Auburn, New York, USA
1912 - MOTHER AND THREE CHILDREN DIE WHEN FIREWORKS EXPLODE.

ONE OTHER IS KILLED OUTRIGHT - SMALL GIRL VICTIM DIES AT THE HOSPITAL.

SEVERAL HOUSES WRECKED.

FIREWORKS STORED IN AUBURN RESIDENCE EXPLODE EARLY THIS MORNING, HURLING THE OCCUPANTS OF THE HOUSE INTO ETERNITY - EXPLOSIVES WERE STORED FOR AN ITALIAN CELEBRATION.

Auburn, Aug. 13. - Five people were killed, four of them instantly, in an explosion of fireworks and high explosives in the home of RAPHAEL CHECHE at No. 19 Coon Street early today. The victims were:
COSMO CARMELENGO, a maker of fireworks, whose home is in New Jersey.
MRS. MARY CHECHE and three children, EMMA, aged 11 years, ARMANDO, aged 9 years and CARMELA aged 7.

The fireworks were being prepared by CARMELENGO for a big celebration planned by the members of St. Francis D'Assissi Church in observance of the feast of the Assumption on August 15th.

Brought Four Boxes of Explosives.
CARMELENGO came here last night. He brought with him four boxes of a high explosive to be used in making the fireworks. Although it was said that this was gunpowder, the police and fire department, both of which worked on the case, believe that it was dynamite.
The CHECHE house, a two-story frame structure, was completely annihilated. After the explosion it was a mass of splintered wood and stone. The bodies were horribly mangled. Several of them were blown to pieces. The youngest child suffered a fractured skull and died at the City hospital to which she had been rushed with all possible speed.

Series of Detonations.
The explosion took place between 6:30 and 7 o'clock. There was a series of detonations, one succeeding the others in rapid order. They were heard for miles around. Houses within a radius of a quarter of a mile or more were damaged by the flying timbers and stones and by the force of the explosion.

Italian Colony In Mourning.
The entire Italian colony is in mourning as a result of the tragic forerunner of their celebration.
Elaborate plans had been made to have the celebration of the feast of the Assumption of the Italian church this year the biggest in the history of the church. Invitations had been sent all over the State and the responses told that hundreds of Italian people were to be here.

Large Sum Raised.
A large sun had been raised for the celebration. In order that the pyrotechnics might be on the best that could be secured. It was determined to have a specially equipped man come here. So they sent for COSIMO CARMELENGO of New Jersey. He has been engaged in the work before and it was believed that he knew all about the work and the danger. He brought with him when he came last night four large boxes. He said that this contained gun powder that was to be put in the fireworks.

Made Fireworks In Cellar.
CHECHE had taken a special interest in the work and he arranged that the fireworks should be made in the cellar of his home in Coon Street. CHECHE himself is employed by the Auburn & Electric Railroad company and he left the home this morning early. WHen he went away CARMELENGO was starting for the cellar, to begin work on the fireworks. In the house were MRS. CHECHE and the three children.

Cause Is Unknown.
No one knows just how the accident happened. There was a great explosion. Then another and another followed rapidly. The house was demolished, the woodwork was turned into splinters. Huge sticks were hurled high in the air. Pieces of the broken up cellar wall and the dirt and rocks about the cellar were hurled high in the air. They struck in a shower into the sides and upon the tops of houses within a radius of a hundred yards or more. Windows were broken and homes were shocked by the force of the explosions.

Reports Heard For Miles.
The reports were heard for more than a mile and all over the city people wondered. Some of them thought that there had been an earthquake. People living in the immediate vicinity of the house feared that some great calamity had overtaken the city.

Syracuse Herald
Syracuse, New York
August 14, 1912

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