Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1897-12-22
DEATH OF JOHN J. COOPER.
Killed by an Explosion of HceBlene Gas in VIII
mington.

Killed by an Explosion of Hceylene Gas in VIII
mlngton.
John J. Cooper, son of r. M. Cooper,
of near Cheswold, who several months
ago was appointed elevator
in the new Federal Building, Whining
ton, met horrible death at o'clock
Thursday afternoon while looking
after an acetylene gas plant in the
basement of that building. As an ac-
cOmmOdatiOn to another employee he
was attending to the plant i'll his alb
sence. From some unknown cause,
which has not been found out, an ex-
plosion occurred, followed soon after
by another. Every light in the Fed
eral Building went out and when in
vestigatiOn was made they found the
unconscious body of young Cooper
laying a few feet from the generator.
The explosion caused much excitement.
The employees of the building ran
pell nell out into the street, the fire
alarm was given, and everybody
| thought the fine structure was in
flames. 1t was not until the fire COM
panies appeared that any investigation
was made, no one supposing that the
mangled form of man was in the
midst of the terrible explosion.
At the time of the explosion Letter
carrier George w. Sasse, an ex-assist-
ant engineer in the fire department,
ran to the cellar and saw the burning
gas. He tried to fight the flames with
the hose in the superintendent Office,
but it was not long enough. While he
was thus engaged, a second explosion
occurred, this time one of the gaso-
metres going up. Fortunately he es-
capped injury.
Mr.. Sasse again forced his way to
wards the scene of the explosion and
about twelve feet from the generator
found the unconscious body of Cooper
lying on the concrete floor. Quickly
he dragged him towards the basement
door in the rear, and carried him out
into the fresh air. The body was
stretched out on the grass plot and
several physicians made a superficial
examination, which indicated that
Cooper was fatally injured His skull
had been badly fractured and one arm
was broken. He was taken to the Del
aware Hospital, but never recovered
consciousness and died about g. 81
o'clock.
John J. Cooper was the youngest
son of Richard NJ Cooper, of Ches
; void, and was in the gath year of hi
age. He went to Wilmington abou
seven months ago to take charge o
the elevator of the Federal building
having passed civil service examina
ton before receiving the appointment
He served six months on probation
and his work was entirely satisfactory
and he received the promise of bette
position under the government durin;
the coming spring anG looked forwar,
o to receiving an increased salary. Tn
, cards for his marriage to Miss Ev
6 Carey, daughter of John p. Carey, @
: CheswOld, were issued about ten day
!. ago, and the wedding was to hav
taken place tomorrow, the Odd ms
c. S. Smith, of Wilmington, was to b
his best man and the ceremony was t
be performed in the Bethel Church
CheswOld. Mr.. Cooper had rented
house at Eden Park for himself an
bride. Employees of the postofice pre-
posed to join in giving him weddin
u present, but this money was devote
D to the purchase of a floral Offering 70
{, his funeral
+. Deceased was member of Harriso
street NJ. E. Church, and had been
= regular attendant there. He had bee
II one of the ushers and was well like
o by the pastor and members of the COZ
Is gregation. He was also a member {
p CheswOld Council of the Junior Ord,
II of American Mechanics, and was yer
"a much attached to it, The deceast
IS was an exceptionally fine young ma
IS and had the respect of everybody.
S 1t was not long after young Cooper
is death before the news was fashe
W over the wires, causing a gloom
: spread over this whole vicinity, esp
T. cially Cheswold, where the young ma
y lived and grew up. His brothe
N Mr.. Brady Cooper, went to Wilmln
a. ton the next morning and took char:
~ of the remains.