A Fool and a Can of Powder.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. Oct. 3.—A horrible and fatal explosion occurred at Bringhurst, Carroll county, on Friday.  A man named Britton came to the store of Shanklin & Kearns for some powder.  Mr. Kearns, with a lighted cigar in his mouth, poured out the powder from a large can into the scales. In setting down the can the cigar was knocked from his mouth into the can of powder, which exploded with great violence, tearing out the front part of the building and scattering the goods into the street.  It was a fearful wreck.  Mr. Kearn’s arm was broken in two places, his shoulders were dislocated, and his head and face were burned in a frightful manner.  He died in a few hours after intense suffering.  Britton had both arms broken and was terribly burned.  His injuries are fatal.  

Culled from the collection of The Comtesse DeSpair – 1886 Morbid Scrapbook