HORN Children died 1900

HORN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/27/2020 at 08:50:08

Source: Decorah Republican Mar. 8, 1900 P 4 C 3

Children Die from Powder Explosion.

Waterloo Reporter, March 1—As the result of an explosion at the home of August Horn, three miles from Dunkerton east on the Wapsie, one child, a girl of five years, is dead, another child, a boy four years of age, is fatally injured and the house badly wrecked.

The terrible accident occurred yesterday morning while Mr. and Mrs. Horn were milking at the barn. The children were left in bed and shortly after leaving the house the parents heard a terrific explosion and rushing to the house found the children in flames and the building shattered. The children came running out of the house in their night dresses to meet them.

In extinguishing the burning clothing both Mr. and Mrs. Horn were severely burned about the hands. Medical aid was summoned at once and every endeavor made to save the lives of the little ones who were suffering dreadful agonies from burns and other injuries. The girl died a few hours after the accident, and a report at 2:00 o’clock this afternoon says there is no hope for the other child.

The explosion was caused by the firing of a keg of powder which was stored in the attic. The powder was wet at the time. It was put away and had been there some time, Mr. Horn thinking it might dry out and be useful again.

It was at first thought that this had become ignited through spontaneous combustion, as wet powder has been known to do, but last night the little boy was able to tell how the catastrophe occurred. He said his little sister had fired the powder for fun.

They were playing about and she got up and taking a match told him to follow her. She went to the attic, and just as he reached the door the powder went off and he was blown backwards, and they succeeded in getting out doors with their clothing on fire.

The building is badly damaged. The roof was blown up and bulged out so there is four or five inches space between it and the rafters. The chimneys were demolished and all the windows upstairs broken.