The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-07-09
FEARFUL ACCIDENT.
Two Men Killed ana "a Injured by the
Explosion of an Overloaded Cannon.

IN
Explosion OF an Overloaded Cannon.
Fourth of July in Bridgewater Cor
ners was turned into day OF mourn
ing by "A shocking and terribly fata
accident 10 the morning, two mel
being killed by the bursting OF {
caunon and IA men and boys more
or less badly injured. The dead are
Charles Bedor, about 30 years, married,
and William Cowdrey, 20 years ole
and unmarried. Injured: George
Lombard, struck by flying stone in
abdomen Bert Woodward, l3 years
old. leg broken and ,acerated and
badly burned, will probably lose his
limb; Charles Hadley. ankle broken,
amputation probably necessary: Car
roll Southgate, / years old bad flesh
wound in right leg: Robert Thompson,
about IA years old, leg broken and face
badly burned: Bert Hubbard bad flesh
wound in leg and face badly burned
Charles Sprague, esh wound in thigh
Harold Perkins face burned; Wesley
Barrows, James Gokey, William Rice,
Julian Robinson and William and Ed
ward Smith are also somewhat burned
and scratched by flying pieces OF
iron and stone but their injuries are
less severe.
With the exception OF Bedor, Cow
drey and Hadley all victims were boys
from 10 to ID years. The accident
ccurred abut 10 O'Clock in front of the
new school house near Josseyln bridge,
where 35 men and boys were firing a
cannon, an.old affair made from piece
of shafting about four inches through
and Is in length. The carelessness of
Bedor and others in charge Of the
cannon caused the fatal disaster. The
charge was composed of powder, damp
earth, sods and cobblestones, tamped
with a steel rod, and the gun had he
come heated by repeated dischargs.
not being swabbed out at each round
The steel rod or hot iron prematurely
fired the piece. The explosion hurl-
ed every one within "A radius 1T 30 feet
to the ground, men and boys being
moved down like grass 10y the show
er of stones and broken iron. Bedor
at the time OF the explosion was sitting
on pail containing three or four
pounds Of powder, and holding the
tamping rod, and his legs mere nearly
blown from his body He IS said to
have spoken few words but he lived
only two or three minutes Cowdry
was blown several feet toward the
roadside, where he lay bleeding. his
body and limbs being terribly lacera
ted. He was made as comfortable as
possible, but was unable TO be NOV.
ed, and he expired in about two hours,
being conscious most Of the time Had.
ley had two giant crackers in his
pocket, which exploded when he fell,
burning his flesh and clothes and
throwing him several feet. Young
Southgate starte TO run for home with
badly smashed ankle, but fell after
being on fire when help reached him.
DR. Boyden, who was out of town was
sent for, and physicians summoned
from this place, Drs Boynton kidder
and Sherwin responding. Cowrey
was alive when they reached the scene, 1
but was past help, and attention was
turned to the other sufferers, who had !
been removed 10 their homes, all but /
two three If the victims residing |
at Bridgewater village.
Bedor leaves a wife and .wo child |
rem, NV in South Royalton. Cowdrey |
had no relations as far AS known he
came from East Barnard and was tue
adopted son of Martin Cowdrey. Mr.
Lombard was passing the spot just
before the cannon burst and warned
the men not 10 use steel rod to
lamp the charge. He had taken only
a few steps when the explosion came.
and he was struck by flying stone,
but not badly injured. 1t is believed
that Earl Davis, tine Young son OF
+. A. Davis, was standing very near
the gun when il burst but escaped
The same cannon was dis
charged prematurely on former
occasion, several men narrowly esca-
ping death
Speaking of the fatality today. a
ormer surgeon in the army said he
lever saw more execution done by a
.annon in all his experience IN the +,
iel1.