A DANGEROUS TARGET-Phillip, Joyce & Stedman died 1882

STEDMAN, JOYCE, PHILLIP

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 5/16/2016 at 14:48:00

The Dubuque Herald – Jan. 6, 1882

A DANGEROUS TARGET
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Several Boys Using a Powder
Magazine for This Purpose
Are Blown to Atoms
At Oskaloosa
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A Big Blow
Oskaloosa, Ia. Jan. 5th - An explosion occurred at 4 o’clock this afternoon whereby 500 kg of powder, the property of the American Powder Co., went up in terrific convulsion. The explosion was caused by some boys using the wooden magazines as a target for breech loading rifles. Three boys, John Philip, son of the mayor, Gerald Joyce, and John Stedman were the boys engaged in the target exercise, and all were instantly killed, being fearfully mangled and burned. They were carried for fifty to two hundred yards from the magazine and mulitated beyond recognition.

Nearly all the plate glass fronts in the business quarter of their city are wrecked, while many homes in the northern part of the city suffered severely. The damage is not less than $20,000. Many persons were injured by falling glass and debris. The shock was felt thirty miles from the explosion.