Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-30

Lowell, MASS, july Z9.-IWO small
gunpoWder magazines situated in the
immediate vicinity of the humble resi-
dences of so mill operatives, mostly
French speaking people, exploded, to-
day, with a frightful conclusion and
the resultant wave of death cut off the
lives of more than a score of human
beings and injured nearly so others
Half a dozen men who were loading
kegs of powder from one of the maya
zines We're blown to pieces, four boys,
200 yards away, We're killed by the i'm
pact and IA frame houses within a
radius of 400 yards went down as if
they had been built of cards. Some
of these houses Immediately caught
fire, probably from kitchen stoves and
We're completely consumed. At least
three persons were caught in the ruins
and burned to death, while seven or
eight others who We're rescued, died
subsequently of their injuries.
1t is estimated that 20 separate
pieces of property, including those all
ready mentioned, were destroyed, while
the force of the explosion wrecked win
dows for five or six miles around and
it's thunder could be heard distinctly
LOT more lIidll 0U llllleS.
Following is the list of those known
to have been killed: George Flynn;
John McMasters; Louis E. Richards;
James L. Grady; all employed by the
United States Cartridge Co.; James b.
Sullivan Charles Moore; Jean Roleau.
employed by the Stanley Forwarding
Co: Gilbert McDermott, 10 years;
Michael McDermott, IL years: unknown
man; Thomas Houligan, II years; Jo-
seph Houligan, 10 years; VIM. Gallo
way; Robert Galloway, son of above;
Alfred Lebrun; Mrs. Catherine Riggs;
Eddie Rogers; George A. McDermott
years old; Josephine Perusse IL
years old: Zephraim Perusse; Victoria
Perusse. his wife.
The last nine We're killed by the fall
of their houses, or were burned to
death.
-Four unknown persons are missing,
John Riggs, P. J. Spencer, and two
carpenters, names unknown.
The fatally injured: Amadee Boulan-
ger, IS years; Clarendon Goodwin
both employees of the Cartridge Co.:
Mrs. Howard Burkett; Miss McDer-
mott; Eliza Galloway: Clara Superna.
lie itldSdIlHcS WEI t lIle property vi
the United States Cartridge Co. of this
city. but were fortunately situated more
han a mile away from the factory it
self. Each was built of brick. being
about 10 feet high With rounded roof
of corrugated iron. They were con-
structed some so years ago, in what
was then a broad field on the banks
of the Concord river.
During the last decade small wooden
dwelling houses have gradually sprung
up in the vicinity, crowding nearer and
nearer with fancied security to the two
innocent looking little buildings, until
they surrounded them, except on the
river side the nearest house being
scarcely so feet away.
One of the magazines was just with
in the roadside fence. while the other
was about 100 feet behind it near the
banks of the river Both magazines
ordinarily contained two or three tons
of gunpowder in tin kegs, each key
being about IS inches high and a foit
in diameter.
The company has for some time been
DESTROYS of strengthening the floor of
the magazine nearest the street, and
employees of the company, three eX-
pressmen and two carpenters, were sent
there with three large express teams
to TAX out the powder and mend the
floor. Two of the wagons had been
loaded and the other was almost full,
when. at 9O6 o'clock, the explosion
occurred.
Clarendon Goodwin. one of the en-
ployes of the Cartridge Co., who sur
vived the explosion, stated, this after
! noon. that in taking up the floor. it
was suddenly discovered that 1t was
on fire. He rushed away after water
and the other men were endeavoring
to escape when the explosion came. 1t
is probable that this magazine was the
first to go up, followed Immediately
bv the gunpowder in the three wagons
and a few seconds later by the second
magazine. J.
To those who heard the crash, it
seemed as if there were two distinct
exnlosions with continuous roar be-
tween them. There are, however, five