Ohio & Indiana Stone Company - Greencastle - Putnam

Greencastle, March 25 - Officials at the Ohio & Indiana Stone Company' splant, two miles west of Greencastle which was wrecked when 4,200 pounds of dynamite exploded estimated the loss of the company at $6,000.

The roof of two main buildings caved in, three large smokestacks were blown loose from their fastenings and other property about the premises badly damaged. The loss from the breaking of windows in Greencastle business houses is about $1,000. Hardly a house in town escaped damage.

Jim Mike, a Russian workman was the only person injured to any extent.  He was in the main building of the quary plant and was struck by flying timbers, one leg fractured. Curtis DeRodes of Greencastle, time keeper was struck on the forehead by a board and a slight cut was inflicted.  Mrs. Annie Callucio was knocked to the floor in her home a few hundred feet from the plant and was bruised.

The cause given for the explosion is that the dynamite was heated too much in being prepared for use. The dynamite was stored underground a short distance from the quarry plant. Steam pipes were run through the magazine to heat the dynamite. No particular person has been blamed for the error.

A pit aobut 30' deep and about 60' in diameter was formed at the plant for about two weeks.  About 75 men are employed by the O & I Company.  The main offices of the company are at Toledo, Ohio. - kbz