(1)
Terrific Powder Explosion.
OSKALOOSA, Ia., January 6.-A terrific explosion of 500 kegs of powder, the property of the American Powder Company, occurred yesterday afternoon. It was caused by three boys, John Phillips, son of the mayor, Gerald Johannes and John Stedman, who used the side of the powder magazine, a wooden structure, as a target for rifle practice. They were killed, and their bodies, frightfully mangled and burned, were hurled from 50 to 200 yards away. Nearly all the glass windows in the business quarter were broken by the concussion and many houses in the southern part of the city were badly damaged. Losses will aggregate not less than $20,000. Many persons were injured by falling glass and debris. The shock was felt at Monroe, a distance of thirty miles.
Source: The Galveston Daily News, Galveston, Texas, Saturday, January 7, 1882; Pg. 4, Column 5
(2)
Demolition of Target Shooters.
Three boys at Oskaloosa, Iowa, named John Phillips, son of the Mayor of the town; Gerald Joyce and John Stedman, were target shooting with breech-loading rifles. For a target they used a wooden magazine, and the result was a terrific explosion in which 500 kegs of powder took a part, and the three boys were blown all over the neighborhood and mutilated beyond recognition. The body of young Phillips was found fifty yards down hill, the clothing nearly all gone, the back portion of the head carried away, and the body otherwise horribly mangled. John Stedman was blown through a wire fence one hundred yards away, and fearfully torn. Gerald Joyce was found in the creek 150 yards away, with his head almost completely gone. The boys had been warned to quit. The damage to the city is very great. Most houses in the north half of Oskaloosa were badly wrecked, and the doors, windows, and woodwork broken. Stables were completely wrecked, chimneys toppled over, and flues cracked from top to bottom. The wreck of plate glass in the principal streets of the city is nearly complete, and cannot be covered by $30,000.
Source: The Brownstone Banner, Brownstone, Indiana, Thursday, January 12, 1882; Pg. 2, Column 3
NOTE: Transcribed as published. Surname of one of the individuals is spelled differently between the two articles.
