Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-05-09

The Greater Part Of the Mills I'm NJ in
ncaDoif% Destroyed.
A large Number of Persons Killed
and Wounded.

MfsSrAPoLIs, May AT O'Clock this
evening the city was shaken as by an earth
quake by a terrific explosion. which was
promptly traced to the group of great
Touring mills in what is known as 1.-THE
platform, just above st. Anthony Falls.
where the entire Touring district of the
city is concentrated. The explosion came
from the great Washburn mill. from which
Il column of flame was seen to shoot lp
several hundred feet, followed by Il crash.
which crushed the immense structure Ike
an egg shell. Secondary explosions in
stantly destroyed the Thompson & Hoyt
and Humboldt mills. and the flames inme-
diatc!y burst out. communicating to the
Galaxy mills, and those of Petit. Robin
f52 ar Ia o,inash i! , q CO /; Day = Sens.
ton Hayward d Co., the Washl,wn A and
Is mills, and lesser structures down The
bank OF the river nearly to the Minneapo-
lis q st. i.oHis railroad shops. The de-
struction from the shock of the EXPLOSION
extended much further, glass being wreck
Ell tor several squares. and buildings shak- |
en- throughout the city. At $50 the fire |
was raging within these limits, and the fire
men were working valliantly to subduc the |
flames. The immediate theory of the ex-
plosion is that it was caused by gas gcner-
lting in the patent middIings purifier The
loss Of life is undoubtedly great. but the
full details arc lacking in the confusion
hat silrro' e the scene. The rumors
made the .,al from 20 to so, but this is
not borne out by inquiry. The explosion
.ook place at the hour of changing the day
Tor the night hands, and many of both
we're undoubtedly in the building. Twen-
y-twO men went on in the Wasllburn mill
1t ESQ O'Clock. none of whom have been
ieard from. Many others OF the day force
must have been in the building. The list
If killed and injured, so far as ascertained.
S as follows:
Big mill-Char!es Henning. Fred Merrill.
lark Wilbur, VIM. Leslie, Cyrus Ewing
Die Sliill. Walter Savage, Patrick Blldd.
sd Merrill, Harry Hicks. Z. w. burbank,
md one unknown. Aug. Smith was blown
'ut OF the window and hurt, but not killed.
Diamond mill-John Boyer was killed.
David Ward had gone out after plil of
water and escaped unhurt.
Galaxy mill-Joe Manti, in the third
tory. after the wall was blown out. Jump
q down into tie canal and escaped unhurt.
Renith mill-Widestrum and Frederick
george.
In Petit, Robinson & Cos mill, Daniel
Day was thrown out Of the window and ,
ljured.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. confirms the opin- |
On that the first estimates of the loss of
re were exaggerated. The number of
cad IS now placed ut seventeen. There ,
ere many thrilling incidents and narrow
scares. Daniel Day was blown the whole
myth OF Petit, Robinson & Co.'S mill and !
trough rear window, and escaped. One |
oor fellow. who could not be recognized. $
ad escaped alive from the explosion and i
'as observed crawling through the dart ;
y. hungry flames towards the track of
re Minneapolis & st. Louis railroad. d- t
'ctly in the rear of the Washburn mill. |
lie managed to reach the track and there +
'idently became exhausted and fell back ,
to the raging hell behind, where his az ,
hes instantly ended. ,
1t now appears that most of the day
rec had gone home, and only S mall
ght force remained.
The loss of property is enormous. but /;
e confusion is too great for an intelligent :,
innate at present. A rough calculation !
aces it at 81 800, 900, of which 81 .OOO. 600 ;,
i'll tall upon the milling interest. The T
IS throughout the city by breaking glass !,
G.. is $4,000. Five Touring mills and .
he planning mill were destroyed, besides :.
Joining property. :.
May 3.-The total loss is fl
tinated at Sl,O00,0O0, which may be in t!
eased. The search for dead has pro- d
essed all day as fast as the fire could be u
tinguished and the ruins cooled. Up to b
O'Clock this morning the black and UNI IL
cogniZable remains of seven of the I'M b,
rtunate victims of the Washburn mill ii
d been recovered. These We're carefully SC
verld and carried to the machine shop al
the Milwaukee & st. Paul and deposited
the floor at the southern end of the 4
il!ing, while crowd of anxious rela-
'es were waiting to identify the lost. The
pearance of the bodies, or what remain fi'
in the shape Of eharred bones or little 81
APPS Of black ashes which emitted sick FIR
ing odor, will never be forgotten by any A