OBIT: William WESTENHEFFER, 1890, Marietta, Lancaster County, PA

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HIS HEAD BLOWN OFF.
THE TERRIBLE FATE OF WILLIAM WESTENHEFFER, OF MARIETTA.
A Blast Explodes Prematurely in the Stone Quarries of Haldeman, Grubb & 
Co., at Chickies - Details of the Tragic Death of the Unfortunate Man.

  A terrible accident occurred this morning between ten and eleven 
o'clock in the stone quarries of Haldeman, Grubb & Co., at Chickies.
  By the premature explosion of a blast William Westenheffer had his 
head and both arms blown off.
  A large hole had been drilled in the rock and Westenheffer had loaded 
it, placing in the bottom a dynamite cartridge, and on the top a 
quantity of giant powder.
  About the fuse was placed "tamping," which is the name given 
brickdust, powdered stone, etc., which is rammed on the charge.
  Westenheffer lighted the fuse and sought a place of safety.  The fuse 
burned down, but no explosion took place.  He waited until he thought 
it was safe to approach the rock, and he proceeded to remove the 
tamping and recharge the blast.
  The tamping had been rammed hard and some difficulty was experienced 
in removing it.  The shock of the tool which the unfortunate quarryman 
was using exploded the dynamite cartridge.
  There was a terrible explosion and Westenheffer's body was blown some 
distance away.
  When his fellow-workmen ran to where the body was lying they saw a 
ghastly sight.  The head was hanging to the body by a few shreds of 
skin.  Both arms were blown off, and one of them was found a couple of 
blocks away.
  Deceased was about fifty years of age.  He resided in Marietta, and 
was an esteemed citizen.
  Westenheffer leaves a wife and five children.

The Lancaster Daily Examiner, Wednesday, January 29, 1890