News
Halloween horror wasn’t a movie 45 years ago
Two county women killed in coliseum explosion
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.
- News
-
-
ISP closes Connersville Post
The Indiana State Police Post serving our area relocated from Rushville to Connersville in 1938. Since that time, the post known as “Old Post 6” has been a fixture south of Connersville on State Road 1.
- Labor Day signals end of summer Labor Day weekend represents the unofficial end of summer for many people. By early September, the kids are back in school, crops are maturing and soon the fall harvest will be in full swing.
- Commissioners to ban “K2” Mark Fields of the Rush County Probation office, Rush County Sheriff’ Jeff Sherwood and RCHS assistant principal Rob Hadley, representing the Local Coordinating Council, attended Monday’s county commissioner meeting and requested a countywide ban on what is marketed as a incense and known as Spice or K2.
- First Friday heating up downtown Rushville is heating up for this Friday’s “First Friday” event.
- All the ladies (not just the single ones)! The Rush County Players announce auditions for their upcoming production of The Daughters of the Lone Star State.
-
Orme makes history at State Fair
What has one young lady accomplished that has never before been accomplished by a Rush County 4-H member?
- RMH Brian’s Cause walk raises $18,000 In late 2006, lifelong Rushville resident and 1981 RCHS graduate Brian Conner was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
-
Board approves new attorney in RPD’s Lane firing
The Rushville Board of Public Works and Safety approved hiring outside legal counsel in the dismissal of Patrolman Chris Lane’s litigation at a special meeting Tuesday at City Hall.
- Franklin County manufacturer to expand Rubber products producer, Sperry and Rice Manufacturing Co. LLC, has announced it is expanding its manufacturing operations here, creating up to 40 new jobs by the end of 2010.
- Franklin County manufacturer to expand Rubber products producer, Sperry and Rice Manufacturing Co. LLC, has announced it is expanding its manufacturing operations here, creating up to 40 new jobs by the end of 2010.
- More News Headlines
-
