Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-04


been seen. II was evidently mechanic or
man working about machinery, but was we'll
| dressed, wore dark moustache, and was about
twenty or twenty-five years of age. 1t is feared
be was near the scene of the disaster, and was
among the killed or injured.
Dan Days Ezperjence.
Mr.. Daniel A. Day. who resides near the
corner of Sixteenth avenue south and Ninth
street, tells his experience as follows: Have
been in the employ of Petit, Robinson q Co.,
for two years. Am second miller when the
mill is running; the special duty of looking
after machinery of the mill. Have charge of
mill when idle. The mill shut down
Wednesday evening. About six
O'Clock went to mill as usual
After looking the building over l sat down
in the Office to read a paper. The mill faces
the big Washburn mill and is about forty feet
from said mill. The Office is, or was, in front
and has one window on that side and window
on the side overlooking small vacant lot.
sat with my back to the front window and
quite near it. and at my right and against the
office PARTITION wall was heavy desk. The
first Iknew / was lifted out of my chair and
hurled violently against the stone side wall of
the mill, and the desk after me; had fairly
gained my feet and reached the side window
when l was thrown back again by the same
of falling and flying debris; did not hear any
noise at all, except the cracking of breaking
timbers of the platform. Although somewhat
stunned did not lose my senses, but scrambled
back to the side window, knowing that if the
roof and upper floors were coming down
should be safer in the window. as the walls are
at least three feet thick-the best mill walls on
the canal. The walls were vibrating back ward
and forward with considerable rapidity
When the debris quit flying through the air
looked out of the window and saw that the
Washburn mill was leveled to the ground.
The canal was full of stones and broken tim
Der. The timber was one mass Of flames and
| the elevator one huge bon fire.
The falling of the walls into the canal food
ed the packing floor of our mill, and the water
was several inches deep until it run off. saw
| that the mill must burn, as the sacks on the
packing or Office floor were all on fire. 1t
| seemed as if sheet of fame had been blown
| through the mill, igniting only light stuff I
coupled on the rotary pump which is kept for
fire purposes, and started into the basement to
let the water into the wheel, but found
couldn't get along, as the heavy oak floor in
the packing room was splintered into tooth
picks. The flames were roaring over head, and
| l looked up to find the whole mill above me
was as full of fire as the walls would hold and
as | knew l couldn't do anything, l left the
HILL OuucE circumstances, WIN
men on the several floors, could have flooded
the mills in minute by means of the rotary
fire pump. I am not badly hurt. only little
bruised. don't believe it possible that soul
could have escaped from the big MILL as it
was fire in an instant. can't give any
! opinion as to the cause of the explosion, but
doubt if it caused by the dust from the
mid dlings purifier.
Mr.. Day mentioned having seen JoeMonte as
be came out Of the mill.
Mr.. Day was not badly injured, and only
suffers from stiffness. A few scratches on
portions of the body, were the only injuries
received. He was the only man in the mill at
! the time.
| ALEX. BRADLEY's STORY.
| Mr.. Alexander Bradley, engineer on the Min
neapols & st. Louis railroad was quite BADLY
injured, and being interviewed gave his story
as follows: Having left his engine in the
lower yard, walked up the track with his fire.
man, named George Kinds. AS they were
passing the big mill nothing was noticed.
When, however. they had reached q point be-
tween the Wasburn ssB'' mill and the car shops
the explosion took place. Thought
the ''B" mill first exploded. and they
were knocked down. They only had time to
partially regain their equilibrium, when the
Diamond mill exploded and down they went a
| second time. The air was filled with rocks and
broken timbers, and falling upon them they
bruised about the side and back, but had nc
bones broken. The fireman, Kinds, was
injured about the head and one leg.
FRED GEORGES MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.
Fred George, the young man who had such q
miraculous escape from instant death, tells his
story as follows: He was in the rear portion Of
the Zenith mill when the explosion occurred
This mill, like that of Petit l. Robinson, was
facing the big mill with its front on the canal
Mr. George had seated himself near the husk
and in close proximity to the stove. When tn,
explosion occurred blast of hot air, smok,
the mill and ignited the tn,
dust in tie mill About on,
hundred and fifty barrels of -four were in th
front of the building, and these were knocked
about as though weighing no more than s,
many spools of thread. Some of the -four bar
rels struck him and he was thrown down
Then the stove was thrown upon hin
and he thought ell was over. By superhumia,
; effort he succeeded in cxtricating himsel
from the perilous position in which he wa
placed and started for tho front of the build
ing. Reaching the door he jumped out and
as the platform had been destroyed, lsnde,
in the canal. With all the speed possible b
orawled out on hands and knees and escaped
; Reaching Sixth avenue south, he ran up 70 til
! rner Of Third street, where he entered W. z
.. Sorrish's store and exclaimed, For God
sake water, or something for me-" Withou
5 waiting he turned, ran out and entered tn
drug store next door. Procuring some linimen
he started for his boarding place on Sixth ave
nue. south, between Third and Fourth street
= DE-. Phillips was summoned, and il no,
doing all in his power to bring about speed
recovery. Mr.. George is badly burned abou
the face and hands. but not injured upon hi
Q body. Yesterday afternoon, he was feelin
somewhat better, and loosely remarked to hi