The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-08-29
Cofoner's Jury Declares in Favor
Of Passage Of Laws for Inspec-
ton Of Powder Plants
MET DEATH BY ACCIDENT
Evidence at the Inquest Fails TO Throw
Any New Liasht on the Cause Of Xxx
plosion Which Cost the Lives
of Three Men Wednesday

thursday afternoon TO examine INTO
the death Of Walter H. Harris,
Norman Phillips and w. J. Nowland,
the three men vino met their deaths ia
the explosion at the Powder Mills on
Wednesday morning, returned yer,
dict of accidental death but appended
to their verdict was clause calling
upon the State Legislature to take
some action to secure the better pro-
lection of the lives of men who accept
the hazardous work of the powder
maker.
This jury further declares that
Immediate action should be taken to
secure some inspection of powder
plants and powder making machinery
under the direction of the State and
we recommend that at the next session
of the Wisconsin Legislature law
be passed providing for daily inspec-
ton of all powder plants and machin-
cry used in the manufacture of powder
by an inspector who shall be respon-
sible to the State for his acts
The recommendation of the jury as
well as the facts in connection with
the two fatal explosions at-the powder
plant will be laid before every mem
Der of the Legislature before the
meeting of the next session and every
possible effort will be made to force
the Legislators to see the necessity of
acting in this i'm portant matter.
At the last session of the Legisla-
ture law of import similar to the
demand expressed in the verdict of
the jury was before the Legislature
but it failed of passage. At that time
the attorneys for the powder trust ap-
peared before the committees of the
Assembly and the Senate and declared
that there was no cause for the pass
ing Of the law. Later the fight was
made in the Circuit Court of this
county but the action was dismissed,
it being claimed that the Legislature
would have to pass law before the
plant could be declared a nuisance.
The fact that ten lives have been lost
in this county sin &c the first day of
January will be urged as the strongest
reason for the passage of the bill to
regulate the manufacture of powder
and other high explosivesin the state.
1t is declared that with a state in
spector in charge of every plant the
dangers of an explosion could be
greatly reduced.
There was no evidence at the in
quest which threw any light on the
cause of the fatal explosion of We'd
nesday. superintendent Howard M.
Smith, Clarence J, Brady, Andrew l..
Fox and w. NJ. Kenney, all employees
of the com pany, were the only wit
nesses called and all of them testified
to practically the same thing. All
said that they could give no cause for
the explosion unless it was the fact
that some gritty substance had been
mingled with the powder and that
when it passed under the rolls it pro-
duced the spark which caused the ex-
p1osion.
These men all testified that it would
have been an inapossibllity for a
match or any portion of match to
have been ia one of the cakes of
were never carried BY the men while
they we're at work in the plant. Su-
perintendent Smith declared at the
inquest that he had examined the
corning mill twice daily and that he
felt certain that there was nothing
wrong with the machinery. Engineer
Kenney, who had charge of all Of the
machinery at the plant, also testified
that the machinery in the corning,
mill was in perfect condition. The
mute testimony of the dying state
ment of Harris was the only thing
that showed that it was possible for
match to have been in one OF the
cakes Of the powder and ali the other
men testified that this was highly inn
probable if not impossible. All Of the
men declared that every possible pre-
caution was used at the mill to place
a safe guard about the lives of the
employees and that in their opinion
the explosion was caused by some
thing that could not have been
avoided by the managers of the plant.
None of the officials of the Dupont
company was present at the inquest,
but it is expected that one of them
will arrive within few days to take
charge of the rebuilding of the plant.
It is thought that the company will
have very hard time to get men to
come to the plant to work. The su-
perintendent of the Glaze mill gave
up his position yesterday and declares
that he will not return to the plant to
work as he is unwilling to assume the
danger for longer time. Other men
have also signifed their intention OF
leaving the plant.
The plant is now shut down, but It
is the intention of the managers to-
open it again on next Monday. How
ever all work at the plant will be
greatly delayed until the corning mill
is rebuilt.
IT, O. DnYtar 1of4 f0r h;S home IN