Bloomington Telephone, Volume 7, Number 51, Bloomington, Monroe County, 3 May 1884 — Page 1

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VOL. 7

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA, May 3,

1884.

NO. 51

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Dynamite Kills aiid Injures 13 People.

FRIGHTFUL SCENES OF SUFFERING. MEN SHOT TO PIECES.

GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE TERRIBLE EXPLOSION.

SAD AVXKK. AT KLLETT8Y IIXX.

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Last Tuesday morning Monroe county was visited by one of the mst disastrous accidents known to the history of Southern Indiana, from which he loss of life and those seriously injured is appalling in the extreme. The accident was the fault of no on and occurred in such a away as no human being could ever have immagined. About twenty minutes of six o'clock, Tuesday morning, a fire was homestead, situated about one mile north of Ellettsville, west of the railroad. It had originated from a defective flue in the west end of the building, and as the wind was blowing to a north easternly direction, flamed spread through the bouse, soon attracting quite a number of the neighbors. By the time they reached the fire, liowever, the home was past saving, and work was commenced to save a smokehouse, that joined to the . west, and an effort only being made to save the weather-boarding, which was being accomplished by palling it off, when a TREXKXPOUS EXPLOSIOX Occurred, followed almost iipstantly by heart-rending shrieks from men and boys. Those on ,he east side of the house harried around, and a spectacle, too frightful to describe, presented itself one man almost dead, others unconscious, and others moaning most pitifully. In an instant the cause was known. A kettle, containing ten dynamite cartridges, had been stored away in the smoke house, suspended to the rafters, and in pulling at the building, the kettle fell U the ground, causing the terrible explosion. For a few minute everything was in . bewilderment, but soon careing for the injured was commenced. Over the hill, to the west, is the residence of George Matson, and this was soon & scene only equaled by a hospital in time of civil war, as one after another the wounded were placed as comfortably as possible in the different roor?.s. In one room, to the south, lay Peter Mathews, almost unconscious and enduring the most terrible pain. Soon he was surrounded by his family, and friend. Physicians were soon at his bedside examining his wounds, that proved to be most likely fatal. In his groins a piece

of mettle had made its way and lodged beyond the reach of a probe. Other wounds were also inflicted in different parts of the body, that made his case almost hopeless. In anether room lay Edward Moberly, a young man of twenty J with a terrible hole just above His right eye, where a piece of the kettle had entered, and from which brains were slowly oozing. Almost unconscious, he was surrounded by his friends. Physician did not probe for the missile, as death was only a question of time. On the floor William Williams'was fearfully lacerated, a piece of kettle having entered his right eye, tearing off that side of the head. He only lived a few minutes after being carried into the house, being insensible all the time. A sad case indeed was little Allie Wickins, a boy of fourteen, who had rushed over to the fire, and was in the act of carrying' away a board when struck im thg back of the head, a portion ' of the kettle puncturing the skull. Unconscious he lay, the physicians beinunble te relieve him. To the east Vas Wm Matson, a hole through his aim and, frightful wound in the leg, very serious. Lonzo Mattingly was close by, suffering terribly from live shots in the back, that had buried themselves beyond the reach of a probe. He also had s. serious wound on the rear of the right lesr. His case is

critical, though the extent is not known. William Freeman received a shoulder fracture, a piece of the mettle entering just above, the arm, Grant Galloway is cut in the leg and shoulder, very serious. Also Fred Mathews. Neither could be probed successfully. Abram Spires is wounded in the leg and also has a severe cut on

