Charles Bedor Killed by Bursting Cannon at Bridgewater on July 4.
Two Persons Killed at Bridgewater on July 4-Another Death Wednesday.
Fourth of July is Bridgewater was marred by a fearful accident, two men were killed, one almost instantly, by a bursting cannon, and fourteen others injured, some of them severely. The victims of the accident were:
Charles Bedor and William Cowdrey, killed.
Among the more badly wounded were:
Bert Woodward, 14 years old, leg broken.
Carroll Southgate, about 14 years, severe flesh wound in the leg and badly burned by powder.
Charles Hadley, ankle broken.
Bert Hubbard, face burned and flesh wound in leg.
Robert Thompson, about 14 years, leg broken and face badly burned.
Charles Sprague, flesh wound in thigh.
George Lombard, slight wound in the abdomen.
Harold Perkins, face badly burned.
Besides these half a dozen boys were injured less severely, most of them being powder marks. They were: Wesley Barrows, James Gokey, William Rice, Julian Robinson, Will and Eddie Smith.
A crowd of men and boys numbering about thirty-five were gathered on the common in front of the new school house at Bridgewater Corners, near the Josselyn bridge, where they were firing a cannon, a piece of shafting bored out, about 4 inches thick and 18 inches in length. The disaster occurred about 10 o'clock in the forenoon, after the gun had spoken a few times and had become overheated, as the party were trying to see how fast they could load and fire it, and the precaution of swabbing out the piece was overlooked.
Charles Bedor was sitting on a pail containing three or four pounds of powder and holding the tamping rod, the cannon being in an upright position when it exploded with terrific force. Every man and boy surrounding the gun was prostrated by the tremendous shock or struck down by flying bits of metal and rock, the charge being composed of damp, earth, sod and cobble stones. Bedor lived only a few moments, his legs being almost blown from his body. Cowdrey was blown several feet toward the roadside, his body and limbs frightfully torn, where he died two hours later, bleeding to death. An attempt was made to cord his bleeding limbs, but he was unable to bear it, and it was given up.
Lewis Josselyn was the first one to reach the scene, where he found five men and boys still on the ground, the others having struggled to their feet. Young Southgate ran for home with a smashed ankle and burning clothes, but fell after going a short distance.
Charles Hadley had two giant crackers in his pocket when he fell, and these exploded, burning his flesh and clothes, though the injury to him from this cause was less serious than that due to the explosion.
Mr. Lombard had just cautioned the men not to use a steel tamping rod, and also to move the power, and had got by a few steps away when the explosion came.
Dr. Boyden has hurriedly summoned from Quebec, where he had gone with the band, and Drs. Sherwin, Boynton and Kidder of Woodstock were on the ground as soon as possible, Edward Horton hurrying to Bridgewater on this wheel, from which place a telephone message was sent. The injured had in the meantime been conveyed to their homes, an it was several hours before the physicians could attend to all. William Cowdrey, whose right foot was almost severed, and with an ugly wound near the body, was past help. Of the others, Hadley and Woodward were among the worse injured, the former having a severe wound on the right side of his body and his right foot partly blown off; the latter with a compound fracture of the left leg below the knee and both knees badly burned. It was at first thought that amputation would be necessary in both cases, but later reports indicate that the limbs may be saved.
The cannon, of which then not much left now, was made by Frank Southgate nearly thirty years ago and was owned by Mr. Cook of Plymouth. Once before it discharged prematurely, Lewis Josselyn, with others, narrowly escaping injury. It might not have been the fault of the cannon, but he refused this time to have any hand in firing it, and had only just passed by the crowd when it exploded. Charles Hadley was striking with a heavy hammer when the gun burst. The hammer was blown no one yet knows where.
Earl Davis, the little son of E.A. Davis, was standing behind Bedor, very near the cannon, but miraculously escaped harm.
Funeral services were held Sunday at the school house, Rev. F.B. Hyde officiating. The mother of Charles Bedor, from St. Albans, his brother Harry Bedor, and sister, Mrs. Rose Doucet, from Holyoke, Mass., were present. Bedore leaves a wife and three children in South Royalton. Her parents, brother and sister, were also present at the services.
