The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-05-09
4 DisasterOus Will Explosion AT Win
neapOlis. Minnesota.

ST. PAUL, MIMI, May "A terrific mil
explosion and fire, already including eigh
mills, in Minneapolis, extending no further
occurred about +. III. There are wild ru
mors OF a number OF men being killed
reaching seventy-fve.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, May "A
seven o'clock this evening the cit,
was shaken as if by an earthquake
by a terrific explosion, which was prompt
ly traced to the groups of great Touring
mills in what is known as the plat
form, Just above ST. Anthony's Falls, where
the entire Touring district Of the city j:
concentrated. The explosion came from
the great Washburne mill, from which q
column Of flames was seen to shoot up seve
raj hundred feet, followed by crash
which crushed the immense structure like
an egg shell.
SECONDARY EXPLOSIONS
instantly destroyed Thompson X Hoyt, and
Humboldt mills, and the flames immedi-
ately burst out, communicating to the Gal
axy mills and those of Pettett, Robinson
Co., Cahill, Ankery Il Co., l.. Day Il Son
Day " Rollins, Buell., Newton Il Co, Gar
ter, Hayward 4 Co., the Washburne \ " i
mills, and lesser structures down the bank
of the river. nearly TO the Mime
apolis and st. LOUIS railroad shops.
THE DESTRUCTION
from the shock of the explosion extended
much further, glass being wrecked for sew
eral squares and buildings shaken through
out the city. At $50 the fire was raging
within these limits and the tiremen working
vallianly to subdue the flames. The i'm
mediate theory OF the explosion is that il
took place in the gas generated in the pat.
ent midlings purifier process.
THE Loss OF LIFE
is undoubtedly great, but the full details
are lacking in the confusion that surrounds
the scene. The first rumor made the dead
from seventy TO eighty, but this is not borne
out by enquiry. The explosion took place
at the hour of changing the day for the
night hands, and many of both were in the
building.
Twenty-Five men went on in the Wash
burn mill at $50, none al whom have been
heard from up to $50. Many Others of the
day force must have been in the building.
III to . o'clock
THE LIST OF KILLED
and injured, so far as ascertained, are as
follows:
Big Mill: Grinders-Charles Herring.
Fred Merrill, Clark Wilbur; Oilers-Wm.
Leslie, Cyrus Ewing; Machinists-Walter
Savage. Patrick Judd, Ed. Merritt; Watch
Hicks, f. W. Burbank, and
one unknown. Aug. Smith was
BLOWN OUT OF THE WINDOW,
but not killed.
Diamond Mill-John Bayer, killed !;
David Ward had gone out after pail Of
water and escaped unhurt.
Galaxy Mill-yOe Monti was in the
ihird story after the mill was blown out,
md jumped into the canal and escaped I'M
hurt.
Zenith Mill-Two men, W. ID. Storm and
Fred George,
In Pettet, Robinson < Cos mills Dean
Day was thrown out Of the window and in
ured
LATER-Investigat confirms the opin-
on that the first estimates OF the loss OF life
we're exaggerated. The number Of dead is
low placed at seventeen. There were thrill
ing incidents and narrow escape. One
poor fellow who could not be recognized,
lad escaped alive from the explosion and
vas observed crawling through the darling,
hungry flames toward the track Of the Min
ieapolis and 81. Louis road, and directly
n the rear of the Washburne Mill. He
managed to reach the rail and there evil
Iently bee me exhausted and
FELL BACK INTO THE RAGING HE'LL
,ehind, where his agonies instantly ended.
I now appears that most Of the day force
ad gone home, and only the smaller night
orce remained. The loss of property is
but confusion is too great for
N intelligent estimate at present.
A ROUGH CALCULATION
laces it at 81 100000, Of which one mill
IN will fall upon the milling interest.
he loss throughout the city by the break
~ Of glass, etc, is $4,000. Five mills
nd planning mill we're DESTROYED, besides
be adjoining property, including eighty
even out Of the one hundred and ninety
even runs OF stone in the city. The FIVE
curing mills which we're involved in the !
isaster formed group which comprises
THE HEAvIEsT CONCERNS
] the State, chief among them were the two |
Vashburne Mills, the property Of ex-
ioverner c. c. Washburne. OF Wisconsin,
which the one in which the explosion
,curred was the largest Touring mill in
,e country and the largest but one in the
orld 1t was built in 1870, included forty
ne run o. stone, and was worth 5000, 900.
!. is now
A SMOKING MASS
ruins with its companions ON the plat
I'm. The obstruction is complete so far
the limits above named, and serious with
much larger bounds. The flames are
iii raging in the ruins but are under con-
Of, and no further extension is feared. 1t
now hoped that the dead will be confined
he.seventeen mentioned as in tleWssh- ]
I'm null At the time.