Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-11-30
The Keystone Dynamite Works Again
Destroyed by an Explosion.
NINE MEN BLOWN TO FRAGMENTS
The Explosion was Felt tor
Miles Around.

Cn Monday morning at ten O'Clock,
q sharp report told our citizens too
plainly that another of our powder
plants had blown up. instantly a
dense smoke located the explosion at
the Keystone works, a short distance
west Of town. Immediately hundreds
of our citizens, wives, parents, and
children franticly rushing to the scene
of the catastrophe.
A PRESS representative was soon on
the ground and met scores of injured
coming to town, but little could be
learned until we reached the works.
The horrible facts were soon learned
that nine men had been blown to
pieces, except young Sprung, whose
booy was found thirty feet from where
he stood in the road. His head was
partially blown off.
THE DEAD.
James Joyce, single, aged 80.
John Hamilton, single, aged %.
Thos. Welsh, single, aged 36.
Frank Harrington, single, aged 20.
James Campbell, married, aged 81.
John Butler, married, aged 29
John Bessie, married, aged So.
William J. Murphy, married, aged 2l.
William Sprung, married, aged %.
THE INJURED.
Joseph Gayney, right leg broken in
two places near hip. He was taken to
WiIliamsport Hospital same day, &C.
companied by his brother-in-law Jos.
A Friendel. He is doing nicely and
will be on his feet again within a few
weeks. This was the third explosion
Mr.. Gayney has passed through, being
severely injured twice.
Tho5. Joyce employed in the nitric
plant, was severely burned about the
face.
Ed. Zwald, Walter Palmer, Thos.
Milton, TAndreW Blinzler and Simon
Lucks, employed in packing house No.
,, where all more or less injured when
the building tumbled down upon them,
They crawled from under the wreck
and hastened from further danger
Three thousand pounds of dynamite
in this building did not go off.
Ed. Barker was working alone in
packing house No. 8 and escaped with
few cuts and bruises.
In the dipping and mailing room were
employed Fred Tompkins, Floyd Van
Vert, Geo Eaton, VIM. Hooven and
Henry st. Piere. All escaped witt
slight injuries when the building col
lapsed on them,
Every one was more or less shakel
up and severely cut and bruised. Oul
readers have so often read the fearfu
story that we have simply given the
facts.
1t cannot, Of course be stated posi-
lively where the explosion first tool
place but it is the general opinion thai
the mixing room, where Bessie
Murphy, Harrington and Welsh were
employed, was the first to go up, being
Immediately followed by packing house
No. /, where James Joyce, james
Campbell, John Hamilton and Johr
Butler were blown to atoms, thei
mlngled remains being spattereC
against the fort wall.
The entire plant is almost a complet,
wreck.
At the extreme upper end of the
valley was located the black powder
dope magazine, which exploded at The
same time, but did no damage.
Murrick Barker, employed in tn,
soda house, was severely injured, be
ing pinned under the steam pipe
when the root fell. He is suffering
much from pain this morning.
In the labratpry at the upper end D.
the valley, Chemist g. u. Ericsson anC
his assistant, Chas r. Plpazzoni wer,
cut about the face aud head by flying
timber. John Ilcmmer engineer ano
j. ID. Swope, iiremcu, We're also Gu,
and bruised badly.
The several physicians Of town were
promptly on hand 10 aid the iniuree
and for time were kept busy.
Supt. Geo. NanWert was Ia the iela.
tine plant at the extreme upper Iso
hand branch, when the crash cam,