The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-05-04
Searching for the Dead.

distance away, escaped by similar freak
of the flames. .s 80,
Searching for the Dead.
The seaech for tho dead has progressed
all day SIS last as the fire could be extin-
guished and the ruins cooled. Up to II
o'clock this morning the black and un-
recognizable remains of seven of the un-
fortunate victims of the Washburn mill
had been recovered. These were care.
fully covered and carried to the machine
shop OF the Milwaukee and st. Paul rail
road, snd deposited on the floor at the
southern end of the building, where a
crowd of anxious relatives were waiting
TO identify the lost. The appearance
OF the bodies, or what remained in the
shape of chared bones or little heaps of
black ashes, which emitted sickeniDg
odor will never be forgotten by any OF
the spectators. Bat one body bore any
semblsnce to human form, and even
this was horribly distorted, with the head
arms and legs burned to crisp or remov-
ed, and the trunk partially taken by the
action of the terrific heat. This Is be-
lieved TO be that Of John Bsyer.
Some other fragments OF bodies
were arranged in close pro1imi-
ty TO u the larger trunk above
described, until seven were deposited, one
of which was brought in 8 water bucket.
Search was lndustrially continued all
through the afternoon. The estimates OF
the dead, based upon the bodies received,
those known 10 be IN the mill and
Inquiries made for the missing, place
i: a. sixteen. The smaller casualties,
burns, bruises and wounds, are numerous,
and further developments may increase
or decrease the numbe OF the dead. 1t
ia not likely that sll the bodies will be
recovered from the ruins. Nearly all
those recovered are mere mutllsted irSg-
ments incapable of Identification.
Cause OF the Explosion.
Later inquiry confirms the first theory
that the cause Of the explosion was the
ignition of inf 4mmable mill dust floating
in the air, and the consequent generation
and expansion OF infammable gases.
The reports Of eye.witnesses rs to the
power and suddenness Of the explosion
are almost incredible. An instant after
the first flash of the explosion all the
buildings we're wrapped in games, show
ing the air all around TO be full Of fnhsm-
msble gas.
Account by AN Eyewitness.
Mr.. A. p. Lunn, who was at first
thought to be lost, gives the following ac-
count o, his experience: lie was look
ing directly ST. the Washburn null al the
time and says the entire root Of the great
bulldog shot upward like rocket, en-
veloped III smoke and flame. The I'M
mense walls seemed to raise from their
foundations, especially on the northerly
side OF the building, between heaven and
earth, and then fell outward
with des'eniHg crash. The ruins
were instantly enveloped in flames.
He did not observe any further cIp,o-
sion, but the Diamond, Humboldt mill
and the Minneapolis Planning Mil,
crumbled and fell TO the ground Instant
ly, as he believes, from the shock and
conclusion OF the explosion IN the Ws't-
burn mill, and at the very instant of the
explosion, as 1t appeared to him, the nj |
companies elevators below the Ns'E-
burn was completely wrapped in flames.
All the books of the mill are burI'd
in the ruins, but some may be found n
tac..
The propretors say they will rebuild
at once, in time for the Few crop. Gov.
Washburn, of Wisconsin, will arrive to-
morrow, and take measures relative to
his property. The other mills in the city
number six, Snd sre all comparatively
smalI, with I3O runs Of stone. Some are
injured, by. will be speedily perfected
for work.
value OF The Mills Destroyed.
The following IS the valuation of the
mills destroyed: WMhburn a mil,
si1-story stone building, 100000; Hun
boIdt, S6OOOG Diamond $4,000; Galaxy,
SS5,OCO; Zenith, $4,000; Petit Il Robjr-
son, Sl25O0O.