Birmingham, AL Torpedo Explosion, Jul 1911

Submitted by Linda Horton

DEADLY TORPEDO AGAIN.

Two Alabamans Lose Their Eyesight in Explosion.

Birmingham, Ala., July 4.---H. W. Collins and J. C. Derby, prominent citizens, have probably lost their eyesight from the explosion of a box containing 1,000 torpedoes. They tried to open the box with a hammer to get Fourth of July noise makers. Derby's house was set on fire. Both men are terribly bruised and burned. Frank Dedorino lost a hand in a firecracker explosion Tuesday morning.

The Daily Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, OK 5 Jul 1911