FATAL DYNAMITE EXPLOSION AT PORT COLBORNE

Frederick Haney and Chas. Hagendorn Killed.

David Ireland Injured

Frederick Haney, dead

Charles Hagendorn, dead

David Ireland, hands terribly mutilated and otherwise injured

[Welland Tribune, 23 June 1905]

Wild excitement prevailed in Port Colborne on Tuesday night, when an explosion, with fearful results, occurred on the steam drill, Pulvertizer, one of Contractor Hogan’s submarine drilling machines. About 7.15 o’clock a loud and ominous report rang out from the drills which were working near the breakwater. The expert ear knew that something unusual had happened.

The explosion had taken place above the water! That meant that men were injured, if not killed.

Men and women hurried toward the pier to look lakeward.

Then the drills and tugs began blowing their whistles- a cry of distress-and many thought the drill must be sinking as the ominous sounds came in over the water.

Women who had husbands and sons on the drills ran frantically here and there in an endeavor to learn just what had happened.

They had not long to wait for in a few minutes two tugs were seen heading toward the harbor under full steam. By this time hundreds had gathered along the shore and the anxiety and subdued excitement was intense. The Hector was the first tug, and as soon as the captain had his boat within hailing distance, the message was heard: “Telephone for the doctors to meet the tugs.”

The spectators now knew that the accident was serious enough, and physicians were summoned to meet the boats.

A HEART-RENDING SCENE

Behind the Hector came the tug Mitchell, and on her decks the scene was one not soon to be forgotten.

Motionless on the deck lay the mangled form of Chas.Hagendorn. He was instantly killed by the explosion.

Between two men, came the tug who were supporting him and bathing his face, reclined Frederick Haney, pallid and in great pain, but conscious. His body was frightfully torn, and as soon as the doctor saw his condition, he said nothing could prolong his life beyond a few hours. Blood was streaming from terrible wounds in his neck, chest and abdomen. He was beyond medical aid, and at nine o’clock death relieved him from his awful suffering.

The third victim was David Ireland, who has charge of blasting, and who is an expert with dynamite. One hand was almost entirely tore off and the other mutilated. But, with nerves of steel, Ireland stepped from the tug, and with two companions beside him, walked to his home, half a block away.

TAKEN TO HOSPITAL

Mr. Ireland’s wounds were dressed as carefully as possible, but as an operation had to be performed on his hands, and as he was cut and burned about the body and legs as well, it was deemed wise to send him to the hospital; at Buffalo. Preparations were quickly made and in a short time the tug C.E. Armstrong was headed toward that city with Mr. Ireland resting on a cot on the deck with Dr. Hutton, Mr. Marrigan and other friends of the injured man. He was taken to the general hospital, Buffalo, where an operation was performed at three o’clock in the morning. The stub of the thumb and first finger only remain on the left hand, and the thumb and side of the right hand is gone. The operation lasted an hour and three-quarters. Mr. Ireland was fortunate to escape with his life.

HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

Precisely how the accident happened is not known at this writing (Wednesday) except by Mr.Ireland, who is in the hospital and so far as we can learn has made no positive statement. Those best qualified to judge believe that a charge was put down in the hole and failed to work, so a small charge

was put down to explode it. This failed to leave the charger at the bottom, and when the charger was

pulled up , the “popper” came up with it unoticed by the opeartors. When the word was given to apply the

electric spark the charge of dynamite was exploded right beside the men on the dock of the boat.

EXPLOSION IN THE CHARGER

It is certain that the explosion took place in the charger, an iron pipe about two inches in diameter. The charger was bursted and flying pieces of buried themselves in the woodwork of the boat in many places, one striking the beam of the far side of the drill boat. Flying pieces of this infliced severe wounds on the dead men. Of course the cause of the accident, as descibed above, is merely surmised for no evidence has yet been given by those immediately concerned.

INJURIES ON THE DEAD MEN

Hagendorn received a charge through the right side of his jaw leaving a gaping wound; a charge through his heart and a large gaping wound in his abdomen on the rigth side driving his watch inside of his body, besides muerous smaller wounds. He was instatnly killed.

Haney received a large wound on the right side of his neck, a wound over the heart crushng in the ribs, a gaping wound in the abdomen from which the bowels protruded besides many smaller injuries.

Mr. Ireland was blown into the lake by the explosion and was_________.

Dan Slade and Fred Seuss were working with the three men above mentioned, but esaped without a scratch.

THE INQUEST

Dr. Hutton ordered an inquest and Wednesday morning empanelled the following jury-Harry Dunlap, J.E. Lynden, W.M. McKay, D. Armstrong, F.D. Noble, Wm. Reeb, Chas. Fares, F.K. Brown, J.H. Smith, J.R. Tuck, W.J. Saurin, and T.J. O’Neil. They drove to Humberstone to view the remains and went out to the drill on the tug Mitchell to see the condition there Then they went to the town hall where an adjourment was made until Wednesday, July 5, at 7 p.m., when it is hoped Mr. Ireland will be present to give evidence.

FREDERICK HANEY

Illegible———home of his brother-in-law, John Houser at Humberstone. He was a son of the late Dr. and Mrs. F.M. Haney, who died in 1897 and 1903 respectively. He was in the 29^th year of his age and unmarried. He was born in Humberstone and lived there all his life with the exception of a couple of years spent in British Col_. He had only_on the drill since Thursday last week, his debut at the business. Poor fellow, he was to have been married on Wednesday next. Truly in the midst of life we are in death. He is survied by one brother, Thos., in Woodstock and three sisters-Mrs. J. Houser of Humberstone, Mrs. W.A. Schooley of Buffalo and Mrs. Chas. Armstong of Port Colborne. He was a member of Beacon Lodge, I.O.O.F and of the I.L.M. & T.A. The funeral was held yesterday aftrnoon at 2.30 p.m. under the auspices of Beacon Lodge. Rev. A.C. Mackintosh conducted services at the house, and intement was made in Overholt’s cemetery.

CHARLES HAGENDORN

Was about 28 years of age. He had no near relatives in this country except some uncles in Buffalo who ____. He had been in America 15 years, of which the last six were spent in this village. A father, sister and brother in Germany survive. This was his second season on the drill. The body was taken to Ellsworth’s undertaking rooms and later to Wm. Rother’s at Humberstone from where the funeral took place at 10 a.m. yesterday. Rev. A.C. Macintosh conducted service at the house, and intement was in Overholt’s cemetery. He was also a member of the I.L.M. and T.A. who looked after the funeral.

The drill was not injured to any extent, although some pasrts look as if they had been the target for a charge of shrapnel.

Outside of the relatives of the dead and injured, no one feels the accidnet more keenly than Contractor Hogan. It is the first accident that has occurred in the explosive department during the five years drilling here, and it is an undoubted truism that “familiarity breeds contempt.” Deadly dynamite sticks were handled without thought of danger, and it is not to be wondered at if the men failed to use extreme caution at all times. Although so far as we know, there was no lack of caution in this case.