John Gallagher, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
John Gallagher
EXPLOSION AT THE POWDER MILLS.
Four Men Lose Their Lives in Tuesday Evening's Explosion.
The most terrific explosion that has ever happened at the Aetna Powder Company's mills, occurred Tuesday evening at 7:20 o'clock, when the tank house and the mix house exploded with terrible force, hurling four men into eternity.
The company has been working the men until 10 o'clock at night of late, on account of being behind on orders, caused by the two explosions a short time ago. The men had just returned to work after their supper when the explosion occurred. The cause of the accident is not known, as the men who were at work in these departments have evidently been blown to atoms, as no trace of their bodies can be found. The names of the missing men are:
WM. SEBERGER, who lives near Otis.
H. HUFFMAN, of Xenia, O.
JIHN GALLAGHER, of Canada.
MIKE JOYCE, of Canada.
It is rumored that the Powder company had replaced the mix house recently blown up, with another of a different style to try as an experiment, and the theory is advanced by some that this explosion was caused by the failure of the experiment with the mix house.
The shock was the most severe ever felt here caused from these spasmodic explosions, and a great many people ran out of their home thinking an earthquake had shaken the earth.
A great many people who were on the streets at the time saw the flash of light nearly a minute before the shock was felt.
There are a number of Chesterton boys working at the Powder mills, but they have all been accounted for, and none of them received injuries.
The reason none were injured besides those that were blown to atoms, is attributed to the fact that the mix house and tank house are removed quite a distance from the rest of the buildings, owing to the very dangerous nature of the explosives.
Newspaper: The Chesterton Tribune
Date of Publication: October 14, 1899
Volume Number: 16
Issue Number: 27
Page: 1
Column(s): 7
Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Chesterton Tribune
The Tribune
Westchester Tribune
Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Porter County Vidette
Practical Observer
Valparaiso Practical Observer
Vidette and Republic
Western Ranger
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Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook