jured would have undoubtedly been greatly
increased. Every window in the block was
blown out. Nearly every one I'm the neigh
borhood was asleep and the noise and
concussion caused by the explosion almost
created a panic Half clad men and ter
rified women came running from their
homes and a most horrible sight met their
eyes The body of the colored driver,
notad nj fal1
on the front porch OF a residence fully
three hundred feet from the place where
the explosion occurred. Just outside the
fence and on the sidewalk was the body of
private Woods. Bits of flesh and pieces of
bloody uniform were scattered all along
the street clinging to the tree tops and
a coat were found on Third street. one
block south OF where the explosion took
place. They must have been blown clear
over a three-story and basement house.
Several mangled legs and arms were found
on the tops of adjacent houses. hook and
ladder truck OF the city fire department was
called and with ladders every house top
in the vicinity was searched. and on nearly
every housetop was found portions OF the
body was badly mangled that IL was al
most impossible 10 gather IL up without a
shovel. II was found at the intersection OF
broadway and Fourth streets, almost a
block away.
BUILDINGS WERE SHAKEN.
The battery was on its way 10 Phoenix
Hill for the purpose of firing a salute OF
forty-four guns. There were sixty-six
pounds of powder in the caisson
Richard Cogan. who was about two
blocks from the caisson when il
blew up. said the noise il made was
terrific. The conclusion was so great that
the buildings. even at that distance. were
shaken and in several of the houses around
him windows were shattered. He hastened
10 the scene at once. and .ent a helpins
hand In ,gathering uD the remains of tho
dead mirttamen- In a few minutes every
one in the reighborhood was out. Many
OF the Vtpen. said Mr.. Cogan. tainted as