The following are notes from the Pueblo Chieftain and the Colorado Springs Gazette on the 1888 explosion.
The morning edition of the Pueblo Chieftain on May 15th, 1888 offers some details on the town of Fountain that were not noted by other reporters. It mentions the blacksmith shop of CW Sells (likely Cells), the frame structured school wioth a portion of the walls standing, and the badly damaged Mitchell House- a frame and adobe hotel. The Fountain Hotel, about 1/2 mile from the blast, was also badly damaged. The car of powder that exploded contained 17000 lbs of No. 2 Giant, being shipped to Leadville. The blast destroyed two engines, 14 railroad cars, and the mail and baggage car.
Colorado Springs Gazette
The morning edition of the Pueblo Chieftain on May 15th, 1888 offers some details on the town of Fountain that were not noted by other reporters. It mentions the blacksmith shop of CW Sells (likely Cells), the frame structured school wioth a portion of the walls standing, and the badly damaged Mitchell House- a frame and adobe hotel. The Fountain Hotel, about 1/2 mile from the blast, was also badly damaged. The car of powder that exploded contained 17000 lbs of No. 2 Giant, being shipped to Leadville. The blast destroyed two engines, 14 railroad cars, and the mail and baggage car.
Colorado Springs Gazette
Tuesday May 15, 1888 page 1 [Note that much of this article, as found in an historic newspaper database online, is illegible.]
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| Location of 1888 Explosion On Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railway south of Illinois Avenue Depot probably stood just south of car lot on right side of tracks |
Number 4486
DREADFUL DISASTER
Fountain village, situated 12 miles southeast of the city, was the scene of a terrific catastrophe early yesterday morning, which finds no parallel in the history of the county. The loss of life was comparatively small considering the magnitude of the ca the catastrophe but the damage cannot be accurately estimated.
An Explosion
A few minutes after three o’clock yesterday morning the residents of the town were aroused from their sleep by the report of a loud explosion. The ground shook and the glass in the houses rattled perceptibly. The general impression was __ __ by an earthquake and the rumbling noise ___ ___ the explosion seemed to pass through the city from southwest towards the northeast. Of course few people knew the exact nature of the deafening noise, but by 8 o’clock the news that a dreadful explosion had occurred at Fountain spread through the city.
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| May 19, 1888 |
