Don't ask for too much — you may get what you ask for.
- From: Anon Emous <mr.emous@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 25 May 2012 07:16:46 -0700 (PDT)
Annihilated By Fulminate
Employe of Winchester Repeating Arms Company the Victim.
The New York Times
31 October 1895
NEW-HAVEN, Conn., Oct. 30.—William Lextion, employed in the fulminate mixture
department of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, was blown to pieces and
instantly killed this morning by an explosion. He had been at work but five minutes
when the accident occurred.
The fulminate mixture is one of the most dangerous explosives known, and whether
Lextion's slight carelessness or some such external agency as a slight jar was
responsible for the accident, will probably never be known, as he was alone at the time.
The shock of the explosion was felt throughout the part of the city where it occurred. T
he roof of the building in which Lextion was working was torn away.
This is the second fatal explosion in this department in four months, Lextion
succeeding Jeremiah Splain, who was blown to pieces in a similar accident in
June. Lextion was given the situation, which, owing to the personal risk taken,
is very remunerative, and is eagerly sought for by workingmen, because he
was then a single man, the company not desiring to place a married man with
a family in such a position unless necessary. Lextion was, however, married
about a month ago. He was twenty-five years old and leaves a mother in
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Explosion of Fulminate Kills Spillaine
The New York Times
30 May 1895
NEW-HAVEN, Conn., May 29.—The fulminate building at the Winchester
Repeating Arms Company blew - up at. 2 o'clock this afternoon. An employe
named Jeremiah Spillaine of 109 Ashmum Street was killed. No one else was injured. The Fire
Department was called out, but its services were not required. The explosion
was a terrific one and caused much excitement in the city. Spillaine was active in,
local politics and was a brother of J. J: Spillaine, editor of The Connecticut
Catholic of Hartford, and formerly managing editor of The Morning News of this city.
Explosion in A Gun Factory.
The New York Times
27 September 1884
New-Haven, Sept. 26.—As the workmen at Winchester repeating arms factory
returned from dinner to-day an explosion occurred which narrowly escaped proving
fatal. In mixing fulminate large stone retorts are used, whose capacity is from
10 to 15 gallons. The mixture is allowed to remain until it acquires consistency.
When William Phelan went to remove the stone stopper from the faucet, at the
base of one of these retorts he found that force was necessary to remove some
of the mixture. He struck three or four light blows, when the fulminate exploded,
blowing the retort to pieces. One missile struck Phelan in the head, inflicting a
severe cut, which may prove fatal. His boots were also cut through by flying
fragments. The explosion sounded like the report of a Gatling gun. Phelan's
escape was little short of miraculous.
A Fulminate Explosion
The New York Times
18 April 1875
New-Haven, Conn., April 17.—While John Donohue was mixing the ingredients
of the fulminate used in the manufacture of percussion caps and cartridges, in a
small building connected with the Winchester Arms Factory, this afternoon, an
explosion blew him to pieces, portions of his body were carried 100 feet. No
one else was injured. Donohue had mixed fulminate for eighteen years.
Instantly Killed.
The Result of an Explosion in The Winchester Armory.
The New York Times
9 October 1886
New-Haven, Conn., Oct. 8.—Miss Kate Taylor was instantly killed to-day by
an explosion at the Winchester Armory. With two companions she was at work
sifting fulminate for cartridge primers. She had about two quarts of the primers
on a plate before her, and in some way one of the primers exploded, probably
from bit of fulminate striking some hard substance. & terrible explosion followed,
all of the primers going off together. Miss Taylor's skull was blown off just above
the eyes, the top of her head striking the wall of the room. Her face, arms, and
body were terribly burned and mangled. The windows of the room were blown
out, and the benches were hurled to the floor, but there the damage ended.
The two girls who had been working at Miss Taylor's side had a very narrow
escape. Most of the force of the explosion must have been directly upward,
for they escaped with a few bruises and a bad nervous shock. The department
has always been considered a safe one by the company, and accidents in it
have been extremely rare.
The officers of, the company say that it is impossible to toll with certainty
what caused the explosion. Miss Taylor was 25 years, old. She had been at
work at the armory for several years, and was regarded as careful and
experienced, Medical Examiner white viewed the remains ant ordered the
body removed to Miss Taylor's home on York-street.
.
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