The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-05-09
THE MINNEAPOLIS CALAMITY.
Particulars of the Explosion and Fire in
the Milling District-Sad Loss of Life

Particulars of the Explosion and Fire in
the Milling District-sad Loss of Life.
lGleaned from the Minneapolis papers.l
The city was startled by shock which
shook every building for miles from the
scene of the disaster. The shock was
distinctly felt in the suburbs of the
city. In the business part of the city
solid blocks were shaken, and the mas
slve plate glass windows in many of
them utterly destroyed. No adequate
idea can be given of the terrible earth
quake that occurred. The shock had
not subsidized before the whole popula-
ton were on the streets. Men, women
and children focked to doors and win
dows with terrified faces and consterna-
tlon IN every movement. An ominous
flame from the center of the milling dis
trict told the first story of disaster.
the like of which Minnesota has not be-
fore known. The fact that an explosion
had occurred dawned on the community
after the first confusion of surprise had
passed away, but not until the excited
crowd had surged down to the scene of
the disaster was the full extent of the
work of devastation realized. Tt was
found that the explosion had occurred
in the big Washburn mill that it had
been followed by the demolition of the
Humboldt and Diamond mills, situated
in the rear thereof; that one wall and
the roof of the Washburn B mill had
been carried away that the solid stone
wall had been torn from the side of the
Galaxy mill; that the Milwaukee and
ST. Paul round-house was more or less
\ damaged, and that the stone planning
mill of Smith S Parker was utterly de-
stroyed. The explosion was followed,
In less time than it takes to tell it, by
flames, which enveloped the ruins of all
the buildings, communicating to the
mill of Petit, Robinson 4 Co., the
Zenith and Galaxy mills, opposite, and
threatened the entire milling district
and the extensive lumber-yards further
down the river. -
Some idea of the terrific shock which
the explosion created may be cleaned
from the fact that there is scarcely a
business block the glass Of which is not
demolished. Whole rows of buildings
show the marks, and brick walls within
half mile of the scene of the disaster
are cracked. An earthquake could not
have marked result more general. The
shock was even heard in st. Paul, ten
miles away. The fire department of this
city proved equal to the occasion, though
the department of St. Paul responded
readily to a call. IS
Every imaginable theory was advanced
as to the cause of the explosion. It is
the theory of Mr.. j. A. Christian, the
head of the firm operating the big mill,
that the fire originated in the stones from
flour dust; that a gas was created that
filled the elevators and every part of the
mill and the explosion folio ged. The
theory is also advanced that the fire
originated from lantern being lowered
In the wheat- bin where gas had been
generated. 1odr
The usual night force of fifteen men
in the big mill was by various causes re-
duced to thirteen, and not more than
two men were in any of the other mills.
Some of these were hurled into eternity,
and their mangled bodies were seen fly
ing in the air with the debris, beneath
which they were buried.
One poor fellow lay just at the edge
of ruins of the Humboldt mill, his head
protruding from the ruins and his body
held fast in the vise-like grasp of pile
of stones and timbers. An attempt was
made to rescue the dead body, but the
intense heat which prevailed beat back
the fremen who valiantly fought the
flames. Later on his body was rescued,
but it was too much burned to be iden-
titled. It is the only body yet taken
from the ruins, and the fremen will not
be able to extinguish the fire before
morning. The scenes about the ruins
were heartrending in the extreme.
Nearly all the killed we're married men,
and some Of their wives mingled with
the excited crowds, and their lamenta-
tons and distracted EXPLANATIONS were
painful beyond description. A corrected
list of the dead is as follows Big Mill
Aug. Smith, Chas. Henning, VIM. Les
lie, Fred Merrill, Park WILDER, Cyrus
Ewing, Ole SHE, Walter Savage, E. W.
Burbank, Pat Judd, Ed Merrill, Harry
Hicks, man whose name cannot be-
learned. Diamond Mill-John Boyer.
AAuAAOO4Oo uA14I--A OUOI Aulus OuOI
Hagborn. zenith-A. E. Wadstrorn. 4
The loss to property is enormous. A
rough calculation places it at So, 500, 900, |
of which 81, 100000 will fall upon the
milling interest. The loss throughout
the city by the breaking Of glass, etc, is
$4,000. Five mills and a planning mill
were destroyed, besides adjoining prop
erty, including ninety seven out Of the
1877 runs Of stones in the city. A3t@ 8tfwI
The five Touring mills which were in
volved in the disaster form group which |
comprises the heaviest concerns in Min
nesota, chief among which were the two
Washburn mills, the property of ex-
Gov. C9C. Washburn, of Wisconsin, of
which the one in which the explosion oc-
CURED was the largest Touring mill in
the country, and the largest but one in
the world. Tt was built in 1870, in
cluded forty-one runs of stones, and was
worth $500. 900. 19bue9 9gav9 3df
4 III ,gsgfE-14L-L al - = 100 ff,zy &c.
Vhni nieanvnrvs of North Amnriaa