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Vermillion County Genealogy

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Dorner Powder Mill

The Weekly Clintonian Friday May 6, 1904.
Submitted by Steph/Bill Norris

Dorner Powder Mill explodes May 5th, 1904. 

The mill was located in Vermillion County near Newport.   Four men Burkle Mayhew, George Mayhew, Henry Griffin & DeSota Biggs were instantly killed by the 10,000 lbs of blasting powder.  The glaze & coyning mill of the North Western Powder company were demolished.  The mill employeed 28 men.   Griffin & Biggs were blown to atoms.  Fragments of there bodies were found in tops of trees 100 ft away.  Burkle Mayhew's head & left arm were blown off, George's head was blown off and both bodies burned to death.  Besides the 4 men killed 4 were injured James Nelson, Marshall Taylor, Qumey Foster & Art Peareetled.