Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-05-08
A Western Horror.
Explosion and Fire at the Mills of Min
N7ts i#l MeapOlts. t 4"A"h

SAooN sHio o'Sh'uo S"o IVY i"'''o o'A''>
en- as by an earthquake by terrific
explosion, which was promptly traced
to the groups of great Touring mills
in what is known as the platform, just
above St. Anthony's Falls, where the
entire Touring interest of the city is
concentrated The explosion came
from the great Washburn mill, from
which a column Of flame was seen to
shoot up several hundred feet, followed
by crash which crushed the immense
structure like an egg shell. Secondary
explosions instantly destroyed the
Thompson & Hoyt and Humboldt mills
aud the flames Immediately burst out
communicated to the Galaxy Mills,
those of Petit, Robinson & Co., Cahill
Aukeny & Co., Day 4 Sons, Day &
Rollins, Buell., Newton Il Co., Gorton,
Hayward & Co., the Washbnrn A and
B Mills, and lesser structures down
the bank of the river, nearly to the
Minneapolis 4 St. Louis railroad shops
The 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 fremen working
valiantly to subdue the flames.
The immediate theory of the explos.
ion is that it took place in gas genera.
ted in the patent niddlings purifier
process. The loss of life is undoubted-
ly great, but full details are lacking.
In the confusion that surrounds the
scene the 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 the day
for night hands, and many Of both
were undoubtedly in the building. 1
twenty-five men went on in the
Washburn mill at $50, none of whom
have been heard from up to $3.50.
Many others Of the day force must
have been in the buildings.
Up to 8 o'clock the list OF killed and
injured SO far as ascertained are as
follows: Big Mlll-Grinders. Chas.
Henning, Fred Merrill. Clark Wilbur;
oilers VIM. Leslie, Cyrus Ewing; ma
chinists, Ole SHE, Walter Savage,
Patrick Judd, Ed. Merrill; watchmen,
Harry Hick, E w Burbank, one un-
known. Aug. Smith was blown out
of the window, hurt but not killed
Diamond Mill-John Boyer, killed !,
David Ward had gone out after pail
of water and escaped unhurt. Galaxy
Mill-Joe Mantl, in the third story
after the wall was blown out, jumped
down into the canal and escaped un-
hurt. Zenith Mill-two men, Wild
strum and Fred George. In Petit,
Robinson & Co.'S mill Dean Day was
thrown out of the window and injured.
Later-Investigation confirms the
opinion that first estimates of the loss
of lite were exaggerated. The number
| Of dead is now placed at seventeen
Many thrilling incidents and narrow
escapes are recounted. Daniel Day
was blown the whole length of Petit
& Robinson's mill, and through rear
window and escaped. One poor fellow
who could not be recognized had es-
capped alive from the explosion, and
was observed crawling through the
darting hungry flames towards the
track of the Minneapolis & St. Louis
road, directly in the rear Of the Wash
burn Mill. He managed to reach the
rail, and, there evidently became ex-
hausted, and fell back into the raging
hell behind, where his agonies instant
ly ended. It now appears that most
of the day force had gone home and
only the smaller night force remained.
The loss of properly is enormous, but
the confusion is too great for an intelli-
gent estimate at present. Rough cal.
culation places it at $l,500,0OO, of
which 100000 will fall upon the
milling interest. The loss throughout
the city by the breaking of glass, ETC.,
is $4,000. Five mills aud planning
mill were destroyed, besides the adjoin.
ing property, including 81 out Of the
1917 runs of stone in the city. The
shock Of the explosion of the Wash
burn Mill at Minneapolis was plainly
felt at St. Paul and the flames we're
seen, creating intense excitement in
various parts of the city. Pieces Of
charred roof paper, small timbers and
cinders were picked up and hurled in
the air by the explosion and brought
to ST. Paul, nine miles distant, by the
wind. News was received at St. Paul
BY telegraph Immediately and the fire
engines were made ready to send, but
the inability to secure transportation
prevented their arrival 10 time to be
of use. There were no trains to Min
neapolis after the News was received.
but hundreds of people won't up by road
the livery stables being emptied in an
hour.
The Ave Touring mills which were
involved in the disaster formed group
n. Al