BEDFORD MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, DEC. 6, 1901 BOILER EXPLOSION At Yellowstone Killed Three Men Tuesday Afternoon About 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, just after the men had returned from dinner, the boiler at Marion Lutes' sawmill at Yellowstone, eight miles north of Heltonville, in Monroe county, exploded, killing three men. The boiler and engine were of the portable type, were of 12 horsepower, and the boiler was old and patched. Mr. Lutes, the owner, had sent Ellis Henderson, the regular engineer, ahead into the mill to act as head sawyer and had taken charge of the engine himself. When Lutes returned from dinner he found the water low, and let cold water into the boiler, with the explosion as a result. The shock was terrific, and wrecked the entire mill, the boiler being split open. Those killed were: Marion Lutes, top of head cut off at eyebrows, death instantaneous. Perry Mitchell, bolt or small piece of iron shot through head from ear to ear, death instantaneous. Ellis Henderson, head split open in front and crushed at side. Lived a short time. Perry Deckard, the only one of the mill hands who escaped, was standing near the boiler, and was covered so deeply by the debris that he crawled out with difficulty, but escaped almost unhurt, sustaining a slight blow on the leg from a scantling. He was a little dazed Tuesday, but was alright next morning, eating a hearty breakfast. A farmer near the mill was knocked off his feet by the concussion but not hurt. The tree men killed were all good citizens and all leave families. All three were buried Wednesday at 2 o'clock,. Lutes and Mitchell at the Mitchell graveyard near Yellowstone, and Henderson at Hickory Grove. Coroner Otto B. Rogers, of Monroe county was notified and come here on the Monon Tuesday evening, going thence to Heltonville, on the Southern Indiana, and from there to Yellowstone with Dr. Woolery in a buggy. He returned home by the same route next forenoon. He found the explosion to have been the result of an incompetent engineer and low water in the boiler. The indications were that there was not over a barrel of water in the boiler at the time it blew up. ********* FRIDAY, DEC. 13, 1901 It is stated that the boiler explosion at Yellow Stone last week which resulted in the death of three men, was caused by the supply pump to the boiler getting out of order and failing to force the water into the boiler. The fireman was endeavoring to repair the pump when the explosion occurred. The glass water gauge is also said to have been broken.