Blown 100 Feet

According to the news articles, the boiler exploded with tremendous force and blew a large part of this 40-horsepower boiler 100 feet away carrying the body of William Harmon Teaster and Will Lytle with it. The boiler landed on top of the two men. News articles state that Harmon Teaster, 59 years old, and Will Lytle, 65 years old, were found underneath part of the boiler. Harmon probably died there while Will Lytle lived a short while but was expected to soon die according to the newsprint. Research shows he lived two months after the incident. Then there was Joe Turner, the engineer, who was said to be pumping the water into the boiler. It has been reported that he was found up in a tree nearby some days later. This information was passed down by a local person who had first hand knowledge from his relatives who were there. The news stated he was blown 150 yards. That was most likely inaccurate because that distance would have put him deep into the banks of the surrounding mountains that were very close. This mill sat deep in a ravine or cove.

For the other injured men, we can only assume that an explosion caused their injuries from scalds and flying metal debris. Some of the injured most likely faced a painful slow death within weeks as their bodies fought to recover and fight off infection.  Unfortunately, I cannot find follow-up news stories as to their fate. I did however do a search on graves and found what (I believe) to be their gravestones, lending evidence as to how long they all lived. We can only assume from that point other men in the field who were not by the boiler and arriving with logs probably were the ones who helped the injured and sent for help from the town of Del Rio a few miles away. Additionally, Frank Plate, Merritt Burgin, aged 20 years old, and Harvey “Harve” Briggs, aged 14 years old, were killed. 

background photo courtesy Tennessee Historical Society

Tennessee State Library and Archives

UND - Map of Drury P. Armstrong’s 30225 acres in Sevier County 1873