The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-05-09
A Terrible Catastrophe.

Terrible C0taStfOpne.
Minneapolis, MIMI, May AT Z
o'clock this evening, the city was shaken
as by an earthquake by terrific explo-
sion, which was promptly traced to the
group of Touring mills in what is
known as the platform, just above ST.
Anthony Falls, whore the entire -four.
ing district of the city is concentrated.
The explosion came from the great
Washburn Mill, from which column OF
flame was seen to shoot up several hun.
dred feet, followed by crash which
crushed the immense structure like an
egg she'll.
Secondary explosions instantly des.
troyed the Thompson & Hoyt and Hum.
boldt Mills, and the flau es Immediately
burst out, communicating to the Galaxy
Mills, those OF Petit, Robinson & Co.,
Cahill, Ankeny & Co., l.. Day & Sons,
Day L. Rollins, Buei, Newton l. Co.,
Carton, Haywood 4 Co., the Washburn
A and b mills, and the lesser structures
down the bank Of the river nearly to the
Minneapolis & st. Louis Railroad shops.
The destruction from the shock OF
the explosion extended much further,
glass being wrecked for several squares,
and buildings shaken throughout the
city. At $3.50 the fire was raging with
in these limits, and the firemoR work
ing valiantly to subdue the flames.
The Immediate theory of the explosion
is that it took place in gas generated in
the patent middlings purifier process.
The loss of life is undoubtedly great,
but full details are lacking. In the
confusion that surrounded the scene first
rumors made the deaths seventy to
eighty, but this is not borne out by In.
quiry. The explosion took place at the
hour Of changing day for night hands,
and many of both were in the building.
Twenty-Five men went on in the WASH
burn mill at $50, mono of whom have
been heard from up to $50. Many 9TH
ers of tho day force must have been in
the building. Up to 9 o'clock, the list
of killed and injured 80 far as ascertain.
ed are as follows:
Big Mill-Grinders, Charles Hen.
ming, F. Merrill, Clark Wilbur Otter.
VIM Leslie, Cyrus Ewing. Machinists,
Walter Savage, Patrick Judd, Ed. Nor.
riil. Watchmen, Harry Hicks, E. W.
Burbank, one unknown. August Smith
was thrown out of the window, but not
killed.
Diamond Mill-John Boyer, killed.
David Ward, going out after pail of
water, escaped unbHrt.
Galaxy Mills-Joe Manti, in the third
hol
ed do wn into the canal, and escaped
unhurt.
Seenith MiIl-Two men, widestrum
and Fred George.
Pettit, Robinson 4 Co.'S Mill-Dean
vas thrown out of the window and in.
jured.
Neutrality-suspicious. confirm tho
opinions that the first estimates of loss
OF life were exaggerated. The number
OF dead is now placed at seventeen.
There are many thrilling incidents Of
narrow escapes. One poor fellow, who
could not DO recognized, had escaped
alive from the explosion, and was OBJ.
served crawling through the darting,
hungry flames towards the track of the
Minneapolis & st. Louis railroad, di.
rec,ly in the rear of the Washburn Mill.
He managed to reach the rail, and then
evidently BECAME exhausted and fell
back into the raging hell behind, where
ais agonies instantly ended.
1t now appears that most of the day
force had gone home, and only the small.
er night force remained. The loss OF
property is enormous, but the confusion
Is too great tor An intelligent estimate
ut present. Rough calculation places il
at fifteen million dollars, Of which one
million will fall upon tho milling in
terest. The loss throughout the city by
the breaking of glass, etc, Is $40, 600.
Five mills and planning mill were des.
troyed, besides the adjoining property,
including eighty-seven out of the one
hundred and ninety seven run of stone
In the city.
The Touring mills which were in
volved in the disaster form . group
which comprises the the heaviest con.
cerns in the State. Chief among ihsm
were the two Washburn mills, the pro-
perty Of ex-Gov. c. c. Washburn, of
Wisconsin. one Of them, in which the
explosion occurred, being the largest
Touring mill in the country, and the
largest but one IN the world. 1t Was
built in 1870, included forty.one run OF
stone, and was worth two hundred thou.
sand dollars. 1t is now asnoking mass
Of ruins with its companions on the
platform.
The destruction is complete so far -
the limits above named, AMI serious
within much larger bounds. The flames
are still raging 10 the ruins, but are IN.
der control, and no further extension
is feared. 1t is now hoped that the
dead will be confined TO the fourteen
mentioned as being burned in the Wash
burn mills.
Minneapolis, Minn., May S.-Ihe fol-
lowing is q general summary of the sit