The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-09-24
KILLED BY PIECE
OF FLYING ROCK
Edward G. Rloxom Victim of
Accident Yesterday.
WAS IN CHARGE OF BLASTING
Stood Inside the Danger Zone When
Charge of Dynamite was Fired-Had
Handled the Explosive for Years and
Was Always Careful.

Edward G.. Bloxom, 6S, employed as
foreman Of blasting operations by Crosby
& Parker died about noon yesterday from
injuries received by being struck by a fly
ing piece Of rock from a blast fired at
IL 80 o'clock in the ditch which is being
excavated on the West river hill for the
new sewer Mr. Bloxom, who has been
in charge of the blasting work for Mr..
Crosby for over II years, was at work yes
terday as usual A blast was ready to be
fired and Mr. Bloxom had ascertained that
the road was clear of teams. He sought
safety in a nearby corntield at a distance
believed by himself and others of the force
of workmen to be beyond the danger zone.
He was unable to see the ditch at the
point where the blast was to occur, being
screened by the high cornstalks. A fiat
piece of stone weighing several pounds
struck him directly over the heart, crush
ing his chest. Several men saw Mr..
BoXom fall and he was at once carried to
the roadside. DR.. w. H. Lane, who hap
pened to be nearby, was called. 1t was
evident that the man had been fatally IN
jured and he realized the fact and told ms
companions that he had fired his last
blast. He talked with his fellow workmen
for several minutes after he was struck and
told them that the cut he received on one
of his wrists was Of no consequence but
the injury to his chest was going to prove
fatal. He died in about Is minutes. His
body was brought to this village and at
the undertaking rooms Masonic emblem
was discovered Members of the local Ma
sonic bodies We're notified and assisted +.
G. Crosby i'll such arrangements as were
necessary to send the body to Perkins
vile. in the town of Weatherstield, the
home Of Mr. Bloxom. 1t was learned that
he was member of St Johns Masonic
lodge of Springfield, Vt. Mr.. Crosby upon
being notified of the death of his foreman
tple6honed c. Z. Parker. his partner, at
Springfield and Mr.. Parker communicated
with Mrs Bloxom. who lives some six
miles from the village of Perkinsville.
She is an invalid and has five children.
There is a son in Arizona, one in New Jer-
sev. one at home and two other children.
Mr. BloXom had won IA reputation for
his extreme care in keeping others at a
safe distance whenever he was firing a
blast and only recently had displayed this
caution bv trying to have a passing autolst
rroceed TO point beyond where the man
stopped his car to witness blast. The
foreman sent two requests to the man to
move his car but the man in the machine
said that he would take the risk as he in
ten.led to see the blast. go off. A large
piece Of falling rock struck one of the mud
at first inclined to make complaint to
the authorities but changed his mind.
Mr. Bloxom had followed the business
of handling and exploding dynamite for
lover 20 years and had often remarked that
he expected to meet his death at his work,
He was large man. weighing considerably
over POO pounds. The body will be sent
to his home in Perkinsville today. He was
veteran of the Civil war.