The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-07-27
NO. 40.
WITHOUT WARNING.
Six Persons Instantly Killed by an
Explosion in Gun Factory
Appalling Scenes OF Horror.

| Six Persons Instantly Killed by an
Explosion in Gun Factory
Appalling Scenes OF Horror.
An appalling accident occurred in
the shelf loading department Of the
winchester Repeating Firearms com
pany shops at New Haven, Conn,
! Without an instants warning, six hu-
mau beings lost their lives by an ex-
| plosion and another victim died soon
alterward vt the hospital. A score of
| others were more or less wounded, but
no further fatalities are anticipated
More than $50 men and women are
employed in the loading department.
and tt t moro fatalities did not result
from the cOncussion is miraculous.
The hundreds Of people who gath
cred about the gates immediately
after the explosion witnessed grue-
some sight. Six dead bodies, black
ened with powder and frightfuliy
mangled, almost beyond recognition,
were lying on the floor. Near by two
Injured men were writhing in agony,
ana all about were men running, with
their faces and arms bleeding from
shot wounds, unmiudful of their in
Jurics but trying to assist others and
quell The confusion. Owing to the
number of girls who were carried out
in fainting condition, it was believed
that many Of them were seriously
injured, and there was great feeling
OF relief when 1T was found that ia
most cases they were unharmed.
The dead are: William f. Baumcr,
Mrs. Mary Baumester, Miss Jennie
brennan, Miss Ida Brown, William
Hill, Miss Tracy Couroy.
Fatally Injured George Bardof and
Edward Bardon.
The explosion occurred in the load
ing room, Employed in this room
were $50 hands, two-thirds of them
girls or women. Nearly all OF the fe-
male hands are employed on the load
ing machines, each of which requires
three operators. The full complement
OF hands was Ut work in the room when,
the explosion took place. Forty feet
OF the side of the building was blown
out and hurled many feet and frag-
ments OF human bodies were scattered
in sickening manner.
n hurry call was sent for all availa-
bic physicians The fire department,
the police, the ambulance and hospital
corps were speedily summoned, and
the work OF curihg for the dead and
injured was begun. Harrowirg scenes
were witnessed as the vast thrOug con-
gregated atolt the place, AS rapidly
as possible, the injured were cared for
In two instances the suffering of the
wounded was irightful. One was
partially disemboweled As rapidly
as victim WIS seen to be alive the
sufferer was tcnderly cared for, made
as comfortable as possible and con
veyed with all possible speed to his
home. Two OF the bodies had been
dccapitated others had been partially
torn asunder, and still others had been
dismembered. The officials OF the com
pany expended every effort to assist in
the work OF relief.
Perhaps the saddest scene was en-
acted when John Baumestcr learned
that his wife was among the dead. He
lived in Hampdcn and had been but
recently married. At the time of the
explosion he was at work Il few feet
distant from his wife. Mrs. Mary
Baumestcr was but IL years old and
had been in the factory bat three
weeks. She was married little over
a month ago and she and her husband
t'ritz used adjoining machines. Tho
girl was blown fully 80 feet and so
cru he'd out OF shape that it was al
most impossible to identify her. The
huS band, curiously enough was APP
parantly blown with the same force
and by the same blast, and yet he is
one ol Ine leaSt seriously injured. lie
struck the ground but II few feet short
OF his wife.
The explosion did not cause any ire,
and the fire department confined its
efforts to aiding in the work OF relief
The cause OF the explosion has not
been determined, and perhaps its cause
may never be known. Some Of those
at work in the room at the time say it
was due to the fact that a cartridge in
process Of loading had been improper
ly placed in the machine. or the in
jured those who are able TO talk, re-
member nothing except binding
fl tsh. Some did not even hear the eX-
po5ion.
The two Bardor boys, working side
by side, were thrown at Il tangent out
one side OF the building. They struck
the ground thirty feet away. They
were SO crushed and manglCd that they
will ale.
Edward Blair, working ten feet
away at his machine, was sent up
ward through the roof. He fell on an
ash heap, with broken bones and
featured skull and his legs twisted out
of shape. The doctors say he, too, will
die.