The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-05-06
MINNEAPOLIS.
The Great Disaster-KeeGyeTy OF
Bodies.

MINNEAPOLIS, May 4.-Interest IN the
scene OF tho great mill disaster on !hurs-
dsy centers mainly in the search IN the
ruins for additional remains, IN more &C
curste estimates Of the money loss, and
in the prospects for rebuilding. Work-
ing psrtles are industriousy = engaged up
on the ruins, but their operations are ne
cessarily confined to the outer side OF the
wreck, on account of the heat ana smoke
still remaining in the vortex.
A large gang has been employed IN
cleaning the broken tlmbers ana the
stone of the east wall of the Wash0urn
mill from the canal, which seems literally
choked with the debris between the
Washburn and the Petit. The Robin
son, Zenith and Galaxy, which stood op-
| posite the crushed and crumpled walls OF
the Washburn, are being gradually
moved away from the exposed foundation,
and another force Of men was employ cd
Yesterday in saving the masses OF Wheat,
which had only been partially injured by
the fire, and lies in great heaps at the
westerly end of the building. The de-
bris still smokes and steams, and OCCASION
sllv flames leap up Engines have been
playing upon the buildings all day. Two
safes have been taken from the ashes,
those of Petit, Robinson x Co., both CT
which are intact.
The number # dead is now swelled TO
eighteen, the names of Jacob Rhodes and
John Grandman being added to those
sent last night.
The bodies of eight Of the eighteen
have been recovered. Ten more are bur-
led in the ruins, of which number eight.
are in the ruins of the Wsshburn Mill,
one in the Zenith, and one IN the Helm
bodt. Almost every sembsnce to hu.
manity has been obliterated by the cruel
heat. that left only charred and blsckea-
ed trunks in some cases, and
in others only few hand'uls
of blackened bones, which crum-
BILE at the touch Three Of the number
were identified last night as Clark vii.
Der, John Boyer and +. w. Burbank,
wstchmen. These and others were iden-
tilted by such articles as keys, knives, &,.
A fifth body is identified by incidents Of
death, as that Of boy, Jacob Rhodes
1t was he whose tragsc death was wit
messed by the crowd on the railroad
track, and who was at first supposed to
be John Boyer. Other remains are be-
iieved to be those of Patrick Judd, Cyrus
Ewing and Peter HoIberg.
The latest revised list OF losses and in
81
and the total insurance S5l9 300.
Speculation continues TO be rife as TO
the origin of the explosion. The theory
of Mr.. Christian, of the foe originating
in the friction Of dry stones, communl-
eating to the explosive gas generated
from mill dust, is generally received.
Another theroy in that the building bo-
came suporcharged with electricity
thrown of from the shafts, and not neu-
traized by the conductors; hence the
other charge which caused the destruc-
ton and communicated the fire.
A. to the mills, no doubt Is entertained
that all will be rebuilt at once. General
Washburn, who is here, states ho will
ru. up mill on the ruins of the Wash
burn which. it is believed, will be the
largest in the world, containing fifty run
of stone. The new mil will be larger on
ground than the Old one, and contain
improved machinery. The other pro-
prietors are less definite in their state
ments, but all propose to rebuild. The
Mill Company's Elevator has been a los
ing investment, and its rebuilding is
doubtful.