TEAL, Lyle M. 1914-1941

TEAL, ANDERSON

Posted By: Betty Hootman-Volunteer
Date: 11/12/2013 at 11:35:37

2 Keosauquans Die in Burlington Blast

Lyle Teal and Louis Robbins
Lose Lives in TNT Explosion
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Score others killed or injured in accident at $60,000,000 Ordnance Plant Near Burlington.
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From Tuesday’s Republic Eagle

Two Keosauqua men, Louis Robbins and Lyle Teal, lost their lives in the TNT explosion in a melting room at the Burlington ordnance plant shortly after 1 o’clock Friday afternoon. Mr. Robbins, 33, could not be found after the accident and is thought to have died instantly, and Mr. Teal, 27, at a hospital shortly before 6 o’clock the next morning without regaining consciousness.

Seven other men were killed in the terrific blast, and six others are missing and feared blown to bits. Twenty other workmen were injured and perhaps an equal number escaped without injury or with scratches and bruises.

William Pratt in Hospital

William Pratt, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Pratt of Stockport was injured and taken to a hospital.

Cause of the catastrophe has not been announced although officials at the $60,000,000 plant say they are satisfied there was no sabotage. An accident of some sort preceded the single blast, which was heard for a distance of 10 to 15 miles. The TNT melt room was demolished. Little damage was done to other buildings.

Plans have been made to replace the building. Work at other parts of the big plant continues. Loading of shells has been in progress has been on progress several months although the plant is not yet completed. Three loading lines were in operation at the time the explosion temporarily put one unit out of action, and a fourth line is nearing completion.

First Reports Indefinite

News of the blast was broadcast within a few minutes after it occurred, and early reports placed the dead between 40 and 60. Confusion resulted from circulation of rumors, and many families who had relatives working in the plant were not able to receive word for several hours.

One of the first reports correctly listed Mr. Teal as one of the most seriously injured. The family rushed to the hospital and remained throughout the night. Mr. Teal’s injuries were described as skull lacerations and concussion. Little hope was held for his recovery at the time.

Buildings Widely Spaced

Although explosions in munitions factories and shell loading plants are not numerous, officials in designing the Burlington plant arranged the buildings so that a blast in one area would not set off explosives in another. They claimed that this foresight prevented much great loss of life in the explosion Friday.

A duplicate unit to the north and another processing unit to the south in the mile long Group No. 1 loading line were not damaged.

The explosion appeared to center in the melting rooms of the three story building. The men in the pouring bays suffered least. A number of persons escaped almost miraculously. The TNT ( 2 lines cut out) drawn off into spark-proof duraluminum kettles. From there the molten explosive goes into rubber buckets from which it is poured by hand into steel shells moving along the loading line.

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Hundreds at Teal Funeral
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Victim of Explosion of Loading Plant
Survived by Mother, 2 Brothers, 2 sisters.
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Keosauqua citizens paid final tribute Monday afternoon to Lyle M. Teal, who was injured fatally at the explosion at the ordnance plant near Burlington after 1 o’clock Friday afternoon. Mr. Teal, a former restaurant owner in Keosauqua, was employed in the building in which the blast occurred and died in a hospital about 6 o’clock Saturday morning.

A huge throne attended the funeral rites at the Methodist church and great mounds of flowers testified to his popularity. The services were in charge of the Rev. C. H. Orf, pastor of the church, and the Rev. F. M. James of Fairfield, formerly of Keosauqua.

Mr. and Mrs. Keith Gaston sang, with Mrs. Esther Arthmann at the piano.

Burial was in the Dibble cemetery. The bearers were Dennis Newman, Richard Perkins, Donald Campbell, Richard Swiers, Richard Aylor and James Wyley.

Mr. Teal, who was 27 years old, was born in Utica on May 31, 1914, and moved to Keosauqua some years ago. After graduating from the Keosauqua high school in 1933 he was employed by the creamery in Keosauqua making a splendid record as a butter maker. In 1939 he and his mother and sister bought the Sugar Bowl café in Keosauqua and operated until a few months ago. He had been employed at the shell loading plant about two months.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Dana Teal; two brothers, Marvin and Norwood Teal of Keosauqua; and two sisters, Mrs. Delbert Anderson of Charles City and Miss Refa Teal at home.

**Hand written at the top “1941”

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 321, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA

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