the head. He suffers a great deal,

but has only flesh injuries. Edward Faulkner has a very serious injury in the shoulder, the missile being buried beyond finding. No one not actually seeing could conceive of the force with which the dynamite must have .thrown the f ragements of the kettle in which it was kept. An apple tree one hundred and fifty feet away was punctured; and in several places three inch timbers were pierced through and through. The kettle blowed into a thousand different pieces, that like minnie balls, sped their way for hundreds of feet, cutting the most gastly wounds, making it impossible to find the iron by a probe in any instance. It is supposed the shock could be heard for miles, as windows trembled all over Ellettsville. It seems that no one knew the danger. Eighteen months ago the dynamite had b3en stored in this out-of-the-way place for safe-keep-ing by Fred Mathews, the only one who used it, and when the fire broke out forgot of its being there. It was used for blasting purposes in the quarry, and at best is dangerous. In the afternoon, about three o'clock, Peter Mathews was carried to his home, a mile distance, as it was the desire t o get him where all was quiet. Here he rested quietly for a few hours, when he began sinking and at eight o'clock his life passed quietly away, surrounded by sorrowing irieads. Mr. Mathews was the senior member of the well known stone quarry company of the Mathews Brothers, and for several years has been foreman of the establishment. Abetter and more respected citizen is not known in Monroe county, and his death is a matter of universal regret to all. He as captain ef the Ellettsville

Post, ofQ the GrauafcAjroy ?f the Republic having served inthevlStfi Indiana. Wednesday was a sad day in Ellettsville. From lips to lips the details of the terrible catastrophe that had occurred the previous day, as repeated, and as ieport were herd -'4rbm.Kthe wounded every heart seemed heavyr AU. day bushi ess was practically ispended; on every porner .and in the rj$tOT$ rooms little knots of citiadns were discussing tle details of '.the SrHfrle affair. , t - ; Pining the niHt Peter T. Mathe$f the life -f tSie community, known by all and loved by everybody, had passed away; an instead of the wounded improving as hd been hoped, in every case thok condition was worse, till it seemed that the list to die would swelled larger than was first expected. During the night Lonzo Mattingly had grown much worse, and his case that seemed hopeful the day befog, was now very critical. Edward Moberly was a little brighter

Unit still with but little hopes. Allie

Wickjftis had grew worse through the yight apd in the morning his pulse was weaker than any time previous, so that his case gives no hope. W m. Freeman, who on first

examination seemed not badly in

jured, was much worse, it being

feared the missile had gone deep enough to cause a very serious wound, entering as it did at the rear of the arm and going toward the stomach. Abram Spiers suffered greatly, .from the loss of blood and an examination proved his case much more serious than reported.

"Bdwawi WmdkwH - arm is very

bally lacerated, and it will require perhaps three months for it to heal. What is a peculiar fact is that the metle that entered can not be found with a probe in a single instance, the pieces seeming to have been so small and to have entered so deep as te be beyond reach. This in itself is a bad feature, as the mettle that caused these wounds is pot-iron, old and rusty, with raged edges that are continually causing inflamation. The dynamite has thrown these fragments with feuch awful force as to shoot them far into the unfortunate by-standers. In several cases the mettle has entirely penetrated an arm or a leg. A large crowd of people from different parts of the county gathered to the little town, some through curiosity, but many more to attend the funeral of two of the unfortunate victims. The train from the south brought over forty from Bloomington, including many citizens and the Bloomington Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which both Mr. Williams and Mr. Mathews were prominent members. By one o'clock, the time appointed to hold the funeral services of William Williams, the Baptist Church was crowded beyond its seating capacity. The pulpit was beautifully decorated with the American Hag's and tastefully entwined in cedar were the letters "G. A. R." At the ap pointed hour the funeral co rtege arrived, escorted by the Ellettsville and Bloomington Posts of the Grand Army and proceeded to the front. Cap. G. K. Perry was in charge, and seated on the rostrum were Rev. Carpenter, Maj. Mulky and Chaplain Jones. The services were opened by a hymn from the choir, followed by the impressive funeral ceremonies of the Grand Army, after which Rev. Carpenter delivered a very touching address of thirty minutes. It was then announced that the procession would form and march to the cemetry, it forming in the following order: Ellettsville Band, Ellettsville Grand Army,

iKiss norence vv iiiiamw

wed- the remains, whe j at Now Allny; over Sunday, the

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Ijt w , auBouftced that the Ellett&vplp ai? lllpomington Posts would ff tjpi a rank and march to the

Bloomington Martial Band, BIfKpiington Grand Army, j Hearse, a

Jfieudjp and relatives

Citizens.

the grave was reached, the

and those who

jmy performed t))e last

fend the body of William

was lowered into the

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brother sided in

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the late P. T. Mathew,

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asrain cr

monies It was

Congressional Convention weeks from Wednesday 21st. Prof. Atwater occupied

United Presbyterian ch

laft Sunday xnernintf;

two

the

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guest of Miss Jessie Boiysall. V

