The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1878-05-04
AWFUL DISASTER.
SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS OF
MINNEAPOLIS MILLS.
A Colossal Structure Swept
Out Of Existence.
AND OTHERS DESTROYED BY FIRE.
Fourteen Persons Bereft of Life by the
Calamity.
LOSS ONE'AND A HALF MILLION OF
DOLLARS.
md OTHERS DESTROYED BY FIRE.

O'Clock this evening the city was shaken as
by an earthquake by fearful explosion,
which was promptly traced to the group of
great Touring mills in what is known as the
Platform, just above st. Athony falls, where
the entire Touring districts of the city is
concentrated. The explosion came from
the great Washbune mill from which
column Of flame was seen to shoot up seve-
raj hundred feet followed by crash which
crushed the immense structure like an egg
shell. Secondary explosions instantly de-
stroyed Thompson & Hoyt and the Hum
boldt mills, and the flames Immediately
burst out, communicating to Galaxy mills,
those of Petit, Robinson & Co., Cahill,
Ankeny g. Co., L. Day & Sons, Day & Rol-
Inns Buell., Newton & Co., Carton, Hay
ward & Co, the Washburne A and b
mills and lesser structures, down the bank
Of the river, nearly to the Minncapo'
lis and st. Louis railroad shop.
DESTRUCTION FROM THE SHOCK
of the explosion extended much further,
glass being wrecked for several squares and
buildings shaken throughout the city. At
$3.50 the fire was raging within these limits
and the fireman working valiantly to sub
due the flames. The immediate theory of
the explosion is that it took place in the
gas generated in the patent middling puri-
fer process The loss of life is undoubted-
~ great, but full details are lacking in the
confusion that surrounds the scene. First
rumors made the dead seventy to eighty,
but this is not borne out by inquiry.
THE EXPLOSION.
took place at the hour of changing day for
night hands, and many of both were I'M
dofjtedly in the building. Twenty-Five
men went on in the Vetsburn mill at G:30
None of them have been heard from up to
$50. Many others of the day force must
have been in the building. Upto0 o'clock
the list Of
KILLED AND INJURED,
So far as ascertaincd, is as follows:
Big Mill--Grinders Chas Henning, Fred.
Merrill, Clark Wilbur; oilers-Wm. Leslie,
Cy rus Ewing: achinists-Ole SHE, Walk
er Savage, Patrick Judd, Ed. Merrill;
Watchman-Harry Hicks, E. W. Burbanks,
and one unknown. Aug. Smith was bloMn
Diamond Mill--Jno. Boyer. killed. Da-
vid Ward had gone out after pail of water
and escaped anhurt.
Galaxy Mill--Joe Manti, in the third
story after the mill was blown out, jumped
down into the canal, and escaped unhurt
Zenith Mill-Two men, Windstrum and
Fred George
In Petit, Robinson & Co.'S mills, Dean
Day was thrown out Of the window and in
jured.
LATE PARTICULARS.
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. Many thrilling
incidents and narrow escapes are reported.
Daniel Day was blow the whole length of
Petit & Robinsons mill and through Il
window and escaped. One poor fellow, who
could not be recognized, had c3caped alive
from the explosion and was observed crawl
ing through the darting, hungry flames y.
wards the track of the Minneapolis and St
Louis road directly in the rear Of the Wash.
burn mill He managed to reach the rail
and then evidently became exhausted and
fell back into the raging hell behind where
his agonies instantly ended.
1t now appears that most Of the day force
had gone home and only the smaller night
force remained,
THE LOSS TO PROPERTY
Is enormous. but the confusion is too great
for any intelligent estimate at present. 4
rough calculation places it at 81, 100000, of
which Sl,000,00O will fall upon the milling
interest. The loss throughout the city by
breaking Of glass, etc, is $4,000, Five
mills and planning mill were destroyed
besides adjoining property, including s,
out of the l91 runs OF stone in the city.
The five Touring mills, which are involv-
ed in the disaster, form Il groupwhich com.
pr'scs the heaviest concerns in the state.
Chief among them were the two Washburn
mills, the property Of eX-Gov, C. c. Wash.
burn, of Wisconsin, Of which the one in
which the explosion occurred was the largest
in the country and the larg-
est but one in the world. 1t was built in
1870, included II run of stone and was
worth 100000. 1t is now u
SMOKING MASS OF RUINS
with It's companions on the platform The
destruction is complete so far as the limits
Obovc.namcd and serious within much wild.
rr bounds. The flames are still raging in
the ruins, but are under control and no fur.
thcr extension is feared. /, is now hoped
that the dead will hc confined to the four.
teen mentioned MS in the Washbum mill.
81 PAUL ACCOUNTS
b ST. PAUL. May 2.--Tho shocl, Of the cy.
ploSion Of the WNshbum mill ut Nlnnca.
polls was plainly felt here and the flames
were seen, creating intense cXcitcmrn, in
various parts of the city. Pieces Of chNred
small timbcrs and cindcrs were
picked up, hurled in the mir by the cSplo-
'ion, and brought here, nine miles dis mt,
~ the wind The news was received acre
~ telegraph Immediately, md fire engines
we're made ready to send but inability to
tut La "A Al