The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-05-07
Che Caution aDDocate
TUESDAY, MAY Z, 1873.
Explosion at Minneapolis.

,.san
Explosion at Minneapolis.
Sioux City Journal May 3th.
FIRST DISPATCH.
St. Paul, Maya terrific mill explo-
sion and fire, already including eight mills
in Minneapolis, and extend ng further, oc
Cured about 7 M There are wild ri
nlors of the number of men killed, reach
ing 10,
TIE EXPLOSION.
Minneapolis, May AT Z o'clock this
evening the city was shaken as by al
earthquake by terrific explosion which
was prompt ly traced to the group OF
great Touring mills in what is known as
the platform, just above 81. Anthony's
fall, where the entire Touring district OF
the city is concentrated. The explosion
came rom the great Washburn mill from
which column of saame was sea to
shoot up several hundred feet, followed
by crash which crushed the immense
structure like an egg shell. Secondary
explosions instantly destroyed the Thomp-
son & Hoyt and Humboldt mills and.
FLAMES IMMEDIATELY BURST OUT
communicating to the Calyx mills,
those of Petit, Robinson e. Co, CahilI
Ankeny & Co. L. Day s. Sons, Day &
Rollins, Buell., Newton & Co, Gorton,
4
Hayward g. Co., tho Washburn A. & b
mills, ana-iesser structures down til bank
10 the riyer nearly to the Minncalo is and
| and St. Louis railroad machine. shops.
The destruction from the shock ex-
end d much further, glas, being wrecked
for several squares aud buildings shaken
Throughout the city. At $50 the ..
FIRE WAS RAGING
within these limits aud the fire men work
| ed valiantly
The immediate theory of the explo-
sion is that it took place in the gas gen-
Grated in the patent middling purifier
| process 8.
Loss OF LIFE
ls undoubtly great bu. details are lookin
in the confusion that surrounds the seen
THE FIRST RUMORS
made the dead from 70 to so, but this is
n 1t botre out by inquiry. The explosion
took place at the hour of exchanging the
day for the night hands, and many of
both was undoubtedly in the building.
twenty-five men went on in the Wash
burne mill at 6 80, none of whom haye
been herd from up to $50. Msny otl,
ers of the y force must have ben in the
building
i Later Investigations confirms the opin-
ion that the first estimates Of the loss of
life were exaggerated,
The number of dead is now placed at
seventeen. There were many
THRILLING INCIDENTS.
and narrow escapes. Daniel Day was
blown the whole length of of Petit &
Robinsol's mill and through rear win
dow and escaped. One poor fellow who
could no be recognized had escaped alive
from the explosion and was observed
crawling through the flames toward the
track Of the Minneapolis and Jt Lo lis
road directly in the rear of the Washburn
mil. lie managed 10 reach tue rail, and
there evidently bbssccailo exhausted and fell
back into the raging fire behind, when
his agonies instantly ended.
II now appears that most of the day
force had gone home and only the smaller
night force remained h 4 sF
THE Loss TO PROPERTY.
is enormous but the confusion is too great
for an intelligent estimate at the present
time. A. rough calculation places it ai
$1500,0OO, of which $l,OOO,G0O will fall
upon the milling interests. The loss
throughout the city by the breaking of
glass etc, is $4,000. FIVE mills and a
planning mill were destroyed, besides the
adjoining property, including 81 out OF
THE FIGURING MILLS
which were involved in the disaster, form
the group which comprises the heaviest
concerns in the state. The chief among
them were the two Washburn mills, The
/ property of ex. Gov G. G. Washburn OF
Wisconsin, of which the one in which the
] Explosion occurred was the largest Touring
tmill in the country. and the largest but
4 one in the world. 1t was built in 1870
and included forty one run of stone, and
was worth S&SC3,300. Ii Is new a smoking
mass of ruins with its companions on the
i platform. The destruction is complete so
| far Us the limits above named, and serious,
4 within much wider bounds. The flames
are
Still. RAGING
in the ruins. but are under control, and no
i further extension is feared. 1t is now
hoped the dead will be confined to four
teen, as mentioned in the Washhurn mill,
INSURANCE.
The Pioneer Press publishes in the
morning the following as the total 1nsur-
anee as stated by the companies repre-
sented to the severa. mills destroyed
Hamboldt. Bell, Newton, s. ssv-t'n sif,5en
| Pestet s. Robinson, $4,000; Galayxy W.
Ankeny, $4,000; Washburn mill, sa17,
coo.
| AT ST. PAUL.
ST. Paul, May s.-The shock of the
explosion Of the Washburn mills at Min
neapolis was plainly felt here and the
flames were seen, creating intense excite
/ nant in yarinns narta of the CITY pincn.