1937 — April 18, pyrotal stored in Waszak family basement explodes, Muskego, WI — 9

–9 UP. “Hint Child Caused Blast Killing Nine.” Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. 4-19-1937, 1.

Narrative Information

Apr 18, UP: “Muskego, Wis. – (U.P) – Possibility was seen today that 2½-year-old Raymond Waszuk was responsible for an explosion which killed his mother, seven brothers and sisters Sunday night. The tot’s body was found in the basement of the blast-shattered frame farm home not far from where 50 pounds of pyrotal explosive had been stored. A group of farmer neighbors and Waukesha county deputy sheriffs which found the boy’s body today reported that it was not much battered by the explosion which seemed to send its force mainly upward, demolishing the building.

“….John Waszak, father of the stricken family, said that four detonator caps commonly used to discharge explosives in blasting had been left in the basement with the pyrotol. He said there had been no fire in the furnace Sunday and that he could think of no cause for explosion of the pyrotol.

“….The dead are Mrs. Mary Waszak, 54; John Jr., 20; Louise, 18; Lottie, 16; Eleanor, 14, Helen, 12; Rank, 8; joseph, 5; Raymond, 3.

“The father had been in the barn just before the blast…he was not injured.

“Position of the bodies indicated the family had gathered in one of the front rooms of the two and one-half story house. Just below them, in a half-cellar, were 50 sticks of the special explosive used from blasting rocks from the earth. The explosion lifted the front half of the house and the roof into the air. The rear wall fell in. Dr. R. E. Boldt, Muskego, said all were killed by the explosion itself, although the falling rear wall might have killed any who had survived. Six died instantly. Eleanor, Louise, and Lottie died later in the Waukesha hospital.

“No explanation for the explosion appeared immediately. Coroner Martin E. Fromm said Waszak told him the pyrotal had been left on the farm by the preceding owner. Waszak has owned the farm six years. The explosive had been stored in the farm’s pumphouse, Fromm said. Mrs. Waszak had feared the children might get into it there, and it was stored on the floor of the cellar.

“….Only possibility appeared that Raymond might have wandered into the cellar when his mother and older brothers and sisters were not looking. The home was not serviced with electricity, and the child may have carried a lantern.

“….Neighbors were attracted to the Waszak’s farm by the detonation which was heard for miles around. They said they found the father almost crazed, searching the wreckage of his two story frame home for the bodies of his family. He said all of them were in the living room listening to the radio when he went out to do the chores.

“A neighbor, Del Meyer, said he had been helping Waszak whenever stumps were blasted. Waszak, he said, was unfamiliar with the use of explosives and preferred to have someone else handle them. Meyer said the explosive was stored under a stairway in the basement almost under the living room….” (United Press. “Hint Child Caused Blast Killing Nine.” Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. 4-19-1937, p. 1.)

Sources

United Press. “Hint Child Caused Blast Killing Nine.” Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. 4-19-1937, p. 1. Accessed 3-11-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/madison-wisconsin-state-journal-apr-19-1937-p-1/

Wikipedia. “Pyrotol.” 9-9-2022 last edit. Accessed 3-11-2023 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrotol