The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-05-03
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.
MINNEAPOLIS SHAKEN As BY AN
EARTHQUAKES.
Destruction OF Group OF Great
FIGURING MiIIs-FourteenL Lives
Lost-rhe Property Loss
VIII Reach Million
and Hall.

MINNEAPOLIS, MlNN., Aprll 1.-hL
o'clock this evening the city was shaken
as il by an earthquake by terrific ex.
plosion, which was promptly traced to
the groups of great Touring mills on what
Is known as the platform" just above
ST. Anthony's falls, where the entire
Touring district of the cityis concentrated.
The explosion came from the great Wash
burne mill, from which a column Of
flame was seen to shoot up several hum
dred feet, followed by crash which
crushed the immense structure like an
egg shell. The secondary explosions iu-
stsntly destroyed the Thompson & Hoyt
and the Humboldt mills, and flames
Immediately burst out communicating
to the Galaxy Mills, and those Of Petit
Robinson & Co, Cohill, Ankeny & Co,
l.. Day & Sons, Day & POllins, Buell.,
Newton Il Co, Carton, Hayward
4 Co.. the Washburne A and B
Mills and tic lesser structures down to
the bsnk Of the river and nearly to the
Minneapolis & st. Louis railroad shops.
The destruction from the shock OF the
explosion extended much further. At
$50 O'clock the fire was raging within
these limits and the firemen were work
ing valiantly to subdue the flames. The
Immediate theory Of the explosion Is that
it took place from the gas generated By
the patent purifying process.
THE LOSS or LIFE
Is undoubtedly great, but full details are
lacking in the confusion tina. surrounds
the scene. The first rumors msde the
dead from 20 to 80, but this is no! borne
out by inquiry. The explosion took
place at the hour OF changing day for
night hands, and many Of both were un-
doubtedly in the baildings. Twenty
men went on In the Wsshburne mill at
$50, none of whom had been heard from
up to $50. Many others of the dav force
must have been in the building. Up TO 8
o'clock the list of killed and injured
90 far as sscertaned are as follows: Big
mill grinders Charles Henning, Fred,
Merrill, Clark Wilburn. Oilers-Wm.
Leslie, Cyrus Ewing. Mschinists-OLe
SHE, Walter Tsvsge, Patrick Judd, Ed
ward Merrill Wstchmen-Hsrry Hicks;
Edward Brubank, one unknown. Aug.
Smith was blown out OF window and
hurt, but not killed Diamond Mill
John Boyer killed. David Ward went out
after pail OF water snd escaped unhurt.
At the Galaxy Joe Mant who was in the
third story after the mill was blown out,
Jumped into the canal and escaped un-
hurt. In the Petett, Robinson &
Co.'s mill Desn Day was thrown
out of the window and injured.
Later.
Later investigation confirms the opIn-
ion that the first estimates OF the loss OF
life were exaggerated. The number OF
the dead Is now placed at seventeen.
Many thrilling incidents and narrow es-
capes are recorded. Daniel Day wss
blown the whole length of Petit Il
Rohrer's mill aud through the rear win.
dow and escaped. One poor fellow, who
could not be recognized, had escaped
alive from the explosion, and was OBJ
served crawling through the dsrting,
hungry flames towards the track OF the
Minneapolis and st. Louis railroad, di-
rectly in the rear of the Wsshburne mill.
He managed to reach the rail, and there
evidently became exhausted, and
fell back into the raging hell
behind, where his sgonies instantly
ended, 1t now appears that most OF tho
day force had gone home and only the
smaller night force remained. The loss
to property is enormous but the con'u'-
ION is too great for 90 intelligent estimate
at presant. A rough calculation places
it at $l,50O,00O, of which $l,OOO,OOO
will fall upon the milling interest. The
loss throughout the city by the breaking
of glass, etc, will reach $4,000. Five
mills and planning mill were destroyed,
besides the adjoining property, including
81 out of the 1877 runs of stone in the city.
ST. PAUL, MINI, May 2.-The shock
Of the explosion OF the Washburne mill
at Minneapolis, was plainly felt here, and
the flames we're seen arising. There is
intense excitement in various parts OF
the city. Pieces of chsrred roof paper,
small timbers and cinders were picked
up and hurled in the air by the explO-
sion and brought here, nine miles distant,
by the wind. The news was received
here by telegraph and Immediately the
fire engines were made ready
to send. but the inability
to secure transportation prevented their
arrival in time to be of use. There were
no trains to Minneapolis after the news
was received, but hundreds Of people
went up by the road, the livery stables
beng emptled in an nour.
MINNEAPoLIs, May 9.-Tbe five plan
ing mills which we're involved in the
disaster, form group which comprises the
hesvlest concern in the State. Chiet
among these were the two Wsshburne
mills, the property of Ex-Governor
&. &. Wsshburne, Of Wisconsin, Of
which the one in which the explosion
occurred was the largest Touring mill in
the country, and the largest but one in
the world. 1t was built in 1870, in-
cluded forty-0ne run of stone, and Was
worth 100000 1t is now smoking
mass OF ruins with its companions on the
Platform" The destruction is COM
plete so far AS the limits above named,
and is serious within much wider
bounds. The flames sre still raging
in the ruins, are under control and no
farther extension is feared 1t is now
hoped the dead will be confined TO the
fourteen mentioned as in the Wsshburne
mill
The Pioneer Press states that the total
insurance is S454, 900.
The Famine in China.