"Unofficial"
JELLICO, Tennessee
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        The issue of this paper telling about the fearful explosion, which occurred September 21st, 1906 was soon exhausted after being printed, and many hundred copies could have been sold, Mr. Scott tells me, to people who were anxious to preserve a correct copy of details of that fearful disaster. For that reason the salient points in the article are reproduced to-day along with pictures showing how Jellico looked the day after it occurred. The headlines were as follows: 
        "Jellico Wrecked by Dynamite Explosion--Car Containing Eleven Tons of Dynamite Lets Go in the Railroad Yard-Killing Eight Persons, Injuring Two Hundred More and Doing Untold Damage to the City." 
        Then follows this description: 
        Friday morning at about 7:47 o'clock a car-load of dynamite, said to have been about eleven tons, exploded in the railroad yard on the side-track only a few feet across the state line on the Kentucky side, and almost demolished both Jellico, Tenn., and Jellico, Ky. The havoc wrought is almost beyond description. It is usual in cases of this kind that the newspapers greatly exaggerate these facts, but those who had read the press reports and then came to see the wreck said that the half had not been told. We do not undertake to say what caused this car-load of dynamite to explode, but suffice it here to say that it did explode, and that cars were being switched about it and bumping against it just before it let go with such terrible force that it demolished two towns, killed several people and injured probably a hundred and fifty more. 

        Mr. Jack Burns, Superintendent of the Proctor Coal Co., says he crossed the railroad yard just before the explosion, and passed Mr. Seller and Mr. Cook, and says that they were standing near the car talking, that Mr. Seller was talking to Mr. Cook about leaving an engine on the Proctor track and delaying him, and that Walter Rogers was a little farther down the north-west on the west side of the yard shooting with a small target gun at a stake in the bottom. These three men were blown to atoms, as was also the Syrian section hand, who was evidently passing by. No human language is adequate to describe the terrible destruction wrought by the force of the explosion. Not a plate-glass was left in the town. In all the Main street buildings every glass of every description, in front at the sides and in the rear were totally swept out. The frame buildings near the railroad were totally demolished. 
         Here the paper spoke of certain buildings in particular, and then continued: 
         The appalling disaster caused by the explosion of dynamite in our town Friday, September the 21st, is so great and so far reaching that our people can not begin to grasp the magnitude of it. Every where one turns he faces wreck and ruin. Not a single residence in the town escaped damage; some of course are worse than others. It would be impossible to give in detail all the damage done to each residence, many are so badly damaged that they can never be replaced in their former condition. Hundreds of chimneys were knocked down to the roofs. All of the windows were swept out, furniture knocked and piled promiscuously about the rooms, the occupants were bruised by flying debris and cut with glass. Many residences were wrenched and torn so badly that they are hardly fit for occupancy. Many roofs were torn wide open at the comb and the gable ends knocked out, and the houses twisted on their foundations. It is utterly impossible to describe the awful destruction to residence property, especially in the territory bounded by a line running east with Church street to the corporation line and with the corporation line the state line and with the state line to the railroad. In this boundary many houses were practically ruined. 

          The day may come when the city of Jellico will have outlived financially the calamity whose dire results now hang like a pall over all the community but neither money nor time can atone for blood and tears, and shattered nerves have no price that can be paid in gold. The broken family circle can ne'er be mended in this world, and grief stricken hearts of the widow and the orphan will find no balm sufficient save the grace of God. 
         When the sun rose on Friday morning it called from their slumber more than 3,000 happy people in our little mountain crowned city. Housewives sang as they went about their duties, strong men laid their hands to the tasks of the day, while happy children tripped their way lightly to the playground of the school house. Suddenly, as comes the flash of lightning from the sky, came the terrible shock which sent the chill of dread to every heart and cast the gloom of sorrow and death over many a home. The song of the housewife was turned into the shriek of alarm or the wail of woe; the frightened children sought their mothers' arms, and strong men turned away from their tasks to put their shoulders under the too heavy burdens of their fallen fellows. Men forgot themselves and many with blood streaming from their hands and faces went about seeking to help others who were more seriously hurt. 'Ah, then and there was hurrying to and fro' Here on the sidewalk sits a woman holding the head of her dead husband in her lap as she sobs out her grief. Yonder on the hotel porch a father and mother are rubbing back to life a little five year boy while his older sister wrings her hands and refuses to be comforted. With fears, well justified, a woman rushes wildly up and down the railroad track seeking her husband, who an hour before had left her happy, but whose face she was destined never to see again. Out from under the cruel timber men are taking the broken bodies of their fellow, while women and children look anxiously on to see if they are their loved one. Physicians, cool-headed and steady-handed, are applying the healing art, while a multitude of volunteer nurses soothe the pain and the suffering with tender voice and gentle hand. 
         Over all the scene men and women appear with blanched faces and trembling hearts realizing that they have passed through the very jaws of death.  
         Such is but a suggestion of the awful picture that presented itself in Jellico on the fatal morning of the explosion. None who saw it can forget it. 

J.M. COOK KILLED BY EXPLOSION. 

