The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-23
Explosion in Novelty Works at
Findlay, O., Works Havoc in
Lives and Property.
WORK ON RUSH ORDERS
Takes Worhnen and Women to
the Works, to Speedy Death or
Disagreement.
TWO MEN ARE MISSING
They Are Supposed to Have Been
Blown to Atoms-Ten-Acre
Plant Is Demolished.

FINDLAY. O.. May 22-As the result of
an explosion in the two drying rooms OF
the Lake Shore Novelty company's plant
here to-day. seven persons are known 10 be
dead. five are SO seriously hurt that re-
covery is believed TO be impossible and
twelve or fifteen are injured badly. From
reports of the physicians ten of the less
seriously injured may die as a result OF
blood poisoning from the potash that was
driven into their bodies. The whole plant.
ten acres in extent. demolished.
The Dead
JOSEPH SHERWOOD, aged twenty-one-
JAY SHERWOOD, twenty-four.
EDITH DILLON, seventeen.
DEAN SHAW. eighteen.
MARY SNYDER, twenty-five.
ESTELLA DECKER. fifteen.
FRANK GRANT. twenty-one.
All of the foregoing. with the exception
of Estella Decker and Frank Grant. were
killed instantly. The latter two died after
being removed TO their homes.
Fatally Injured
MAGGIE LOGAN, aged nineteen. injured
by flying debris
THOMAS BOOK struck in the back by
flying barrel arms and legs broken; In
ternally injured.
back severely injured and ankle broken.
EFFIE PETERMAN. caught in falling
debris and internally injured.
ROY PETERMAN. badly injured by fall
ing debris.
Less Seriously Hurt
CARRIE PETERMAN. aged seventeen.
breast and lungs crushed; head and eyes
powder burned.
MAY LEAVIS. eighteen. similarly hurt
LOUIS WEINGARTNER, hip fractured.
MINNIE DOLL, burned about head.
MRS. DOLL, forewoman. cut and burned.
MINNIE QUINLAN. floor woman. cut
and bruised about the head and shoulders
J. S. LEARY, slightly hurt
B. c. SWISHER, also slightly hurt.
WILLIAM BAUGHMAN, minor injuries.
Three others, whose names could not be
learned were also cut and burned. Two
employees missing and supposed TO
have been blown to atoms.
The Lake Shore novelty works plant
covered nearly ten acres OF ground in the
southwest part of the city and employed
nearly 200 men, women and children. Rail-
road torpedoes and Fourth of July explo-
sives manufactured
Owing TO the large rush of orders, the
officials of the plant requested the employees
report for duty to-day. About thirty
complied with the request
This morning the residents of Findlax
were startled by two explosions. which
shattered windows throughout the city
The concussion felt for miles around.
Two magazines in separate rooms at the
novelty works exploded simultaneously
with terrible report. The exact cause OF
the explosion is not definitely known. IL
is surmised that of the Sherwood
brothers. who were the only persons in
the drying rooms. dropped large box OF
torpedoes but this theory cannot be con-
irmed.
The explosion occurred just before the
employees assembled for duty At least
twenty persons were on their way 10 the
factory when the explosion occurred.
Human forms were strewn considerable
distances apart on the factory site. The
remains of the Sherwood brothers were
found in drying room No. l. mangled and
almost unrecogniza BILE. Their clothing was
blown from their bodies, a stocking
on the right foot Of Jay Sherwood.
The body of Edith Dillon was picked up
200 yards from where the explosion oc-
CURED.
The news of the catastrophe spread like
wildfire throughout the country. Every
train and interurban car that has arrived
in the city for the past ten hours was
crowded. The large plant Is shattered into
fragments, not one single wall remaining
Bricks and timber can be found for half
mile around
The property loss is 100000 The plant. IL
is said will not be rebuilt Most of the fu-
nerals will be held tomorrow, and business
generally will be suspended. Three bodies
were found a distance of three hundred
feet from the scene Of the explosion.