1885 Dynamite explosion
Roadside dynamite explosion in Ontario, Canada
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On the September 4, 1885 a wagon loaded with dynamite exploded at Douro, Ontario, Canada, killing two men and their horses.
| Part of Trent–Severn Waterway construction | |
 | |
| Date | September 4, 1885 |
|---|---|
| Location | Douro, Ontario, Canada |
| Coordinates | 44.537°N 78.082°W |
| Deaths | 2 |
The blast was felt 50 miles (80 km) away. A historical plaque marks the location.
Background
George Morton and James Simmons were transporting a wagon load of dynamite from Tweed, Ontario[1] to Burleigh Falls, Ontario to be used for the rock blasting of the Trent Canal lock.[2] They stayed overnight at a hotel in Indian River on September 3, 1885.[1]
Explosion
Their load exploded at 9:45 am on September 4, 1885 on the 6th Line (road) at Douro, Ontario,[2] noted as being a corduroy road and rough to travel in poor weather.[3] Both men were killed in the blast and the only parts of the men that were found were "a finger, two tiny sections of a skull, a tiny piece of cheek identified by the whiskers, and what appeared to be a man's shoulder that was found hanging on the branch of a tree 300 feet (91 m) distant."[2] The blast blew the metal shoes off the horses hooves and broke windows in Selwyn, Ontario and Campbellford.[2] The shock wave was felt in Tweed, 50 miles (80 km) away.[3]
Sources at the time describe a 8 feet (2.4 m) deep by 60 feet (18 m) wide crater,[3] and 1960s sources report a 10 feet (3.0 m) deep and 70 feet (21 m) wide crater[2] being left by the blast and trees were flattened in a radius that varied between 50 yards (46 m) and 75 yards (69 m).[2]