Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 September 1895 — TO ETERNITY BY DYNAMITE. [ARTICLE]

TO ETERNITY BY DYNAMITE.

Five Killed and Three Injured in an lowa Hamlet. One hundred and twenty-five pounds of dynamite was exploded Sunday morning at Specht’s Ferry, ten miles north of Dubuque, lowa, with a tremendous roar and shock, which was felt like a trembling,caused by an earthquake. Five persons were killed and three terribly injured at the scene-of the explosion. The injured persons were brought to Dubuque and taken to a hospital soon after the accident. The dead are: Hans Bjornstad, of La Crosse, Wis.; Edward Latshaw, of Victory, Wis.; Mrs. Edward Latshaw, Ray Latshaw, 12 years old; Matt Latshaw, 6 years old. Edward Latshaw was a ■subcontractor engaged in quarrying stone on the lowa side for the builders of the Government wing dams on the Wisconsin shore. His living rooms were within 100 feet of the building containing the explosive. He was exceedingly careful of the explosive, and would never allow any one to enter the storeroom or handle it when needed, but himself. Sunday morning after breakfast the family were watching Ray, the eldest boy, practice firing at a mark on a post below the sfonty, where the dynamite was stored. It is not known whether the boy accidentally fired into the dynamite or whether the concussion caused by his shooting exploded it. • ■