Memory fades through the years, but for some Rush Countians the night of Oct. 31, 1963 will never dim. About 25 local residents attended a Holiday on Ice review that Thursday night 45 years ago at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum.
As an audience of 4,500 eagerly awaited the finale, a gas explosion blew up a box seat section of 128 seats. Bodies were thrown in the air and fell on the ice. Flames roared 90 feet high, but the fire was quickly extinguished since little flammable material was available.
Fire personnel theorized that if the explosion hadn’t been straight up, many more spectators would have been killed. It was believed the blast occurred under the seats in a commissary which provided popcorn and soft drinks to vendors.
Fifty-eight bodies were recovered following the blast and four persons died en route to area hospitals. When cranes lifted the debris, nearly two dozen more bodies were found.
Two Rush County women were among the fatalities. Bernice Florine Tillison of Manilla was reported dead at Fort Benjamin Harrison Hospital. Thompson Tillison, her husband, and a son, John, were reported in satisfactory condition at the facility.
The other local victim was Mrs. Morris Howell of Rushville, whose body was the last to be identified. Her husband received numerous injuries and was taken to Methodist Hospital.
Also at Methodist Hospital were Mary P. Patterson of Rushville, her son Howard and daughter Juanita. Brought to Rush Memorial Hospital by Todd and Wyatt Moore ambulances were Mrs. Frank Moore, Mrs. Orval Wisler, Mrs. Sumner Pond and Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Joyce, all of Rushville.
Jan Voiles can be contacted at jan.voiles@rushvillerepublican.com or at (765) 932-2222 ext. 107. Add a comment to this story at www.rushvillerepublican.com.
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