The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-09-16
9 KILLED IN
FUSE WORKS
EXPLOSION

Avon, Conn. Sept. 16.-The explosion OF
a fuse. followed by a fire In a building
of the Climax Fuse company here yes
terday afternoon. caused a panic among
% employees in the building and resulted
i'm the death OF seven and injuries that
doubtless will prove fatal 10 several 9TH
ers. There was no way OF coping with the
flames, which soon spread rapidly, and in
less than an hour after tho explosion oc-
Cured those who were unable 10 escape
were in the clutches of a fire that eventu-
ally burned their bodies to ashes. As the
day wore on the great crowd that coll
lected in the hamlet saw the bodies OF
men and women roasting in the fire and
were powerless to check the flames. The
list Of dead and injured follows:
THE DEAD.
William Burke. 40 years old, married.
James Joyce. 20, married.
Robert Mccarthy, aged ~.
James Wallace. married.
Molly Mccarthy.
! Miss j. Sullivan.
Mrs. NJ. n. Tucker.
Charles Dimock.
Miss Nora Ryan.
THE INJURED
Michael Garfield. severe burns, probably
will recover
Michael Mccarthy. severe burns.
Lyman Hull, burns.
Earl fuller, burns.
Arthur fuller.
-Ie Deyt. bruises.
Nellie Garfield. burns and bruises.
Mrs. Fish. severely bruised.
Mrs. Burke is the wife Of William
Burke. who is numbered among tho dead,
and had been employed in the factory but
a few days
The exact cause of the accident may
never he known. but IL is the accepted
theory here that In an effort 10 burn out
n stoppage i'm one OF the machines James
joyce caused an explosion OF a fuse with
the hot irons ne held I'm his hand. In
nammable material near by was set on
fire and I'm n few moments the room was
all a mass OF flames. In an instant there
was a made rush for the doors and win
dows, and during the scramble many
were pushed back into the building, while
others were severely burned.
The explosion took place i'm the finishing
room. where 20 persons were employed.
There were but 60 hands az work I'm the
: entire plant. 1t was stated today that
some ar the dead may have been over
come by smoke before they had a chance
TO flee and II is improbable that any one
Of the seven victims lost his life by the
force Of the explosion.
For some time It was not known how
many were dead. but this morning an ac-
counting was made OF all the employees
but seven. whose names are given above.
Many OF the injured were almost helpless
and were carried TO their homes I'm wag-
ons, and an immediate call was sent out
for medical aid.
The scene at the fire was heartrending
Friends and relatives OF the missing were
almost frantic when It became known
that bodies Of those close 10 them were
being burned 20 n crisp in the ruins OF
the factory. There is no fire department
I'm the town and II was utterly useless 10
attempt TO cope with the flames with
buckets.
As one Of tho walls Of the second larg.
est building fell several bodies could be
seen ~entangled In the mass ~ machinery
and In \ short time they were reduced %
ashes.
Soon after the building IN which the
lives were lost was consumed the Are
spread 70 tho now structure. which va,
Just completed AZ n cost OF S25 40. and IN
a few hours this building was Quilted
Two smaller buildings were reduced I,
ashes. making n total OF four burned. TN,
loss on which Is estimated 10 be slO0. Ooo.
A few rods from the group OF burne,
buildings are two small sheds, I'm which
fuses and powder are stored. but the,
escaped the flames.
IL was supposed that tho burned build
ings were either hreproof or euuinne,
with automatic nre sprinklers. but on ac
count OF the burning Of the betting whicI
works the pumps the sprinklers were rem
dered useless.
The result OF the burning Of tho fis
works will have a severe effect ON the I'm
dusttial situation I'm his town. I'm al
probability. the works will not be rebuilt,
NINE DEAD NOW.
Avon. conn, Sept. i6-Tbe list OF death
by the explosion and fire which destroye,
the Climax Fuse Works yesterday after
noon now numbers .,ne, two OF the in
tured having died during the night. Th'
latter were Charles Dinock and Mis-
Nora Ryan. both % whom we're severely
burned. Another OF the injured ones
Charles Legeyt. Is not expected TO live.