Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1908 — Fritts’ Peanut Roaster Explodes. [ARTICLE]

Fritts’ Peanut Roaster Explodes.

The Delphi Evening Herald gives the following account of the explosion of Ernest Fritts’ peanut roaster, Mr. Fritts was formery engaged in business in Rensselaer, and is a son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. J. Q. Alter of this city. The Herald says: At 1:30 this afternoon an explosion occurred which could be heard all over the business section. It was the peanut roaster in the Fritts store next to the post office on Main street. The roaster was standing in the east window of the room and the explosion blew out the plate glass windows in both the front and side windows, smashed up one of his best show cases, destroyed several dollars worth of candy and did other damage. The roaster was completely wrecked. Mr. Fritts was standing by the machine and was knocked down, a small cut on his back and several bruises were the only injuries suffered. It was a lucky thing for him, and the wonder is that he was not killed. Just a few minutes previous to the explosion, Frank Browne and Frank Swatts were sitting in front of the window.