Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-10-17
Might Have Been Even Worse.

Mqht Have Been Even Worse.
Superintendent Mopahan was killed
while sitting in his Office, and his
wife and sister-in-law were killed in
their home some distance away. That
| the death list is not greater is due
to the fact that the people of the
town had left their houses at the
first explosion and were not in them
when the explosion of the 10000 kegs
Of powder in the magazine hurled
their homCs to pieces and scattered
their household goods in heaps Of
debris.
Buildings Totally Destroyed.
Among the buildings totally de-
| stroyed in the tOWD were the Metho-
dist church and the Christian church,
two school buildings, the depot, all
business blocks, including a large
block just completed, large ware
house and 500 homes. In many the
fronts were blown away while in 9th
ers the roofs were hurled into space,
sides blown out or they were left a
|
A Big Four freight train on
switch leading to the mills was par"
TALLY destroyed by the explosion and
! the wreckage caught fire.
Engineer Wells was badly burned
and received a fracture of the right
leg.
| Afour-room school building was torn
| to pieces and not one of the 200 chill
dren escaped unhurt. No one was
fatally injured A two-room school
building at Coal Bluff was turned
over and collapsed The teacher and
90 pupils were more or less injured
Assistance Quickly Sent.
Terre Haute and Brazil sent physi-
clans and nurses with supplies in car
riages and automobiles across the
country, while special trains were
made up and run over the Big Four
railroad for the care of the injured.
Governor Hanley at Indianapolis or
dered the Terre Haute company of
militia to patrol the ruined district
and protect life and property. Gov
ernor Hanley arrived last evening
about the time the soldiers reached
here, He brought with him 700 tents
and cots for the use of the homeless.
School Teacher Dies.
The country school near Fontanet,
with an attendance of so children,
had just been called to order when
! the explosion occurred. The walls
of the building and the roof collapsed,
but none of the children were seri-
ously injured The teacher, Miss
Susan Bishop of Terre Haute, Ind,
was struck by q falling beam and
died late last night.
Those who had not been injured by
| the explosion rushed toward the pow
| der mill Everyone was panic stick
en-. No one gave heed to the wild
EXPLANATIONS of The little fellows who
sought in vain to attract attention to
the wrecked school building Mean
time several others struggled out Of
the debris, covered by smoke. and
finally people began to realize that
possibly a greater tragedy than that
Little Ones in Ruins.
A few turned in their mad flight
and fastened to the wrecked building.
The scene was awful. Inc cries Of
the little ones could scarcely be
heard above the confusion caused
by the explosion. Cooler heads final
ly prevailed and strong men were
soon lifting timbers off imprisoned
bodies and carrying the injured away.
Terre Haute Gives Aid.
Terre Haute, Ind, Oct. 16.-Hos-
pitfalls and homes in Terre Haute
were thrown open yesterday to care
for the injured in the Fontanet pow
der explosion. Relief trains carry
ing physicians and supplies were
hurried to the scene and the Injured
were brought to this city. Five of
the injured died in the hospital
Ambulance Wrecked.
While hurrying to st. Anthony's
hospital, an ambulance was struck
by a street car and wrecked. No one
was injured, but it is feared that the
shock may be fatal to explosion vic
tins who were in the ambulance.
Hot Shaft Caused Trouble.
Superintendent Nash Of the Dupont
| Powder company at Fontanet, who
was seriously injured, said last night
that the loss of the plant will be more
than 100000. He stated that this
was not the first explosion of the
plant. In nine years II persons
have been killed. Trouble has been
experienced in the past few days
with a shaft in the glazing room.
Several times the shaft has become
overheated and has required the
stopping of the machinery. There
We're 31,100 kegs of powder in the
magazine department. according to
| Nash.
Soldiers Under Sheriff.
Company B, Indiana national guard.
Immediately upon reaching here last
night reported to Sheriff Horsley,
, who placed the men around the most
damaged sections of the city. The
J soldiers will act under orders from
, the sheriff unless Governor Hanley
I'll l.x