The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-05-13
Bodies Torn Terribly and
BIackened
1000 POUNDS OFDYNAMITE
Premature Explosion Near Albany, N. \,
Yesterday Afternoon Caused Sick
ening Sight-Looked Life a
Battlefield.

Albany, N. Y, May 1s.--At least 20
men were killed by premature blast
Of dynamite yesterday afternoon in a
stone quarry operated by the Gallan-
an Road Improvement company near
the village Of South Bethlehem II miles
southwest of Albany. II was at first
believd that the death toll would
reach 30 but tonight several Italian
workmen who had been reported as mis-.
sing were accounted for, and it is not
believd that more than score Of lives
we're lost.
The dead.
John Hoyt Callahan, vice-president
and general manager Of the company,
Albany.
Charles D. Callahan, brother Of the
manager, Albany.
Leroy Mcmillan, assistant superin-
tendent, VoorshireviIle.
John Hendrickson, steam drill fore
man, South Bethlehem.
Fred Snyder, master mechanic, South
Bethlehem.
James Maloney, blacksmith, South
Bethlehem.
William Baumes, fireman, South Beth
lehem.
Fred Appert, agent Of the National
Powder company, New York.
Twelve Italian workemen.
One thousand pounds Of dynamite ex-
ploded, scattering the bodies of the
victims for hundreds Of feet around and
It was with difficulty that the black
ened, dismembered remains, mutilated
almost beyond recognizition, were iden-
tilted. As darkness was falling a wag-
on drew up to the engine house load
ed with bodies that had been picked up
back on the quarry hill. A crowd OF
grief stricken relatives gathered around
eager to identity the dead, only to turn
away at the siekening sight. Cloth
ing hung in shreds from the bodies from
which the heads Of some were missingi
others lacked arms or legs or both.
italians with shovels searched here
and there for portions Of bodies bring
Ing their gruesome loads IN boxes to
the engine house which served as
temporary nlorgue. g. p. Bacelh the
local Italian consul and doctor and un.
dertakers were early on the scene. The
bodies of The two Callahan brothers,
Fred Snyder aud Fred Zappert were
among the first TO Be identified.
The Callahan Road Improvement COM
pany does a large business furnishing
crushed stone for road building, and
preparations for yesterdays blast
which was scheduled to take place at
five o'clock yesterday afternoon had
going on for SIX weeks. Thirteen holes
five inches in diameter and about 10
feet deep had been drilled az points
shout 20 feet back Of the face Of the
big quarry. The displacement was ex-
pected to amount to nearly 10000 tons
of rock and over 5000 pounds Of dyna-
mite were to have been used.
The workmen had placed 500 pound
charges in six of the holes and were
working on the seventh when few
minutes before two o'clock, there was a
terrific explosion hurling tons Of rocks
into the air and scattering the bodies
Of the victims in all directions Sew
eral Of the men were engaged in pump
ing water out Of the holes, Others were
placing the charges Of dynamite, while
the officers we're standing nearby direct
ing the work Another force Of men
were carrying dynamite from the store
house some distance away when the
death dealing blast which was caused by
the prematured discharge Of percus--
sion cap exploded. Houses in the viein-
ity were shaken, windows shattered and
oonstrnation reigned in the little vii
lage half q mile away,
Soon after the explosion fire was dis
covered in the woods in which the dyna-
mite storehouse was located and it was I
feared for q time that the flames might |
reach the building in which carload Of
explosives were stored, but the fire was
before the danger was
reached.
1t developed that five Of the great |
charges Of dynamite remained unexploded /
in the quarry This rendered somewhat I
difficult the search for bodies, the work
men fearing further explosions.
The Callahan brothers we're well
known in Albany, where they main
tanned the company's Office during the
winter months, moving to South Bethle-
hem when the seasons work opened.