It is now thought that amputation will not be necessary in the cases of Hadley and Woodward, though the latter's condition is still quite critical.
William Cowdrey, who was about years old, became a member of Martin Cowdrey's family some ten years ago, coming to Bridgewater from Iowa. He is said to have been a fresh-air child, Edward Townsend, brother-in-law of Mr. Cowdrey, taking him west from New York city.
The spot where the fatal disaster occurred, strewn with hats and bits of clothing with here and there pools of blood, was a sickening sight to those who visited it after the removal of the dead and wounded. Dr. Boynton said that he never saw more execution done by one cannon during all his experience as an army surgeon.
Bert S. Woodward, who was so badly hurt, died quite suddenly Thursday at o'clock p.m., of heart failure. He was thought to be getting along all right, there being some hopes of saving his limb,, and the end was unexpected. He was a bright, industrious boy, about thirteen years old, and his death adds further to the sorrow and suffering caused by the fearful tragedy of a week ago.
Spirit of the Age Woodstock, Vermont 11 Jul 1896, Saturday, Page 3
Two Persons Killed at Bridgewater on July 4-Another Death Wednesday.
Fourth of July is Bridgewater was marred by a fearful accident, two men were killed, one almost instantly, by a bursting cannon, and fourteen others injured, some of them severely. The victims of the accident were:
Charles Bedor and William Cowdrey, killed.
Among the more badly wounded were:
Bert Woodward, 14 years old, leg broken.
Carroll Southgate, about 14 years, severe flesh wound in the leg and badly burned by powder.
Charles Hadley, ankle broken.
Bert Hubbard, face burned and flesh wound in leg.
Robert Thompson, about 14 years, leg broken and face badly burned.
Charles Sprague, flesh wound in thigh.
George Lombard, slight wound in the abdomen.
Harold Perkins, face badly burned.
Besides these half a dozen boys were injured less severely, most of them being powder marks. They were: Wesley Barrows, James Gokey, William Rice, Julian Robinson, Will and Eddie Smith.
A crowd of men and boys numbering about thirty-five were gathered on the common in front of the new school house at Bridgewater Corners, near the Josselyn bridge, where they were firing a cannon, a piece of shafting bored out, about 4 inches thick and 18 inches in length. The disaster occurred about 10 o'clock in the forenoon, after the gun had spoken a few times and had become overheated, as the party were trying to see how fast they could load and fire it, and the precaution of swabbing out the piece was overlooked.
Charles Bedor was sitting on a pail containing three or four pounds of powder and holding the tamping rod, the cannon being in an upright position when it exploded with terrific force. Every man and boy surrounding the gun was prostrated by the tremendous shock or struck down by flying bits of metal and rock, the charge being composed of damp, earth, sod and cobble stones. Bedor lived only a few moments, his legs being almost blown from his body. Cowdrey was blown several feet toward the roadside, his body and limbs frightfully torn, where he died two hours later, bleeding to death. An attempt was made to cord his bleeding limbs, but he was unable to bear it, and it was given up.
Lewis Josselyn was the first one to reach the scene, where he found five men and boys still on the ground, the others having struggled to their feet. Young Southgate ran for home with a smashed ankle and burning clothes, but fell after going a short distance.
Charles Hadley had two giant crackers in his pocket when he fell, and these exploded, burning his flesh and clothes, though the injury to him from this cause was less serious than that due to the explosion.
Mr. Lombard had just cautioned the men not to use a steel tamping rod, and also to move the power, and had got by a few steps away when the explosion came.
Dr. Boyden has hurriedly summoned from Quebec, where he had gone with the band, and Drs. Sherwin, Boynton and Kidder of Woodstock were on the ground as soon as possible, Edward Horton hurrying to Bridgewater on this wheel, from which place a telephone message was sent. The injured had in the meantime been conveyed to their homes, an it was several hours before the physicians could attend to all. William Cowdrey, whose right foot was almost severed, and with an ugly wound near the body, was past help. Of the others, Hadley and Woodward were among the worse injured, the former having a severe wound on the right side of his body and his right foot partly blown off; the latter with a compound fracture of the left leg below the knee and both knees badly burned. It was at first thought that amputation would be necessary in both cases, but later reports indicate that the limbs may be saved.
