To get a clear picture of the explosion we can only compile the news articles we have as well as some family history. This effort is to bring clarity to this event of August 7, 1905. One must consider that, when reading the newsprint, there are many many mistakes and omissions in names as well as some assumptions or embellishments made by writers. More recently published news stories were also incorrect where they failed to fully research all available sources. Below is an attempt to bring clarity to the occurrence and know the names of the men who died and were injured. I do this to help preserve this piece of Tennessee history accurately.

It occurred at the head of the Dry Fork area just outside of Del Rio, Tennessee, in the hot days of August in 1905 where lumbermen worked hauling logs to the lumber mill. Harmon Teaster brought logs off the mountaintops down to the sawmill by using his oxen team. On this 7th day of August, according to the news articles, a fierce thunderstorm engulfed the mountaintops. This storm brought lumbermen to a building where the boiler was located to seek shelter from the approaching storm around 2:00 p.m.  The mill operations were stopped while the 15 or so men waited for the storm and lightning to pass – or at least it is reported that way. 

background photo courtesy of Tennessee Historical Society

Tennessee State Library and Archives

UND - Maps of Glen Alpine lands, Sevier County