WILLIAMS, Charles - 1892 - Putnam

Source: Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana Star Press 11 June 1892 p 1

An explosion that cost one man his life occurred on Monday morning at 6:30 at the stone quarry belonging to Henry Hillis, just east of the city limits. Three men were preparing to blast a ledge of rock on the east side of the quarry when the sad accident happened. A hole had been drilled into the rock and it had already been “sprung.” To spring the rock is to explode a small charge of powder in the hole which makes it ready for a heavy blast. After the rock had been sprung Charley Williams took a 25 pound keg of powder and had poured part of it into the hole when that already emptied and what remained in the can exploded. He was holding the can in both hands and in a stooping position, looking into the hole, when the sad accident happened. Without a moment’s warning the flames completely enveloped him and the force threw him from  his feet. His clothes were nearly all burn and torn from his body. There was scarcely a spot that was not most horribly scorched and in some places were completely cooked. His arms, breast and neck were perhaps the most injured. Parts of the flesh and many of the nails dropped from his hands. His eyes were so swollen and burned that he was unable to see and the sight was blotted out forever. The inside of his mouth, his tongue and considerable distance down his throat was also severely burned while a large portion of his hair was singed from his head. Some of the other workmen were at his side in a moment; the burning shreds of cloths turn from him and he was carried into the house occupied by Henry Hillis where his intense suffering was relieved as far as possibly by medical aid.

John Williams, Charley’s brother had been standing by his side but turned to go away just as the explosion occurred. His clothing was nearly all burned and torn from his body. His left side, arm and face were badly burned, but he was able to walk to his home, which is only a short distance from the quarry. Fred Goddard was less severely burned thatn John Williams. He had been standing near the hole but had turned and walked perhaps 6’ away.  His left arm and side were burned and a port of his face was also burned seriously.  His clothing was not burned off but was on fire and he at once lay down in a pool of water which prevented further injury.  The cause of the accident was probably carlessness. One of the men claims he poured water into the hole and “swabbed” it out after the first blast which should have extinguished all the fire. Whether this was done or not, it is thought there was probably a port of the ignited fuse which caused the trouble. If the men had waited a little long it is possible the accident would not have happened.  A peach tree overhanging the ledge had all of its leaves cooked and the surrounding rocks were black with the burned powder.  The rock did not burst, which was very fortunate for the men near by and also for the other 35 men who are employed about the quarry. After lingering for several hours in great pain, Charley Williams died from the effect of his injuries.

Inquest – On Thursday Coroner McNeff held an inquest to determine the facts leading to the death of Charles Williams. The testimony of Frederick W. Goddard was of most importance and was to the effect that he stood within about 3’ of deceased as he poured the powder from a 25 pound can into the hole where the blast was to be made. The hole had not been swabbed out after the springing blast had been fired. The deceased was foreman of the blasting force. The fatal explosion was caused doubtless by some of the burning fuse remaining in the hole after the first blast. Deceased had always before swabbed out the hole and tested it with a small amount of powder before reloading the hole.