CARRINGTON, Mary Frances Maddox - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

John Carrington, a farmer living near Wingate in Montgomery County is minus his home and two members of his family as the result of a terrible accident yesterday.  Carrington had been engaged in blasting stumps with dynamite and some of the dangerous material was left under the heating stove in his home, where it was to thaw out while he worked in a clearing nearby. The dynamite, a number of huge charges exploded at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon and the house was totally demolished. Carrington’s wife and 18 month old baby were killed, the latter instantly. The farmer was at work some distance from the house and heard the tremendous explosion.  He ran home and found the little dwelling in ruins. The house, an old one-story log and frame structure was literally torn to kindling wood. The report of the explosion was heard for miles and it was not long before farmers from all over the neighborhood were on the scene, lending all assistance possible to the distracted Carrington. The body of the babe was found in the farmyard, where it had been hurled by the force of the explosion, the upper part of its head blown away. Mrs. Carrington was taken from the debris, alive but horribly mutilated.  Her right should was broken, her limbs shattered and a large hole blown in her neck. She died in great agony at 8 o’clock. A little daughter aged 8 years had crawled under the house to get some eggs just before the explosion took place. She was found afterward, pinned by her clothing to the timbers, but uninjured a miraculous escape, indeed.  Carrington’s 17-year-old son had gone to Wingate on an errand and was not at home when the accident occurred. Parts of the Carrington home were found 200 yards from the place of explosion.  Hundreds of people visited the scene of the home yesterday and today and a feeling of gloom overspread the whole neighborhood for the Carringtons were well liked by all.  Drs. Dickerson and Olin did all in their power to preserve the life of Mrs. Carrington but there was no hope from the first. It was one of the most horrible accidents that has occurred in Montgomery County in years.