Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 November 1882 — DREADFUL ACCIDENT. [ARTICLE]

DREADFUL ACCIDENT.

Explosion of a Bomb-Mortar During a Pyrotechnic Exhibition at Philadelphia* Six Persons Instantly Killed and a Number More or Less Seriously Injured. A mortar heavily charged with bomba and other fireworks, which were being used in the celebration of the Penn centennial at Fairmouut Park, Philadelphia, exploded, mowing down the surrounding spectators like the discharge of cannlster into a regiment, and carrying death and destruction in its course. A dispatch from that city gives the following particulars of the sickening affair: The shouts of the collected thousands which had rent the air a few minutes before because of the magnificent display suddenly ceased, and above the noise made by the stamping spectators could be heard the shrieks and moans of the dying. When the excitement follow ng the explosion had somewhat abated, ambulances were summoned and the injured removed to a neighboring hospital Mrs. Davis Cookley, aged 26 years, who was nearest the mortar, was struck on the right side of the head and instantly killed, a piece of the iron carrying awaj/ part of her jaw. A colored infant was torn from the arms of its mother and killed. John Cannon, aged 85 years, had his skull crushed in, and died in ten minutes. A. Gerhart and Edward Pierson, two young men, were standing together. Just os the crash came, Mr. Gerhart heard a woman’s voioecry: “Great God, my child is killed” He felt a dead wcght strike against his shoulder*. Turning, he saw an elderly colored woman holding the limp form of a child in her ahna It had almost d< oppod from her grasp, but she had clu'ched it again. She had (.eld the child in front of her, and in receivin g the blow it had saved her life. The worn n was Mrs. Charlotte Collins, of No. 514 North Nineteenth street, and the little boy was Howard, the 3-year-old son of her daughter, Mrs. Isabella Scudder, 27 years old, residing on Bainbridge street. He died in a few minutes Mrs. Scudder had been standing by her mother's side, laughing and udmning the fireworks. Her shoulder had almost touched that of Mr. Pierson. After the explosion she lay lifel< ss at his feet A flying fragment of the shell had struck her in the face, nearly severing the lower portion from the upper. Two men woo had been standing by were struck by the flying pieces of the bomb and were instantly killed. The face of the one was beaten into such a shapeless mass that not even his age could be ascertained The other was a young man about 25 years old Across his face, about the middle of the nose, was a transverse cut nearly two inches deep. Park Guard Thomas W. Harr.son, who was standing nearest to the building, was picked up senseless about 30 feet from his station. His injuries, although severe, did not appear to be dangerous, and he was hnmedi itely removed to his boarding pl*ce. No 2,343 Fa rmount avenua Mr. Harrison wis a soldier under Mai. Reno in the Indian battle of the Big Horn river, in which Gen. Custer was slain. The bodies of the two unknown men and of Mrs. 8 udder were removed to the art building at th« Green street entrance. John M. Canning one of the wounded, who was taken to the German Hospital, died a few minutes after his arrival It is estimated that there were twenty-fiv« persons injur 'd ser.ously if not fatally.