Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-04
A SINGULAR DISASTER.
Six Minneapolis FIourias Mills Destroyed BY
Explosion and Fire.
Seventeen Lives Lost and a Million and
Half In Property Wiped Out.

Hinneapolis. May AT seven O'Clock
this evening the city was shaken as bv an
earthquake BY terrific explosion which
was promptly traced to the group of great
Touring mills in what is known 40 the plat
form, just above st. Anthony's falls, where
the entire Touring district of the city is con-
centrated. The explosion came from the
great Washburn mill. from which column
OF flame was seen to shoot up several hun |
dred feet, followed ty crash which crush |
ed the immense structure like an egg shell. |
Secondary explosions instantly destroyed
the Thompson & Hoyt End Humboldt mills
and dames Immediately burst out. commu-
nicating TO the Galaxy mills, those of FelIit,
Robinson & Co, Cahill, Ankeny g. Co.
L. Day & Sons, Day & Rollins, Buell., New.
ton & Co, Gortor. Hayward & Co., the
Washburn A. & B. mills, and lesser etruc.
lures down the bank of the river nearly to
the Minneapolis and st. Louis railroad ma
chine shops The destruction from the
shock of explosion extended much further,
glass being wrecked for several squares and
buildings shaken throughout the city. Al
8 80 the fire was raging within these limits
and the f1remen working valian,ly
The immediate theory of the explosion
is that it took place in the gas generated in
the patent middling purifier process
|
full details are lacking in the confusion that
surrounds the scene.
The first Iumors made the dead from 20
to 80, but this is net borne out by inquiry.
The explosion took place at the hour of
changing the day. for the night hands, and
many of both were undoubtedly in the
building. twenty-five men went on in
the Washburne mill at 6 80, none of whom
have been heard from up to 8 80. Many 9th.
ers OF the day force must have been in the
building
| LATER INVESTIGATION
confirms the opinion that the first estimates
of the loss of life were exaggerated.
The number of dead is now placed at
seventeen,
The loss to property is enormous bu: the
confusion is too great for 90 intelligent es.
innate at the present time. A rough calcu
lation places it 1T 81, 500 900, of which 81,
1000 will fall upon the milling interest
The loss throughout the city by the break
ing Of glass, etc, is 10000. Five mills
and planning mill were destroyed, beside.
the adjoining property, Including 81 out O
. 1871 runs of stone in the city
Il The Pioneer Press publishes in th,
morning the following az the total incur
: ance as stated by the companies represent
ed to several mills destroyed: Hum
, boldt, Ball, New ton & Co, 81, $50; Petit
& Robinson, $99 900; Galsxy w. Ankep,
$4,000 Washburn mill, $2l7,OO0
THE MILLS AND THEIR CAPACITY.
The following is 3 list of the mills d.
: s,rtyed with the number Of runs of stor
> in each. Washburn, A. AZ runs; Galax,
d l2; Hennepin or Diamond, 6; Humbo,d
4 6; Petit, Robinson 4 Co., Is; Smith.
Total g. The Washburn mill was op
: mated by ]. A. Christian & Co.; the Hur
o bold, BY Bun, Newton & Co.; the He
Galaxy, by cabili, Ankeny & Co. I, the Pe Z
, tit. Robinson mill BY the arm named.
addition TO these mills there were hume
It Gus other buildings destroyed by the fl
q including large elevator and planning mi