The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-11
AMEN MANGLED
A Caisson ExplOdes With Fear
full Effect at Louisville.
Four Men Torn to Pieces and
Scattered.
SPATTERED BY BLOOD.
Walls of Houses Are Plastered
With Torn Flesh.
Severed Arms and Legs Blown
oT9agh Buildings.
SHOVEL REMAINS UP.
Some Bodies Have to be ScOOped
Together:
The Conclusion Shook All the
Leaves Off a Tree.
SHOVEL REMAINS UP.
Some Bodies Have to be ScOOped
Together:
The Conclusion Shook All the
Leaves Off a Tree.

LOUISVILLE, KY, Sept. 11.-A horrible
accident, resulting in the death of six
and the wounding of several members
of the Louisville Legion, occurred about
5:3O this morning by the explosion of
canods
The accident occurred on Broadway,
between Third and Fourth streets, where
the First Kentucky artillery were sta
toned for the purpose of morning salute.
Eye witnesses say the accident occurred
by dropping the caisson on the friction
primer of the piece.
The gun was situated directly on the
center of the street, pointing toward
Fourth avenue. Two of the bodies were
blown over house tops and were horribly
mangled
Two horses attached to the canon were
SO horribly mangled that they will have
TO be killed. All of the killed were
members of the First artillery of Louis
vile, which has always been considered
the finest in the state.
As soon as the accident occurred the
city ambulance was called and the
infirmary, where their injuries were at
tended to. 1t is feared that Fred Cohn
will die. The whole left side of his face
was blown of. Even if he should re-
cover he will be blind and horribly dis
figured. Hobbs was badly burned about
the face and bruised
- The place where the accident occurred
Is one of the finest resident districts in
the city. Fortunately few people were
on the street owing to the early hour or
the list of killed and injured would have
undoubtedly been greatly increased.
Every window in the block was blown
out. Nearly every one in the neighbor-
hood was asleep and the noise and con-
cussion caused by the explosion almost
created a panic.
Half clad men and terrified women
came running from their homes and
most horrible sight met their eyes.
The body of the colored driver, mangled
almost beyond recognition, fell on the
front porch Of a residence fully 300 feet
from 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 in the shattered win
dows.
A leg and half coat were found on
1ulI0 SbE60bs Ou0 D1OCk SOUtQ OF 8n6E0
the explosion took place. They must
have been blown clear over three story
and basement house Several mangIed
legs and arms were found on the tops of
adjacent houses. 1t is believed that the
body of Private Hutchins was blown to
pieces, as it has not yet been found. A
hook and ladder truck of the city fire de-
partment was called and with ladders
every house top in the vicinity was
t,so6 IL fo.4 h..
But on nearly every house top was
found portions of the bodies of the un-
fortunate young men. The body of
Howard Irwin was so badly mangled
that it was almost impossible to gather
it up without shovel It was found at
the intersection of Broadway and Fourth
streets, almost block away
The battery was on its way to Phoenix
hill for the purpose of firing salute of
Al guns There were 66 pounds of pow
der in the calsson.
Richard Cogsn, who was about two
1lhlCcks from the < isson when it blew up,
Re noiE3i de was terrific The
IS so great that the build
that distance were shaken.
al of the houses around him
~ ere shattered. He fastened
70 the scene at once and lent helping
hand in gathering up the remains of the
In a few minutes everybody in the
neighborhood was out MANY of the
women, said Mr.. Cogan, tainted as soon
as they came out, the sight was SO
horrible. In a short time the news
of the disaster had spread over the
entire city. Bulletins were posted
at all the newspaper offices and in several
of the public buildings giving the names
of the dead and wounded The acci
dent has cast shadow of gloom over tn
city. Every one had been prepared for
grand and joyous event The tens of
thousands of visitors who throng the
streets and hotels of the town were everv-
where heard TO express their sorrow.
1t is doubtful if there ever occurred in
this region an accident that has caused
so much wide spread sorrow. The reg
iment to which the young men belonged
is made up OF the pick and flower of
Louisville. Many of them are society
leaders and are of wealthy. families,
Capt. David Castleman. who was in
charge, was riding at the side of the de-
tail. He escaped injury. The report
that one of the men was SMOKING was
s. denied by Captain Castleman.
Col. Joe B. Castleman, of the First in.
tRntry, to which. Battery a belongs. said