The cannon, of which then not much left now, was made by Frank Southgate nearly thirty years ago and was owned by Mr. Cook of Plymouth. Once before it discharged prematurely, Lewis Josselyn, with others, narrowly escaping injury. It might not have been the fault of the cannon, but he refused this time to have any hand in firing it, and had only just passed by the crowd when it exploded. Charles Hadley was striking with a heavy hammer when the gun burst. The hammer was blown no one yet knows where.
Earl Davis, the little son of E.A. Davis, was standing behind Bedor, very near the cannon, but miraculously escaped harm.
Funeral services were held Sunday at the school house, Rev. F.B. Hyde officiating. The mother of Charles Bedor, from St. Albans, his brother Harry Bedor, and sister, Mrs. Rose Doucet, from Holyoke, Mass., were present. Bedore leaves a wife and three children in South Royalton. Her parents, brother and sister, were also present at the services.
It is now thought that amputation will not be necessary in the cases of Hadley and Woodward, though the latter's condition is still quite critical.
William Cowdrey, who was about years old, became a member of Martin Cowdrey's family some ten years ago, coming to Bridgewater from Iowa. He is said to have been a fresh-air child, Edward Townsend, brother-in-law of Mr. Cowdrey, taking him west from New York city.
The spot where the fatal disaster occurred, strewn with hats and bits of clothing with here and there pools of blood, was a sickening sight to those who visited it after the removal of the dead and wounded. Dr. Boynton said that he never saw more execution done by one cannon during all his experience as an army surgeon.
Bert S. Woodward, who was so badly hurt, died quite suddenly Thursday at o'clock p.m., of heart failure. He was thought to be getting along all right, there being some hopes of saving his limb,, and the end was unexpected. He was a bright, industrious boy, about thirteen years old, and his death adds further to the sorrow and suffering caused by the fearful tragedy of a week ago.
Spirit of the Age Woodstock, Vermont 11 Jul 1896, Saturday, Page 3
Charles Bedor Killed by Bursting Cannon at Bridgewater on July 4.
Two Persons Killed at Bridgewater on July 4-Another Death Wednesday.
Fourth of July is Bridgewater was marred by a fearful accident, two men were killed, one almost instantly, by a bursting cannon, and fourteen others injured, some of them severely. The victims of the accident were:
Charles Bedor and William Cowdrey, killed.
Among the more badly wounded were:
Bert Woodward, 14 years old, leg broken.
Carroll Southgate, about 14 years, severe flesh wound in the leg and badly burned by powder.
Charles Hadley, ankle broken.
Bert Hubbard, face burned and flesh wound in leg.
Robert Thompson, about 14 years, leg broken and face badly burned.
Charles Sprague, flesh wound in thigh.
George Lombard, slight wound in the abdomen.
Harold Perkins, face badly burned.
Besides these half a dozen boys were injured less severely, most of them being powder marks. They were: Wesley Barrows, James Gokey, William Rice, Julian Robinson, Will and Eddie Smith.
A crowd of men and boys numbering about thirty-five were gathered on the common in front of the new school house at Bridgewater Corners, near the Josselyn bridge, where they were firing a cannon, a piece of shafting bored out, about 4 inches thick and 18 inches in length. The disaster occurred about 10 o'clock in the forenoon, after the gun had spoken a few times and had become overheated, as the party were trying to see how fast they could load and fire it, and the precaution of swabbing out the piece was overlooked.
Charles Bedor was sitting on a pail containing three or four pounds of powder and holding the tamping rod, the cannon being in an upright position when it exploded with terrific force. Every man and boy surrounding the gun was prostrated by the tremendous shock or struck down by flying bits of metal and rock, the charge being composed of damp, earth, sod and cobble stones. Bedor lived only a few moments, his legs being almost blown from his body. Cowdrey was blown several feet toward the roadside, his body and limbs frightfully torn, where he died two hours later, bleeding to death. An attempt was made to cord his bleeding limbs, but he was unable to bear it, and it was given up.
