The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-05-09
A TERRIBLE DISASTER.
Explosion OF the Great Washburn Mill at
nOeapOlls----Scventeen Killed and a
Million Dollars Worth OF Property De-
strOycd.

At a few minutes past seven on the
evening Of the 2nd inst, Minneapolis was
startled by most frlshtful explosion, which
shook the city from centre to circumference.
Ihe explosion took place in the milling Gen.
tire on the canal that extends around St.
Anthony Falls. and at once the question was
passed from lip to tip, What can it be- In an
instant the entire city was out of doors, and
streaming toward the falls, while it became
known that the great Washburn "a" mill
had exploded and was total wreck. The
''ashburn mill was the largest mill on the
American continent, and with the exception
OF one in France, the largest and most COM
plcte of any Touring mill in the world. It
contained forty run Of stone, and employed
regularly from forty to sixty men. The ex-
plosion took place at the hour wnen the day
force Of the mill had just been relieved, and
the night force was just taking their places,
aud though wild reports were atloat, It seems
to be settled that II lives were lost.
Immediately after the explosion the flames
burst forth and ragged with fury, until the fol-
lowing Touring mills were destroyed: Petit,
Robinson & Co.; Cahill, Ankeny Il Co.; L
Day i Sons; Day & Rollins; Buell., Newton i
Co.; Diamond mill; Gorton, Hayward & Co. j;
Washington on "a" and Washington ''B" mills
THE FEARFUL EXPLOSION.
No description can convey full idea of the
force OF the explosion, two Of which were dis
tinctly heard all over the city. Millers uni
tormly attribute the explosion to the -four
dust which was distributed through the atmos-
phere of the closed rooms, and til. milling
apparatus caught from contact with the flame,
or from friction. The principal force Of the
explosion appears to have been from the
Washburn mill towards the Diamond and
Zenith mills. The second explosion prob.
ably occurred in one OF these.
The Milwaukee 4 st. Paul round house in
front OF these was half demolished by the con-
cussion, while the railroad shops look as if
they had been bombarded. Tie Centennial
block, on Washington avenue, had all it's
hcaSy plate windows broken except one store,
which was open. The glass was broken into
tine pieces, as If run through a stamp mill.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
miller standing near the window of the
Old Nashburn mill, was startled by the first
explosion, and had one glance. when he saw
the walls OF the bly, mill spreading outward,
roofs falling, and flames flashing up. The
next moment he was on the floor blown half
way across the mill by the conclusion.
IN THE BIG MILL.
Charles Henry was married man, about
forty years OF age, and leaves a wife and one
and leaves his family in rather reduced cir.
cumstances. lie wasa a member OF Hcrmon
Lodge No. 49, X. Of 2. Yesterday afternoon
the lodge gave his family $50
Fred Merrill, a single man, aged twenty
eight years, persisted. The Merrill boys came
10 Minneapolis some time since and wished
to locate here permanently. Therefore his
parents were sent for and arrived in the city
and commenced housekeeping about two
weeks ago.
Ed Merrill, brother OF Fred, also persisted.
lie was single man aged twenty years old
Clark WILDER was a married man, aged
frrty-!iyc years. and has 4 wife and two girls
living in Vermont.
August Smith, aged forty five years, leaves
4 wifi; and one cIilu to mourn his loss. lie
resided at BIB Eighth avenue south. Family
in moderate circumstances.
l.. II. Grundman. a millwriglt, abou' fifty
Years Of are. pe,i>hed. He resided at 1,2l1
li,rnnn place, and leaves wife and eleven
children to mourn his loss. His family were
well pro, ded Tor
William Leslie, twentv.cight wears old.
leaves wife and one child. lie resided on
Seventh street and Cedar avenue. lie was A
member OF the Ancient Order of United
Norkmen ard the Knights of Pythias. Thus
his family will hclproyidcd for 10y these orders
Cyrus Z. Wing was single man thirty -four
years old.
O'c Shci was married man, residing at
south end OF Washington avenue. His family
are in moderate circumstances, but depended
upon him for support.
Walter Savage, married man, twenty three
years old, leaves a wife and one child He
resided at No. 1913 South Thnd street, and
leaves his family nearly destitute.
Charles kintall single man aged twenty
years. was a new arrival in the city, and had
been working .,ut short time.
Henry Hicks was married man aged forty
years. He was not living with his wife, and
it is understood was about applying for q
divorce.
E NJ. Burbank was the oldest man in the
mill, being past sixty. He leaves wife and
two daughters.
THE OTHER MILLS
Those in other mills were John E. Ros-
sicnus, Of the Zenith mill, who was married
man. Was about twcnty-six years old. 4
wife and ten months-old child arc left in not
the most desirable circumstances
John Boyer who nearly escaped from the
Diamond mill. was a married man, about
twenty-five years old. Has been here but a
short time.
Peter Holbey, burned in the Humbolt ruins
was married. leaves a wife and one child, and
was about twenty-five years old. Family not
in best Of circumstances.
Peter Lund. who was first reported as hav-
ing Pc ishcd in the Hum boldt mill, escaped
unharned. A fe. moments before the explo-
sion occurred he was engaged in bantering
with Peter Holberg, who per
lshed. as to who should 70 out for pail of
water: Lund, fortunately for himself, con-
Guided to 20. and was scarcely outside Of the
mill before the explosion occurred. He asserts
that tn" explosion occurred in the big mill,
and th't Humboldt and Diamond mills were
blown down by the conclusion.
Jake Rhodes, who lives Iust below the mills,
left his home few minutes before the explo-
sion, and said he was going to q fire. He went
toward the mills, and has not since been seem
STORY OF SURVIVOR.
One survivor was met, Joseph Monti, Jr,
the wa'chman Of the Galaxy n.ill, who was
discovered by the reporter in all the pleni-
tudc Of health. He said he was in the base-
mcnt OF the bill, one story below the canal,
engaged in putting in an alarm bell npon the
shafting. The concussion lifted him full six
feet. when he fell and was stunned for five
minutes. lie was in a dazed condition when
he recovered from the shock, and only heard
one explosion they must have occurred while
he was stunned. When he realized his posi-
ton, he found the water from the canal pour
ing in, and naturally thought the thud of
s'C -Nplue1OA WIS uleIcly lnc result OF the
breaking in of The canal. He rushed to a
window up stairs, and looked for a place to
jump: When there he saw John G. Rosicni
US, Of the Zenith mill, looking out of the win
dow: Mouti called out to him, "Arc you 60
ing to jump" but Rosienius either did not
understand or did not hear, and that was last
seen of him alive. Mo7ti took in the situa-
ton, saw the elevator in one tremendous
sheet Of fame, and was momentarily paraIyz
ed. Looking below the window, Monti ob-
served an ash heap. fifteen feet or SO below
him. He straddled the sill, swung himself
over, hung by his hands for second or two on
the sill as the roar of the flames doomed hiss
ing|y around him, and then dropped and
rolled thence in the scething waters. Once
in the water he swan out despairincly and
exhausted, until he stru"k a protruding rock,
ui'on which he climbed and rested to recover
his presence of mind and courage. His senses
being gathered, he waded to the paper mill,
Reaching the under portion Of it, lie rose be-
fore some Of the employees engaged ir putting
out q blaze. As voice from the dead, he
asked, Which way can get out?' He was
then directed to a place of safety.
Dan Days Experience.
Mr.. Daniel Day, who, resides near the cor.
ner OF Sixteenth avenue south and Ninth