The Indiana State Fair Coliseum explosion on Halloween Night 1963 killed 74
and injured 400. This one Indianapolis disaster affected us all. Most
Hoosiers knew someone who was in this disaster. I was 19 and working just 4
blocks away at the W. H. Allen Shell Service on the corner of 38th and
College. I was getting ready to head home when I heard the explosion and
ran down to first see what happened then to help if I could. Mangled bodies
were everywhere, and I saw several people picking up wallets and put them in
their pockets. I went over to a policeman and told him about the looting
and he threw me out and told me not to come back. Indy News story here:
http://www2.indystar.com/library/factfiles/accidents/history/coliseum_explos
ion/coliseum.html
This next Saturday, Oct. 4th., Hoosier History Live will broadcast a call in
show about the disaster. Link here:
http://www.hoosierhistorylive.info/
Was anyone on this list affected by this tragedy? Bob