Smyrna times., 1897-05-12
A TRAGIC DEATH.
Charles W. Stern Killed While Experiment.
ing With Explosives.

hS ''hH 1NPANSA'NS'
Last Wednesday afternoon DR.. I. G.
Moore received the intelligence that
Charlie Stern, who lived and grew up |
in this town, was tragically killed while
working with chemicals in little |
laboratory at Haywood, N. J. At the |
same time telegram was sent tc his
mother in Philadelphia. She immedi-
ately went on to the scene of the catas-
trophe.
The story of his tragic death was as
follows:
About three weeks ago Charlie Stern
left Hudnut' Pharmacy in New York
to recuperate his broken down health
with bachelor friend, Mr.. William D.
L. wilkins in haywood, N. J. They
kept bachelors hall there having with
them Mr.. Christopher Gavin.
Charlie had been engaged in what he
called "Stern's Chinese fashlight pow
der" to be up used by photographers in
making fashlight photographs. To
expedite the manufacture of this pow
der he fitted a building about fifteen
feet west of Wilkins house as labOra-
tory. Here he devoted all his time to
the manufacture of this powder from
which he was confident he would make
a fortune.
Wednesday morning Mr.. Wilkins
went to New York. Shortly after
II o'clock Charlie and young Gavin
were in the laboratory, the latter
watching the former mixing some pow
der with a mortar and pestle. ''I tell
you Chris, ;" said Charlie 'Iv'e got it at
last This is going to be the greatest
hashlight powder in the world. Its
dangerous work handling it, but 1
wont have to do thatlong. 1t will only
be short time before this thing will
make us all rich.
While he was speaking the bells of
the bakers wagon were heard, and
Gavin left the laboratory to get the
days suppy of bread. While he was
putting the bread away Gavin heard an
explosion which shook the founda-
tions of the house. Itwas accompanied
by the sound of breaking glass and fol-
lowed by that of falling timbers.
Rushing out of the house the boy
found the laboratory in ruins, and a
second look discovered Charlie lying
among the debris, where the north wall
of the laboratory had been. He had
been thrown clear across the building
When Gavin reached Charlie the lat
ter was still alive, though he could not
move and was totally blind and NOR
tally wounded by lacerations about the
body. The Hackensack Hospital was
) notified and an ambulance was sent.
He lived nearly three quarters of an
hour before giving up, was conscious
and inquired of the doctor his cOndi-
ton and when he learned that he would
be blind he wanted to die. He seemed
perfectly reconciled to go and sent
, several messages to his dear mother.
He died before they could get him to
the hospital
The cause of the explosion can only
! be inferred The ingredients of the
powder Charlie was grinding could not
be learned definitely, and probably
were known only to himself. The con-
lecture is that, as in the case of many
other explosions, grit, that is, some
, flinty substance, had found its way
into some one of the ingredients, and
when this was ground under the pestle
heat enough was developed to cause
the explosion.
Charles Wilson Stern was born in
Wilmington in 1872. At seven years Of
age his father died and he and hismothel
made their home with his grandfather,
Alex. II. Wilson of this town. Charlie
: was virtually a Smyrna boy, for here
! it was that he received his early school,
training and grew to manhood. When
he left Smyrna he followed the bent Of
. his desire to be druggist and chemist
! graduating after course through the
v Philadelphia College Of Pharmacy
j Charlie was an ambitious fellow. He
a was fond Of his profession and labored
with zeal to reach some prominence
O Out Of work hours he devoted his time
s to chemistry and it was in the inven
i tion of this powder that he hoped tC
il become rich and successful Charlie
q was good conscientious young man,
i and it was extremely sad that one Sc
i bright and ambitious should be taken
Q away just upon entering useful man.
I hood. His devotion to his widowed
f mother was one Of the best traits Of his
character. Mother and son seemed to