1892 factory explosion
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The 1892 factory explosion was a fatal explosion at the Sterling Dynamite Factory in Bessemer on April 1, 1892. Though the cause is unknown, it was presumed that Walter Lake, a packer, may have "struck too hard a blow", triggering the explosion. Lake as well as George Hartley, Frank Boykin, and a boy, Ed Boykin, were blown to pieces, dying instantly. A 15-foot wide by 6-foot deep crater marked the location of the blast in the factory's packing room.
Reference
- "Blown to Fragments by Dynamite". (April 2, 1892) Davenport, Iowa Daily Leader. Transcribed by Jenni Lanham and republished at GenDisasters.com - accessed January 28, 2007