Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 May 1893 — A DREADFUL CASUALTY. [ARTICLE]

A DREADFUL CASUALTY.

William Irwin and William Nces, two young married men, were siriking a gin coal shaft, near Cory,And. Monday they jabfit into their blacksmith shop at the mouth of the shaft to. sharpen their tools. Whilo hammering the red-hot iron a piece broke off and flew into a keg of powder, , which exploded'. This concussipn exploded a box containing about 'fifty dynamite cartridges. The explosion that followod was terrific, and was heard lor a distance of five miles. The shop was literally blown to pieces, and fragments thrown for a distance of 200 yards. A boy fourteen years old, named Ray Gird, stepped into the shop Just as the explosion occurred,, and he was instantly killed,'being torn limb from limb. Irwin held a drill in his hands at the time, which was blown entirely through him, while the flesh was stripped from the bones all over his body. Neds was thrown several yards from the scene, and was so severely Injured that ho died. Alex Ward, who was lying on tho ground looking into the shaft, was seriously injured. A horse standing some distance away was killed, Its body being lit-, orally filled with splinters. The clothing worn by tho unfortunate men was stripped from their bodies, and was found, together - with pieces of human flesh, clinging to the topmost branches of trees near by, while blood was upon every object for several yards around the scene. The remains were gathered up! by sympathizing friends and taken to the bereaved homes. The dead men were members of well-to-do families, prominent in that section.