          J.M. Cook, who met such a sad and untimely end in Friday's explosion, was one of our best citizens. He was a true Christian gentlemen. Quiet, modest, and unassuming to a degree that caused him to be admired and appreciated by all who knew him. He was tender and affectionate with his family, whom he loved almost to a fault. He had worked earnestly and faithfully for the building of the Christian Church, of which he was a devout member. It can truly be said of him that he was a pillar in the church. He is survived by his wife, five sons, Jesse, George, Will, Mit, James, and one daughter, Sallie. It is sad indeed for a kind, loving father to be taken from his wife and children so suddenly, without warning, in the twinkle of an eye. Little did they think when he left them that morning, that he was leaving them for the last time. Little did he think that he would never embrace his family again. Ah, but as bad as this may be it may await any man in this town at any time. His remains were buried at Mt. Vernon, Ky., Sunday. 

'UNCLE BUD' BENNETT PASSES AWAY. 

         Wednesday night at his home in Jellico, Kentucky, 'Uncle Bud' Bennett succumbed to the fell reaper, passing away with the serenity and peacefulness that has marked his life of seventy-six years. Mr. Bennett was pioneer citizen of Jellico, Ky., and his loss is deeply mourned by the hundreds who knew and loved him. He was born and raised on Bennetts Creek Whitley county, Ky., and was the father of thirteen children, ten of whom are now living, and residents of Whitley county. One of his sons, Dr. Samuel Bennett, is a well known resident of this city, being a large land owner and having extensive coal mining interest. 'Uncle Bud', as he was affectionately called by his acquaintances, lived an upright Christian life, and left a blameless character as a legacy to the children who mourn his loss. His death was brought about by the fall of a chimney in his house, which was thrown down by the dynamite explosion of last week. The chimney fell on him and he was too feeble to recover from the injuries he sustained. And there the fearful disaster claims another victim.  
         The children and relatives of this good old man have the heartfelt sympathy of the community in their sorrow. Characteristic of this noble old man, he blamed no one with this awful disaster which befell our city. He said: "They didn't go to do it, it was an accident." 

WALTER ROGERS. 

          Walter Rogers, who was so suddenly and without warning taken way by Friday's explosion, was a young man only 23 years old, and had spent most of his life around Jellico. He was a kind, quiet boy, and was said to be generous almost to a fault, ever ready to extend a helping hand to one in need. He had a large number of warm friends here. He was sober, quiet and industrious, and loved his friends and made no enemies. He was an expert marksman, and it was while enjoying this sport that he met his untimely and sad death. He had often been accustomed to go across the railroad yard in the bottom, where he could practice shooting without danger to any one. It was while returning from one of these trips with his gun on his shoulder and the cleaning rod in the barrel, that the poor boy, all unconscious of the awful impending danger, reached the fatal spot just as the terrible explosion occurred that snuffed his life out like a candle. It is sad for one so young to have to give up his life. We extend our sympathy to his relatives.  

DEATH OF JOHNNY KOCH. 

          Johnny Koch died at his home on Black Oak Sunday morning about 8:00 o'clock from injuries received in the explosion of the car of dynamite in the railroad yard here September the 21st, and thus death claims another victim of the awful catastrophe. Johnny Koch was struck on the top of the head by a door at George Koch's place of business on the Ky. Side which was blown open with such terrible force that it rendered him unconscious. He was carried immediately to the improvised hospital in M.A. Fine's building where medical attention was given him, and later in the day he was taken to his home where he lingered in an almost unconscious condition until death claimed him Sunday morning. Every thing was done for his relief that medical skill and loving hearts and tender hands could do but all to no avail. Death had set its seal upon him. Johnny Koch was one of our best boys, with a charming personality and a loving, kind and tender disposition. We will miss him. Yes, he was just the kind of boy to be missed, for all who knew him loved him tenderly. His was a lovable and beautiful character and he was the idol of his home, and his great popularity in all the town with both young and old, was fittingly attested by the immense crowd that attended his funeral at the Catholic Church, of which he was a consistent and devout member. His death was the more extremely sad because he was just blooming into young manhood, being only 20 years and 11 months old to the day, with all life's possibilities before him. His death comes as an exceedingly hard blow to the family at this time as it has only been a few weeks since the death of the husband and father. 
         In this hour of their deepest sorrow and grief the Advance-Sentinel joins with the entire community in extending sympathy to the family. 

 Explanation of the Explosion Pictures. 

          The extent of the terrible calamity that resulted from the explosion of September the 21st, 1906, and the havoc it wrought to the city is partly portrayed by the accompanying pictures. The first of which is a bird's eye view of that part of the Kentucky side which was the worst damaged by the explosion. The second is a more condensed view showing more in detail the completeness of the destruction wrought. The scene is at the Club restaurant and buildings in the vicinity, all of which are near the railroad and not far from the explosion. This picture tells the tale of the destruction better than any one can describe it. The third picture shows all that was left of the Standard Oil Co.'s building which was near the explosion. It shows that all was swept away except the large tanks and a few barrels of oil. Fortunately indeed for the town that none of these exploded. The wrecked frame building in the rear was the warehouse of the Jellico Grocery Co. The fourth picture shows the totally wrecked condition of Main street on the Kentucky side. The fifth one show the wrecked condition of the beautiful new brick building, some of which were not yet completed, looking from a point on Main street out Kentucky street. In the fore ground will be seen the wreck of a wagon the occupants of which had a miraculous escape, they were two old ladies and not withstanding the fact that the wagon was covered and litterly broken to pieces by flying brick and other debris and one of the mules which was hitched to it was killed and the other one had his leg broken, the old ladies escaped without a scratch, and the two little children of Wm. Seigrist were standing on the street near by and were not hurt. The sixth one shows an eating stand where many hungry ones, whose homes were wrecked, were fed and many houses on Main Street Jellico Ky.