Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-15
[HREE BLOWN TO DEATH
Frinc and Fatal Explosion at The au
/ Pont Powder Works, Oh Friday.
BHT INJURED, SOME SERIOUSLY
Ie Disaster Occurred In the
Press Mill.
lex PLAINLY FELT IN WILMINGTON

|Q neaVy anu ulSuincb tbutt tle otHcfS
xinly perceptible, startled The city OF
|t]mington at 1905 O'Clock Friday
mining. They were due to powder ex-
0sions at the works of L. l. du Pont
5.Nemours & Go.
III the explosion three men were
ed and a number badly injured by
Il |ns. The killed were:
<obert MeIlhenny, about 40 years
4 married leaves u wife and four
351dren, lived at Squirrel Run.
John Wright, about 80 years old,
lived near Mt. Salem Church.
HIM Moore, 40 years old. married,
9<>6s wife and five children, lived on
|Q4dlawn avenue.
THE INJURED.
Thomas McCann, aged 30 years, un-
1nrried, resides on Rising Sun Lane.
J8hn Mulhern. aged %, married,
burned by powder, lives at
quirrel Run.
Samuel Stewart, aged AZ, married,
'v63snt Hagley. =.
.U&omas Knox, aged 30, married,
|75s at Walkers Ban,so.
Names Mclaughlin, aged about do,
|7Hs at Squirrel Run.
Michael Maloney, aged 10, unmarried,
es at Squirrel Run.
~ CAUSE or THE EXPLOSION.
The explosion took place in the
Sper part of the Hagley yard, which
1.-THE middle Of the three yards
derated on the Brandywine by the
4 Points. Its cause is thus explained:
*hn Mulhern was driving two horses
nched to car on track containing
.wder, perhaps ton, when the horses
lied at something and overturned the
IA; Immediately there was an ex-
1bsion the shock being directed toward
~ press mill, very close to the wagon.
|L|e press mill at once exploded, fol-
S0ed by five of the grinding mills in
hXimmediate vicinity.
Ing press mill was completely
It%cked, its explosion making the
|f3k loud report, which was heard in
1t was the farthest from the
|{fJBk Of the buildings destroyed. The
<ofs of the grinding mills were blown
'6 and in some instances fell into the
|feck.
|2The fact that the powder car ex-
IIkfled toward the side of the Hill
Bbably saved the surrounding
9Perty from even Surther tlanrage
Mn resulted. ia 3
1Dne story has it that Samuel Frizzel,
Id grocer, of Henry Clay, was driving
|3|rough the yard and that the powder
SH horses scared al. his horse, but
Rrizzel, whowus seen afterwards, stated
nat he had passed the powder car be-
PC the explosion occurred ard was
<me distance away at that time. His
~ was blown off by the explosion and
] horse was thrown down. The horses
Iere singed. but not crippled.
Mulnern, who was driving the horses,
nd u miraculous escape from instant
bath. He was thrown for some dis.
Hlnce and was badly blackened about
the face and hands with powder. He
Hives at Squirrel Run and was one Of
he first Of the injured men who was
kxen home. DIR. Swithin Chandler
ressed his injuries.
a Mnlhern's assistant in the driving o.
be powder car was Thomas McCann
nd he too was very seriously burned.
n Mulhern had probably Just been tt
be graining mill, and was returning
- the press mill with whatever dus
&emained from what had been taken t
he grainipg mill.
The operators at the press mill wer,
Robert McIlhenny and John Wright
|McIlhenny being in charge, will
Wright as his assistant. 1t is one o
he experiences of powdermakers tina
he explosion Of press mill is sur
cath for someone, because someon
as to be in the mill while it rs il
rt,n npntt I,, Ia, ItTaYs
grinding mills which are charged an,
Rre not put in operation while an
fmploye is within them.
4 The explosion of the press mil
paused the instant death of MeIlhenn
bnd Wright. whose bodies were blow
to pieces. The force of the explosio
|earried portions of the bodies acros
the Brandywine. a distance of 80 or 10
yards from the mill. Sometime after
wards the mangled remains wer
5gathered together in buckets.
At the time of the explosion jon
/ Moore, who is employed us IN enginec
/ in the yard, was within u few feet {
4 tho press mill. The back OF his hea
was crushed. He was taken to hi
{home on Woodlawn avenue near Fouj
Ybenth street, and died few minute
IIJter reaching there, never regainin
\ CONSCIOUSNESS. me-
Thomas Knox, who inhaled SON
Ire, called almost necessarily for waite
He was u pitiable sight, with his ha
burned from his head and face and h
| lips swollen to several times the
natural size. His face was literal
baked and he could not be told from
negro.
| Thomas McCann was thought to |
injured internally and suffered gre,
aeony. He suffered from n severe wour
10 his head and side and he was bnd
burned.
Both Of the above men have bet
employed in the other yards for son
time and on Friday they were p
to work in the press mill. McCann hi
heou i'll some time ago and had be,
suffering from erysipelas and fear,
Working in the yard lest he be seiz,
with the complaint again.
Joseph O'Hanley was sent to
home to have his injuries dressed.
was instructed to go to the homes
inc wives of several men residing
TINS city and advise them Of the safe
OF their husbands.
Thomas Knox had his clothing to
from his body. He was removed
me Delaware Hospital ambulance
MS nome at Walkers Banks. LIZ
Mlohael Maloney was struck in Il
s. neaa by flying object at blac
s,iitm IN !s,nnp within q short distance
James Mclaughlin, rolling m
hhand, was sitting inside the mig
nouse, having lust changed his mi