OBIT: Joseph FRANCE & William NORRIS, 1902, near Seward, Westmoreland County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/westmoreland/ ____________________________________________ A FATAL EXPLOSION Two men were killed by an explosion in the mill of the Cambria Powder Company near Seward which occurred about 10:30 o'clock Monday morning. It destroyed the coining mill, in which the two victims met their fate. Between 300 and 500 pounds of powder went up. The dead are: Joseph France, aged twenty-seven and unmarried and worked in the storage house of the mill. William Norris, aged twenty-two years and unmarried; worked in the storage house. Just how the explosion occurred no one knows, but the usual spark is blamed. The bodies of France and Norris were not recovered until about an hour after the accident. This was caused by the necessity of the rescuers falling to and extinguishing the blaze which started in the ruins of the coining mill immediately following the explosion. When the bodies were recovered they were found to have been burned to a crisp, being unrecognizable except through their relative sizes. The feet of both men dropped off when the remains were lifted up and placed in the wagon to be removed to Seward. A powder can was used in carrying the feet. This is said to be the seventh explosion which has occurred since the Cambria Powder Company began operations. Three of the explosions including that of Monday have had fatal results. In the first of the trio, a man named Fink, from one of the eastern counties was killed; in June last occurred an explosion from which six men lost their lives. The financial loss entailed by the destruction of the mill will be very small and the damage will soon be repaired. Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., Friday, November 21, 1902