Lewis Josselyn was the first one to reach the scene, where he found five men and boys still on the ground, the others having struggled to their feet. Young Southgate ran for home with a smashed ankle and burning clothes, but fell after going a short distance.
Charles Hadley had two giant crackers in his pocket when he fell, and these exploded, burning his flesh and clothes, though the injury to him from this cause was less serious than that due to the explosion.
Mr. Lombard had just cautioned the men not to use a steel tamping rod, and also to move the power, and had got by a few steps away when the explosion came.
Dr. Boyden has hurriedly summoned from Quebec, where he had gone with the band, and Drs. Sherwin, Boynton and Kidder of Woodstock were on the ground as soon as possible, Edward Horton hurrying to Bridgewater on this wheel, from which place a telephone message was sent. The injured had in the meantime been conveyed to their homes, an it was several hours before the physicians could attend to all. William Cowdrey, whose right foot was almost severed, and with an ugly wound near the body, was past help. Of the others, Hadley and Woodward were among the worse injured, the former having a severe wound on the right side of his body and his right foot partly blown off; the latter with a compound fracture of the left leg below the knee and both knees badly burned. It was at first thought that amputation would be necessary in both cases, but later reports indicate that the limbs may be saved.
The cannon, of which then not much left now, was made by Frank Southgate nearly thirty years ago and was owned by Mr. Cook of Plymouth. Once before it discharged prematurely, Lewis Josselyn, with others, narrowly escaping injury. It might not have been the fault of the cannon, but he refused this time to have any hand in firing it, and had only just passed by the crowd when it exploded. Charles Hadley was striking with a heavy hammer when the gun burst. The hammer was blown no one yet knows where.
Earl Davis, the little son of E.A. Davis, was standing behind Bedor, very near the cannon, but miraculously escaped harm.
Funeral services were held Sunday at the school house, Rev. F.B. Hyde officiating. The mother of Charles Bedor, from St. Albans, his brother Harry Bedor, and sister, Mrs. Rose Doucet, from Holyoke, Mass., were present. Bedore leaves a wife and three children in South Royalton. Her parents, brother and sister, were also present at the services.
It is now thought that amputation will not be necessary in the cases of Hadley and Woodward, though the latter's condition is still quite critical.
William Cowdrey, who was about years old, became a member of Martin Cowdrey's family some ten years ago, coming to Bridgewater from Iowa. He is said to have been a fresh-air child, Edward Townsend, brother-in-law of Mr. Cowdrey, taking him west from New York city.
The spot where the fatal disaster occurred, strewn with hats and bits of clothing with here and there pools of blood, was a sickening sight to those who visited it after the removal of the dead and wounded. Dr. Boynton said that he never saw more execution done by one cannon during all his experience as an army surgeon.
Bert S. Woodward, who was so badly hurt, died quite suddenly Thursday at o'clock p.m., of heart failure. He was thought to be getting along all right, there being some hopes of saving his limb,, and the end was unexpected. He was a bright, industrious boy, about thirteen years old, and his death adds further to the sorrow and suffering caused by the fearful tragedy of a week ago.
Spirit of the Age Woodstock, Vermont 11 Jul 1896, Saturday, Page 3
Two Persons Killed at Bridgewater on July 4-Another Death Wednesday.
Fourth of July is Bridgewater was marred by a fearful accident, two men were killed, one almost instantly, by a bursting cannon, and fourteen others injured, some of them severely. The victims of the accident were:
Charles Bedor and William Cowdrey, killed.
Among the more badly wounded were:
Bert Woodward, 14 years old, leg broken.
Carroll Southgate, about 14 years, severe flesh wound in the leg and badly burned by powder.
Charles Hadley, ankle broken.
Bert Hubbard, face burned and flesh wound in leg.
Robert Thompson, about 14 years, leg broken and face badly burned.
Charles Sprague, flesh wound in thigh.
George Lombard, slight wound in the abdomen.
Harold Perkins, face badly burned.
Besides these half a dozen boys were injured less severely, most of them being powder marks. They were: Wesley Barrows, James Gokey, William Rice, Julian Robinson, Will and Eddie Smith.
