ROBBINS, Louis Ernest 1908-1941

ROBBINS, REED

Posted By: Betty Hootman-Volunteer
Date: 11/12/2013 at 11:38:29

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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Louis Robbins Listed Missing
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Hope Abandoned for Keosauquan who was
Working in Room Where Explosion Occurred,

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From Tuesday’s Republican Eagle

Louis Ernest Robbins of Keosauqua was among the missing at the ordnance plant near Burlington following the explosion Friday afternoon, and his family has abandoned hope that he is still alive.

Mr. Robbins, aged 33, was one of the melt operators in the room where the explosion occurred. He had been employed by Day and Zimmerman, operators of the plant, only six weeks, although he had worked last summer on construction work at the plant.

He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Robbins of Martinsburg. His wife is the former Fern Reed of Pittsburg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. O. Reed. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins for the past few years operated the Pittsburg store.

Other relatives in addition to his parents and wife are a daughter Joan and two brothers, Norris of Grandview and Harry of Burlington.

Mr. Robbins was born at Bonaparte and attended high school at Birmingham.

** Hand written on the bottom is “1941”

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 321 & 322, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA

Van Buren Obituaries maintained by Rich Lowe.
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