Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1893 — BLOWN UP BY DYNAMITE. [ARTICLE]

BLOWN UP BY DYNAMITE.

Workmen Are Torn to Pieces While En* gaged in Digging a Well at Emington. The entire business portion of Emington, HL, was wrecked by a pre mature explosion of dynamite, and five people were killed and five more seriously injured, two of whom cannot live. The killed are: Chris Eyer, of the firm of Eyer Bros., Dwight, 111., leaves a wife and one child; James Cornwell, a single man, Dwight, 111., in the employ of Eyer Bros.; C. E. Fowler, Emington, leaves a wife and two children; Frita Eyer, Olney, HL, cousin of the Eyei brothers; Dash Eyer, Olney, also a cousin. There are others that received bruises by the awful shock. The twfl Wyllies that are among the injured are well diggers and were engaged in digging a city well. They had reached a depth of 305 feet without striking the requisite amount of water theil contract called for. So they engaged Eyer Bros., experienced well diggers, to further their work. The firm used a 2-foot long and H-inch diameter gas pipe, filled the same with dynamite, and were capping it, when all of a suds den it exploded, throwing the men and landing them over fifty feet away from the spot where they were located. The Eyers and Cornwell were mangled in such a manner that identification was impossible, their clothing being all torn to pieces. Hats, shoes, and piecesof cloth were scattered all around the streets bordering the block. Pieces of flesh had to be gathered in baskets. The town presents a sad sight, especially the business portion. All the window lights were shattered by the shock and in those stores and residences near-! est the place the articles in the interior were injured considerably. The shock was so great that it was plainly heard over five miles from Emington, and it was not long before the town began to fill up with people to find out what was; wrong. The citizens all lent a helping hand and the dj lag and dead were' cared for as best they could be.