A crowd of men and boys numbering about thirty-five were gathered on the common in front of the new school house at Bridgewater Corners, near the Josselyn bridge, where they were firing a cannon, a piece of shafting bored out, about 4 inches thick and 18 inches in length. The disaster occurred about 10 o'clock in the forenoon, after the gun had spoken a few times and had become overheated, as the party were trying to see how fast they could load and fire it, and the precaution of swabbing out the piece was overlooked.
Charles Bedor was sitting on a pail containing three or four pounds of powder and holding the tamping rod, the cannon being in an upright position when it exploded with terrific force. Every man and boy surrounding the gun was prostrated by the tremendous shock or struck down by flying bits of metal and rock, the charge being composed of damp, earth, sod and cobble stones. Bedor lived only a few moments, his legs being almost blown from his body. Cowdrey was blown several feet toward the roadside, his body and limbs frightfully torn, where he died two hours later, bleeding to death. An attempt was made to cord his bleeding limbs, but he was unable to bear it, and it was given up.
Lewis Josselyn was the first one to reach the scene, where he found five men and boys still on the ground, the others having struggled to their feet. Young Southgate ran for home with a smashed ankle and burning clothes, but fell after going a short distance.
Charles Hadley had two giant crackers in his pocket when he fell, and these exploded, burning his flesh and clothes, though the injury to him from this cause was less serious than that due to the explosion.
Mr. Lombard had just cautioned the men not to use a steel tamping rod, and also to move the power, and had got by a few steps away when the explosion came.
Dr. Boyden has hurriedly summoned from Quebec, where he had gone with the band, and Drs. Sherwin, Boynton and Kidder of Woodstock were on the ground as soon as possible, Edward Horton hurrying to Bridgewater on this wheel, from which place a telephone message was sent. The injured had in the meantime been conveyed to their homes, an it was several hours before the physicians could attend to all. William Cowdrey, whose right foot was almost severed, and with an ugly wound near the body, was past help. Of the others, Hadley and Woodward were among the worse injured, the former having a severe wound on the right side of his body and his right foot partly blown off; the latter with a compound fracture of the left leg below the knee and both knees badly burned. It was at first thought that amputation would be necessary in both cases, but later reports indicate that the limbs may be saved.
The cannon, of which then not much left now, was made by Frank Southgate nearly thirty years ago and was owned by Mr. Cook of Plymouth. Once before it discharged prematurely, Lewis Josselyn, with others, narrowly escaping injury. It might not have been the fault of the cannon, but he refused this time to have any hand in firing it, and had only just passed by the crowd when it exploded. Charles Hadley was striking with a heavy hammer when the gun burst. The hammer was blown no one yet knows where.
Earl Davis, the little son of E.A. Davis, was standing behind Bedor, very near the cannon, but miraculously escaped harm.
Funeral services were held Sunday at the school house, Rev. F.B. Hyde officiating. The mother of Charles Bedor, from St. Albans, his brother Harry Bedor, and sister, Mrs. Rose Doucet, from Holyoke, Mass., were present. Bedore leaves a wife and three children in South Royalton. Her parents, brother and sister, were also present at the services.
It is now thought that amputation will not be necessary in the cases of Hadley and Woodward, though the latter's condition is still quite critical.
William Cowdrey, who was about years old, became a member of Martin Cowdrey's family some ten years ago, coming to Bridgewater from Iowa. He is said to have been a fresh-air child, Edward Townsend, brother-in-law of Mr. Cowdrey, taking him west from New York city.
The spot where the fatal disaster occurred, strewn with hats and bits of clothing with here and there pools of blood, was a sickening sight to those who visited it after the removal of the dead and wounded. Dr. Boynton said that he never saw more execution done by one cannon during all his experience as an army surgeon.
Bert S. Woodward, who was so badly hurt, died quite suddenly Thursday at o'clock p.m., of heart failure. He was thought to be getting along all right, there being some hopes of saving his limb,, and the end was unexpected. He was a bright, industrious boy, about thirteen years old, and his death adds further to the sorrow and suffering caused by the fearful tragedy of a week ago.
Spirit of the Age Woodstock, Vermont 11 Jul 1896, Saturday, Page 3
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