Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1910-01-14
VOLUME xxx
A TARRIBLE ACCIDENT

Pennington died at st. Mary's hos
pital this morning and fourteen others
were badly injured. The place was
conducted by Henry Messerschmidt,
who lately removed to that place from
Jefferson. 1t was formerly conducted
by Thomas Markey.
The dead are:
Fred Riess, Pennington.
The injured are:
Albert Klug, Concord internal in
juries, thought to be serious.
Theodore Knaak, Pennington, dou-
BILE compound fracture of leg. Serious.
Emil Stretch, Pennington, leg
broken.
Ferdinand Heller, Pennington, leg
broken.
Robert Stienke, Pennington, leg
broken.
Charles Kiepert, Johnson Creek,
five ribs broken; internal injuries.
II. Messerschmidt, Pennington,
burned.
Mrs. H. Messerschmidt, Farming
ton, burned.
Carl Buske, Pennington, burned.
Fred Buske, Pennington, burned.
Mrs Albert Strassburg, Farming
ton, burned.
Otto Wolfgram Pennington, burned.
John WoIfgram, Pennington,
burned.
At about 6:30 o'clock something
went wrong with the lights and Mes
serschmidt went into the basement to
adjust the gas tank and carried
lantern. He had no sooner en-
tered than terrific explosion shook
the building. Every window in the
house was shattered and the walls
and ceiling so badly cracked that
the place will probably have to be re
built. The place was in darkness af-
ter the crash. For a tine panic
reigned, and the cries of the injured
and the falling plaster added to the
confusion In a short time, however,
people from nearby houses arrived
with lights and carried the badly in
iured away who were cared for in
nearby homes, and assistance sum-
moned from Watertown, Johnson
Creek and Jefferson The physicians
from this city were Drs. G. j. Hab-
hegger, ]. S. Kings, l.. H. Nowack and
w. F.. Whyte.
Fred Riess of Pennington had his
skull fractured and he was hurried to
ST. Mary's hospital in this city where
an effort was made to save his life,
but death resulted from the injuries.
How 1t Occurred.
The story of the explosion as told
by one present shows that the force
was terrific. A number Of farmers
had been hauling ice during the day
and stopped at the Palm Garden be-
fore going home to get lunch which
had been prepared for them. About
one-half of the number were outside
when the explosion occurred. The
acetylene lights became dim and a
young man named Carl Buske took
lantern and went to the cellar to in
vestigate. He was accompanied by
the proprietor, Henry Messerschmidt.
When the basement door was opened
the gas ignited from the lantern, and
strange to say, the Buske boy was
only slightly burned while Messer-
schmidt was more seriously injured
and burned about the head and hands.
The force of the explosion tore away
the summer kitchen from the main
building The floor was shattered
and there were blood marks on the
ceiling where those in the saloon
were forced upward by the shock. A
kitchen stove was demolished and lay
in heap. The bar was wrecked and
beer cases and bottles were thrown
across the street. The windows were
blown out and the walls loosened
from their foundations.
Horses Stampede.
About thirty teams were hitched
outside and when the explosion oc-
Cured they broke loose from the
posts and stampeded together, Great
ng CONSERVATION among the men out
side.
One Man Dead.
Fred Riess had his skull crushed
and was hurried to ST. Mary's hospi-
tai in this city. He died this morn
ing He is wealthy farmer residing
near the village and is survived by
his widow and three daughters. He
was about 45 years old. When remoy-
ing Mr.. Riess here a stop was made
at his home and the information given
that he probably would not survive.
The grief of his wife and children
was pitiable when told of the sad oc-
currence
Theodore Knaak of Concord is also
at ST. Marys hospital suffering from
double compound fracture of the
leg, the bone protruding in two
places An operation was performed
at St Mary's hospital today and his
condition is critical, but he may sur
vive.
Charles Kiepert of Johnson Creek,
formerly of Concord, is also in ser
ious condition. He sustained frac
lures of the ribs and is hurt internally
every person in the building at the
tine was injured and had the explos'
on occurred when all the farmers
were in the room, more fatalities
might have resulted. Messerschmidt
y was new man in the place and prob
ably did not know the danger OF go
ing into the basement with a light
when the lighting system gave out
1t is one of those unfortunate occur
y ances which happen at times and
create havoc, especially III small
community All the men injured are
oil lv1ou-,, Noforfoup and fhpy