Harry Swindle Hll Qil. inoye his stand to Howev corner ;whcr3 he was located last year smnmef. Spacer Democrat: Miss Sallie ChaiSry of Bloomington was the guest of Miss Ida Franklin, over Sunday last. V:

4 Bedford Stan Miss Mollio

h. Tlie. funeral toot) W aid ton, an accomplished youn

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mau pasv iour o cioc, , f-

n delayed in ordetha(;a

right be present, who

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tWr order of .cere-

ing the same as before.

jx o'clock before thfe

cortege retm'Ofid ftifm their sad

duty. Tose from bloomington took a fiight, thati jJBd been detained, aMarrivei sometime after

seven.

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viiiiaw, wQe aear,n so soon followed, has hB employed in the quarry f some'tiie, coming from La reio county. He was a member of the Masonic lod and 1 so a private ih thGrand Army. He leaves Amily ependent, Assoonas th extent of the injuries wrd kpown, a telegramme was sent to Dr. McPheeters asking for medioal aid; and on the freight going noj) Dj:s. McPheeters, Weii', Harris, Ixtell, Maxwell and Cajt Allen anj I) McGee wentl to .the scene, mainins: until the four

o'ctofck frain!- T

Over 5000 words were sent by telegraph to the city papers concerning the disaster, and the manner in which the operators here disposed of it, proved tliey were well up to their calling. The Ellettsville Citizin displayed commendable enterprise in issuing an extra Tuesday evening containing a full and correct account of the explosion. Mr. Harris is full of enterprise and is making the Citizin a good paper. 4 Peter T. Mathews was born in London July 8, 1S40. In 1861, he enlisted as a drummer in the Nineteenth Eegimental Band. Most of this band were captured at the battle ef Bull Run, but Peter escaped and served until the war was closed. After returning, . he engaged with his father in the quarrying business, and September,

way ol ttiooxnunraii, wuotias JoeeM

visiting friends here," retarpc$ to her hHno Thursday

rit ;Bhw:fhibiiUMl.-; at 1 Mendel tqhtk. ty&t ; .We&esd evening to about tweu ty-five persons. . C v W. A. Montgomery, pf GospoH and a delegate from this district to the National Republican convention, was attettdingt 'wti&, ihx wefe' "'

1867, he married Miss Sarah E., daughter of Robert T. Simson , whiph union gave them four children Effie, Albert, John and Charles. Mr. Mathews is a member of the Masons and the G. A. R. Ellettsville, Ixd., May 1. Lonzo Mattingly died of the wound inflicted in his back, just below the right arm, this evening between six and seven o'clock. The funeral will take place tomorrow.

We have the pleasure of announcing that Miss Frances Willard, Pres ident of the greateat temperance organization in the world, will speak in Bloomington next Wednesnight. The mention of Miss Willara's name among intelligent people is all the advertisement necessary. She has been before the American public almost constanty for ten years, and is recognized as one of the most effective of platform orators. It is seldom the people of Bloomington have the privilege of hearing a woman of such a national reputation. We predict the Cot lege Chapel will be filled to overflowing. Republicans of the 3rd Ward, be

j on your gard.

f. ter of aiul Wallirigford,

teethe tariff that appeared in the

TBLiPHoirp: last weeV, was repub lishedin the Indianapolis Journal ia&t Wednesday, in ful, - .. The liftuisville, New AlbarajfoMfc ChicagOipeopie havcpftcsd- a eou tract for 20Q new box cars, and the Ohio & Mississippi wad are contracting for 300 - ner bchi 40,000 pounds capacity; 4 ? " The Tklkjiioke jwesents to its readers si graphic account of the terribW vcatJ'Qphe at EllettsvillrLtJiis. momiue that . was pre-

pared especially for tnis paper a

is in every particular correct. James Akin, foreman of the stone works at the new college building, had the little finger of his right hand amputated last Wednesday, It was done by a rock slipping that was being moved. The pupils that have been under Miss Laura Henley taking painting lessons, will have their paintings on exhibition at Miss Henley's on Thursday and Friday. The room will be open from 9 o'clock in the morning until 10 p. m., and they will be fflad to see their friends.

