The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-05
lie WAS BLOWN UP
YOUNG MAN NAMED SIMMONS rs
FEARFULLY BURNED.

Spark From His Pipe Fell Into Box of
Powder With Disastrous Resuits-Two
Sides OF tho House Were Blown Out,
Pictures Were Smashed, Windows Were
Broken and the House Set on Fire-His
Father Was ThrowE Out Into tho Yard
-He Ran Nearly Seven Miles to Town
to be Doctored.
A disastrous accident occurred yester-
day at the home of Mr.. Simmons, brother
of Charles ". Simmons of this city, near
Wichita Heights.
A. d. Simmons, the son, young man
of n, was loading shells preparatory TO
going hunting. Near him stood the box
containing twelve pounds of powder and
as he pushed this box aside with his foot
spark from his pipe fell into it.
The explosion that followed this knock
ed him down, threw his father out
through the door into the yard, broke
every window in the house, wrecked the
furniture, shattered the pictures, knock
ed out big hole on each side of the
room and set fire to everything.
The young man bravely regained his
feet. set to work to put out the fire and
succeeded This done he ran towards
town TO get medical attendance and al
though his place is seven miles away
he was up to the city limits before the
team overlook him.
Arriving in town the young man pre-
scented himself at the office Of DR.. ShGltz
and with all his experience, in war and
peace. the doctor never saw such a, sighr.
black as ink and the charred flesh was
hanging from both hands. The doctor
has faced a great many victims of acct
dents but hardly ever any case as bad
as this one. He dressed his face and
hands, bandaged the latter and this done
the young man went TO the home of Il
relative on East Douglas avenue block
beyond the Rock Island depot
At o'clock a reporter for the Eagle
vent down there to see the young man.
He was walking about the hallway with
his hands bandaged in such a manner
that he appeared to be wearing boxing
gloves. No person living would take him
to be a white man. His face was as black
as ink and as there was something like
grease spread all over it the poor fell
lows appearance will not be forgotten.
With al his Affections he was appar-
entity the happieSt person in the house.
This was due to his wonderful nerve.
The fact that he suffered intense pain,
but he tried to make himself believe that
it was not bad. A thousand men of his
calibre would lick the entire army of
Spain.
You have great nerve" suggested the
reporter.
What's the use in giving up" he re-
piled. If my head was blown off I'd wig
gle around till I'd find it and stick it on
again.
How did it happen?'
1T was this way. I've been working
hard shucking corn and 1 thought I'd
get my ammunition ready and go over
TO the river and get some ducks
The very. name of a. duck sets Dr.
Shultz wild, for he is q born sportsman,
and right there and then he took the in
'iured man off the reporters hands, as
IT were, and proceeded TO interview him
himself
Both the doctor and the wounded man
talked about ducks for ten minutes and
both were so carried away with their re-
citals Of Incidents in duck shooting that
they forgot everything else.
TO break up the conversation the re-
porter suggested TO Mr.. Simmons that
he had not yet stated how the accident
happened.
You see, 1 was loading Shells" he
said, and when L was done L went to
push the powder box aside with my shoe
and spark from my pipe fell into it,
And what then?'
Then / thought the world had come
70 an end. The flash of the explosion
blinded me but had sense enough and
presence of mind enough to close my
mouth If / hadn't done that l believe it
would have killed me-
did ii knock you DOWN."
Dog gone if l know. 1 know I re-
member hearing all the pictures fall and
the windows smashing all to pieces. Then
the blaze ran around the wall every
where and set the clothing that was
hanging up on fire. ! was afraid the
house would burn to the ground and
wanted TO save it
And did you?"
Il guess SO; although I presume
great many things were badly damaged"
We'll. what did il do to your father"
He was sitting near the door and the
explosion knocked him clear out of the
door"
What did you do then?"
Il ran towards town 10 see a doctor,
and was nearly here when the wagon
overlook me-
why didn't you wait for the wagon at
first?''
Il did not have patience enough. Be-
sides. L thought I would run il, that *
would be better for me than to face the
wind in a wagon
What kind of a feeling have you In
your face"
Sometimes there is no feeling al all
there, but l tell you my hands are sore"
How old are you?"
Il am u. Dog gone il, I was grow
ing pretty nice mUstache an there isn't
a sign of ii left. | don't know whether il
viii sprout again or not. My hair is all
burned too. and my eyebrows
DR.. ShUltz is confident that the young
man will live and fears nothing but bloo>.
poisoning. The doctor, doubtless, knows.
but IL seems almost a miracle for a man
10 live who is so badly burned as he is.