The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-05-09
DISASTER AT MINNEAPOLIS
EXPLOSION OF THE LARGEST MILL
ON THE CONTINENT.

-
Forty Men Buried In the Ruins, Nineteen Of Whom
We're Kllled--SeVen Other Mills and a section
OF the City Also Destroyed by FIre-Nearly
Half the Milling Interest Wiped Out
Loss Estimated at Sl,5OO,OOO,
Minneapolis, May 2,-At seven o'clock, this
evening the city was shaken as by an earthquake
by terrific explosion, whichIwas promptly trac'
ed To the group Of great Touring mills In what Is
known as the Platform just above 81. Anthonys
Falls where the entire Touring district Of the city
is concentrated.
The explosion came from the great Washburn
Mill, from which column Of fame was seen to
shoot up several hundred feet followed by crash
which crushed the immense structure like an egg
shell. Succeeding explosions instantly destroyed
the Thompson Il Hoyt and the Humboldt Mills,
and the flames Immediately burst out, cOmmuni-
eating TO the Galaxy Mills, those of Petit, Robin
son d Co., Cahill, Ankey n Co., L. Day d Sons,
Day Il Rollins, Buell. Newton Co., Carton, Hay
ward 4 Co, the Washburn A and Mills, and
lesser structures down the bank Of the river
nearly to the Minneapolis and 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 fre was within these limits,
and the hremen working valiantly to subdue the
flames The immediate theory OF the explosion 10
that 1t took place In the gas generated in the pat
ent middlings purifier process
The loss of life is undoubtedly great, but full de-
tails are lacking In the confusion that surrounds
the scene. The first rumors made the dead seventy
TO eighty but this is not borne outby inquiry. The
explosion took place at the hour Of changing day
for night hands, and many Of both were undoubt'
edly in the building, Twenty-Five men went on
In the Washburn mill at SIX, none of whom have
been heard from up TO half past eight o'clock
Many of the day force must have been In the
building. Up TO nine o'clock the list ofkilled and
injured, so far as ascertained is as follows:
Big Mill-GrindeY Charles Manning, Fred
Merrill and Clark Ailbur. Oilers: VIM, Leslie and
Cyrus e. Aing. Machinists Ole SHE, Walter Saw
age Patrick Judd and e. Merrill. WRtchmen
Harry Hicks, E. W. Burband and one unknown,
Aug Smith was blown out of the window and hurt
but not killed.
Diamond Mill-Jehn Boyer, killed. David
Ward had gone out after pail Of water and es.
capped unhurt.
NdlhAy hlll-Jub mduIl III LlO lullu blUI1 hltCI
the wall was blown out, jumped down into the
canal and escaped unhurt,
Zenith Mill-Two men, Widstrum and F. George, |
in Petit, Robinson q Co.'s mill Dean Day was
thrown out of the window and injured.
1880 a. m. Later investigation confirms the opin. |
ion that the first estimates Of loss Of life were ex
agserated. The number Of dead is now placed at |
seventeen.
There were many thrilling incidents and mar.
row escapes. Daniel Day was blown the whole |
length Of Petit & Robinsons mill and through
the rear window, and escaped. One poor fellow,
who could not be recognized had escaped alive
from the explosion, and was observed crawling
through the darting, hungry flames toward the
track Of the Minneapolis d st. Louis Road, direcs
ly in the rear of the Washburn Mill He manag.
ed to reach the rail- and there evidently became
and fell back into the raging hell
behind, where his agonies were instantly ended.
Itnow appears that most of the day force had
gone home and only the smaller night force re,
mained, The loss to property is enormous, but
the confusion is too great for an intelligent esi
mate at present A rough calculation places 1t at
81 100000 Of which S1,OOOOOO will fall upon the
milling interest.
The loss throughout the city by the breaking Of
glass, &c, is $4,000 Five mills and planning
mill were destroyed, besides adjoining property,
including eighty.seven out of the one hundred
md ninety seven runs of stone in this city.
"a. m.-The five Touring mills which were In
'olved in the disaster form group, which com.
lrises the heaviest concerns in the State. Chief
lmong these were the two Washburn mills, the
property Of Ex-Governor G. G. Washburn of Wis.
,onsin, Of which the one in which the explosion
occurred was the largest Touring mill in the coun.
ry, and the largest but one in the world. 1t was
quilt in 1870, included forty.one run of stone and
vas worth 100000 1t is now smoking mass of
uins with its companions on the Platform. The
is complete so far as the limits above
famed, and serious within much wider bounds.
The flames are still raging in the ruins, but are
lnder CONTROL and no further extension is feared.
I IS now hoped the dead will be confined to
he fourteen mentioned as in 1.-THE Washburn
Mill.
st. Paul, Mimi, May 2,-The shock of the ex.
losion of the Washburn mill was plainly felthere
nd the flames were seen, creating intense excite
nen in various parts of the city. Pieces of char.
d roof paper, small timbers and cinders were
licked up, hurled in the air by the explosion and
rought here nine miles distant, by the wind.
he news was received here by telegraph imme.
lately, and fire engines were made ready to send
ut inability to secure transportation prevented
heir arrival 10 be of use. There were no trains to
Minneapolis after the news was received, but ,
undreds of people went up by road, the livery
ables being emptied in an hour