The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-25
EXPLOSION
Sends Hedtors
to Eternity.
A FEARFUL FATE
For Foreman at Milestone
Hill Quarries.

John Hedfors, foreman at the quar-
ries operated by John P, Rydberg on
Milestone Hill. was instantly killed by
the premature explosion of a charge
of blasting powder about 9 o'clock yes
terday forenoon. The right side of the
mans head was torn off, pieces of the
skull and particles Of the brain being
thrown in every direction.
The outside half of the left hand, in
GLIDING the two outside fingers, was
blown off, the fingers being found sew
eral hours later several feet distant
from the spot where the accident oc-
CURED. Hedfors has held the position
of foreman at the quarry for six years,
and was considered an expert in the
handling of dynamite and other explo-
sives used in blasting out sections of
stone. He leaves a widow and six chill
dren, who live on Thenius street at
Quinsigamond Village.
The accident is but another Illus
tration of the lack of care shown by
men who, through long association
i
gard them in careless light.
Hedfors' first work on arriving at the
quarries yesterday morning was 10
place charges of powder in holes that
had been made the afternoon before.
The holes We're about eight feet deep
and six inches apart. An unusually
heavy charge of powder was used as
the firm is rushed with work, and it
was planned to blow out an unusually
large block of stone with the blast
About Is pounds of powder was
poured into the holes, and the remain
ing space filled with Wadding In
Operating the blast a cap is placed next
the powder and the wadding damned
down over the charge. A thin wire
connects the cap with a heavier copper
wire, which runs to a battery, from
which the charge is exploded.
When the lever of the battery was
worked the charge failed to explode,
and after detaching the wires from the
battery, Hedfors took a drill from the
tool box and started to dig out the
wadding He was standing directly
over the hole with long drill, and had
removed about five feet of the wad-
! ding. Suddenly Mr.. Rydberg noticed
! his action and called out to him
telling him to be careful or he would
explode the blast. Hedfors continued
! CT @Oihs tloNSNGt, anu, tHiHhlIlS lie
knew what he was about nothing more
was said to him.
/ Suddenly there was a terrific explo-
/ sion, and the foFeman's body was
/ thrown high in the air, falling directly
over the hole he had been working on
! Charles E. Carlson, Erik Bolstrom and
| Jacob Barrett, who were working a
short distance from the unfortunate
! man, were Slightly stunned by the ex-
their wits ran to his assistance.
A fearful sight met their eyes-the
mans head was almost entirely blown
/ from his shoulders, and presented a
most gruesome sight. Blood poured
from the sundered arteries. staining
the snow and rock about where the
man Law
| The body was moved to a higher po-
/ siton on the cliff, and onesof the work
men ran to the Memorial hospital,
where he telephoned the police station,
asking that the ambulance be sent. On
learning that the INA A. lgas dead, it
was thought advisable to send an I'M
/ dertaker instead, and Benjamin J.
Bernstrom was called.
/ Medical Examiner r Fl. Baker was
also notified and went to the scene
/ He viewed the body, and after learn
/ ing the circumstances attending the ac-
cident, ordered the body turned over to
the undertaken.
The only explanation for the acct
dent is that Hedf0rs had taken out
more of the wadding than he was
aware of, and that his drill struck the
/ cap used in the work, causing the ex-
plosion. The workmen say they dis
tinguished but one report, and that
both charges must have gone off 81
simultaneously. Hedfors stood directly
over the holes and received the full
force Of the explosion.
With exception of the Fearful injury
to his head, other injuries were com
paratively Insignificant, when the cir
eunstances are taken into considera-
/ ton
Hedfors was born in Sweden and
/ came to this country about eight years
ago. He was a foreman in the mines
IF his own country and considered an
thority in matters pertaining to his
line of work.
He has lived in Worcester most of
the time since coming to this country,
and was a popular man among his fell
| low-countrymen at Quinsigamond. He
! leaves a large family withour means
Of support, and there is indeed a sad
Christmas in store for them
One thing that makes the affair par
ticularly pathetic is that Hedfors was
talking with some of the workmen
about finishing work earlier than usual
yesterday afternoon, IN order to go
down street and purchase presents for
his children.
The body is at the undertaking rooms
of B. J. Bernstrom, where it will re-
main until funeral arrangements are
made.