George Baugher

BAUGHER, BUSHELL

Posted By: Volunteer - Barbara Evans
Date: 6/12/2012 at 19:45:04

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Scrapbook A, page 338, Keosauqua Public Library; Keosauqua, IA

GEORGE BAUGHER KILLED.
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Explosion of Acetylene Light Plant in Stockport Opera House With Fatal Results.
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Stockport, Iowa, Dec. 21, 1903.
State of Iowa.
Van Buren County.

At an inquisition held at Stockport, Iowa, on the 20th day of Dec. 1903, before Dr. L. Morris, coroner of said county of Van Buren, upon the body of George Baugher, there lying dead, by the jurors whose names are hereunto subscribed, the said jurors, upon their oaths, do say he came to his death by the accidental explosion of the acetylene light plant in the opera house at Stockport, Iowa, which was due to carelessness by having a lighted lamp in the room while trying to thaw it out.
Wm. Parnitzke.
Frank Lane,
Home Menfer.

On the stage of the Stockport opera house, where tragedy has time to time been acted, lay weltering in his blood the dead body of Geo. Baugher in the presence of the coroner and the jury who took the evidence from which the foregoing verdict was rendered, and when we visited the spot about fifteen hours after the awful accident, the stage floor where the body lay and the floor of one of the dressing rooms under the little enclosure containing the exploded tank, was red with the gruesome reminder of the lamentable accident that had cast a gloom over the town of Stockport and the community round about, the particulars of which are as follows:

In the opera house, when erected over a year ago, was installed what is called an” Acetylene Light Plant,” which lighted the stage and the auditorium of the building. This plant had never worked satisfactorily, and by a number was considered dangerous. The material used to generate the gas, was a composition of hydrogen and carbon, in lump form like coke, but considerably heavier. The generator and tank were located in a small enclosure made of flooring boards; and was over one of the dressing rooms on the east side of the stage. In the tank water was kept, and during the recent cold snap it froze. Mr. Baugher was manager of the opera house and…[NOTE: the bottom of the page is cut off.]
…and tank, for the purpose of thawing it out. Between seven and eight o’clock that night Mr. Baugher, in company with Mr. George Rowe, went to the opera house to see how the thawing out had progressed. When at Stockport Monday we called on Mr. Rowe, who was confined to the house because of burns received on the face at the time of the explosion, and here are the facts, in purport as related by him:

When we went into the opera house Mr. Baugher lighted a hand lamp. It was not far from eight o’clock. We went up the stairway to where the light plant was, and George opened the door of the little room. He remarked how warm the tank and pipes were, saying that the coal oil stove was warming things up. It seemed to me hotter than it could have been made by the oil stove and I asked him if there might not be some carbon in the generator. He said no, there was none, that if there was he wouldn’t have a lighted lamp there. (The hand lamp had been placed on an offset of the tank.) He then stepped through the door into the enclosure and, standing partly over the top of the tank took hold of the iron cap that fitted into the top and extended down into the water of the tank, and began to lift on it. I was standing partly in the door-way with my hand resting on the door-jam, watching him, and as he raised the cap he said, “I guess it is thawed out, I can raise it, you see.” At that instant the explosion came. It came like a flash of lightning and was all over as quick. The flame struck me in the face and threw me back some distance from the door but I did not fall. The lamp had been blown out and everything was dark, my eyes hurt and I was confused. As soon as I could collect myself I groped to the door of the tank room and called George. I called again and asked if he was hurt. No answer came. I then found the stairway and went down onto the stage. I couldn’t see but finally reached the door of the stage side entrance and got out on the platform and called for help. Mrs. Harry Skinner heard me and answered. I then hurried across to get a lantern and when I got back Joshua Berry, Dr. L. Morris and Dr. Graber were there, they having heard the explosion.

After our interview with Mr. Rowe we saw Mr. Berry. He was…[NOTE: The bottom of the page is cut off.] …posture between the tank and the side wall of the enclosure, there not being sufficient space to allow the body to fall to a reclining position. Life was gone and blood was running from the face and head. The body was soon removed to the floor outside the tank room. The face was unrecognizable. The jaw and skull were crushed, the neck was broken, the shoulders and breast were crushed, in fact it is said that all the bones of the head and upper portion of the body seemed broken. It is thought that when the iron cap of the tank was shot up by the exploding gas, it hurled the body up with it against the roof of the tank room. The roof of this room was torn away, but the sides were not broken. Death must have come instantly to Mr. Baugher. The noise of the explosion was not very loud, only part of the people of the town hearing it.

Mr. Rowe’s escape was almost a miracle. Had the explosion of the gas been sideways instead of upwards, he too would have been instantly killed. As it was, he face was burned some but not severely. He will soon be himself again. The building did not catch on fire, and when we viewed the spot where death came so suddenly to a strong man, it seemed strange that the terrible force that took the life of this husband and father had done so little damage to the room surroundings.

Mr. Baugher was held in high esteem by all who knew him and his death is mourned by the citizens of the town and the community around. Deep sympathy goes out to the wife and the three-year old son who have lost a loving husband and father. Mr. Baugher and wife located in Stockport something over two years ago. Mrs. Baugher’s maiden name was Sadie Bushell, and at Bonaparte, in June, 1897, she married Mr. Baugher, the latter’s parental home being near Anson, Mo., where the body was taken Tuesday for burial, funeral services in charge of Rev. Tennant being held at the residence at Stockport in the forenoon of that day. The deceased was 28 years old July 8, last. He was a harness maker by trade and was of industrious habits, temperate in all things and of that genial nature that made friends of all those with whom he became acquainted. It is understood that Mrs. Baugher and little son will not continue their home at Stock- [NOTE: The Bottom of the page is cut off.]