Thursday morning a petition was circulated about town requesting the City Council to authorize merchants to remove powder and dynamite to a place of safety, so in case of fire such an accident as occurred at Ellettsville will not be repeated.

On the 8th of May Mrs. Pittman will repeat "Little Red Riding Hood,'1 in Mendelssohn hall. When this was given before, a very large audience was present and it is most likely the attendance this time will be equally as good. The proceeds are for the temperance cause, and our citizens should give the company who have gone to the trouble to get this entertainment ready again, a good hearing.

The general conference of the M. E. church, which meets every four years, will convene in Philadelphia the 1st of May and continue in session a month. Dr. Alexander Martin, president of Asbury University, Rev. John Poucher, presiding elder of Indianapolis district, and Dr. Rawlins, pastor at Shoals, are the delegates from the conference. One of the principal things to be discussed is the abolition of the time limit, that is, instead of limiting the time a preacher is to stay at an appointment to one,

! two or three years to permit him to

; remain as long as he succeeds in f 1 . 1 mi. . . a , .

nis wonc. xnere seems 10 do quite a boom for Dr. Rawlins, of Shoals, for Bishop.

For years it has been the aim ef our good citizens to, if in any way possible, get a complete and Accurate

groe county. Fro

time t the effort has been

adf wheu different publishers have

granted" such a history, but

0j! the book appeared there was

always some fault that made it almost valuless. But last fall when a Chicago firm by the name of F. A. Bftfey As Co., came to our county with a corps of a doxeoriters and offered to gather up and publish in a finely bound volume the entire history of Monroe County, with; sketches jot its oldest aodUta of U prominent citizens, oqr: FHf aubscrib Jtt encourngPr the enterprise; Last Wednesday the great combination history come to , le deUvcivd to subscribers, and the TaFHOXK believes itpeatof the Mnimejit of eyefy subscriber when it sapt t)ie last is worse than the firsts-full of errois, io complete and in every way a misrepresentation. Instead of publishing a biography of our old settlep aft expressly. agieed, only those who promised to take a book are worthy of ap v,mentipi? and that in a very inaccurate way. In this respect it is qution hpw a book could contain a 3plgte history of Monroe county nd nil if some giVe the lives q bny 6raha,j. J?$iix Dunny Sf. Wylie Joc(es lair, Johi Dissmore, Judge Samuel Buskirk or Abram Buskirk The fact that. Gen. Hiimf is one of

rominent Cffitens, and

er tkin

county,

pur most prominent

has served in public life

any other citizen in Mow

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these historians as not a wor of mention is made of it We H have told thi-m also that Dr. Mem is an honored citizen among us; also that Prof. Atwater has been among us for a long time, had they requested the information. R. W. Miers and Dr. J. E. Harris, we are glad to see from this book, have always been politically, Republicans; and tliey certainly are welcome to the ranks. It seems also that Hon. John W, Buskirk was a deserter during the war, having returned to North America immediately after the war. These are only a few of the errors noted in a hasty review of the book; enough however to conclude that a history of Monroe county is yet to be written. A large number have refused to take the book, as they promised to do mo under misrepresentation. The matter that the Teljiiiox published from time to time was only in the nature of paid advertising; and even this would not been taken had we known the character of the book to follow.

The regular monthly meeting of the W. C. T. U. wiU bo held on Monday evening ne xt, May 5th, at the Walnut St, Church, beginning promptly at V o'clock. We hope every woman interested in Temperance will be present, if possible. We want the help of all in carrying on this good work, that we may make our city the best and safest place to educate the sons and

dausrhtois of the State.

Order President

The Tklkpuoxk doubts if there is another such photograph gallery so nicely arranged, so convenient, so well furnished, and with such a good light, as that of James B. Allison, on the north side over the 'Waldron block. Mr, Allison has used his excellent taste in arranging everything; and in addition to this has expended a large amount of money in fitting up his rooms two in number. He is now so fixed tliat he can take a group of twenty-five persons; and for taking cabinets, fec, he has a wonderful advantage in his new quarters. Mr. Allison will be ready for work in bis new

gallerv by another week.