1892 factory explosion

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