| Transcribed by Norma Knotts Shaffer from
microfilm of the Calhoun Chronicle dated 6/11/1895.
The glycerine explosion at Parkersburg on the 1st inst., has been
the
all absorbing topic of conversation. The following from one of
our
exchanges seems to be about a correct report:
Parkersburg, W. Va., June 2 - Not until the arrival in the
city
this evening, of James Hines, of Petroleum, was the identity of the
man
killed by yesterday's terrible explosion of nitroglycerine in the
Little
Kanawha river, disclosed. He was August Cooley, of Pittsburg,
and
he had successfully made several trips to the oil fields before.
Mr. Hines says that at Pittsburg 1,000 quarts of the deadly
explosive
was loaded on the craft. At Sistersville 150 quarts were left,
and
at Marietta he took from the boat 50 quart which was transported by
him
safely to Petroleum over land in an ordinary road wagon. There
still
remained in the boat 800 quarts, and Mr. Jas. Hines says that Cooley
discharged
the explosives accidentally, as it will not explode under 190 degrees.
A small piece of the unfortunate man's flesh is on exhibition in
Boreman's
drug store window. It is about 2-1/2 x 3 inches in size and is
all
that could be found of him.
The damage to the city is worse than first thought, and will exceed
$100,000.
The Catholic church, which was nearly a mile from the scene of the
explosion,
is damaged to the extent of $2,000.
The report is current that several hardware stores in the city have
a big amount of nitro-glycerine in stock, and the citizens are very
uneasy
and look for a possible repetition of the disaster.
Extra police have been put on duty, as a majority of the store
fronts
are torn out and goods are scattered about promiscuously.
The streets of the city are strewn with broken glass and fragments
of
buildings, and the town presented a very shaken up appearance this
morning.
The damage to the plant of the Parkersburg Milling Company is
particularly
to be regretted. The concern was the chief industry of the town,
and gave employment to about three hundred men. It will take
some
time to get the plant in running order again. | 
