River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-05-09
A TERRIBLE DISASTER.
Explosion of the Great Washburn Mill at
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Killed and
Million Dollars Worth OF Property De-
stroyed.


stroyed.
At few minutes past seven on the
evening of the End inst, Minneapolis was
startled by most frightful explosion, which
shook the city from centre to circumference.
The explosion took place in the milling GEN.
ire on the canal that extends around st.
Anthony Falls. and at once the question was
passed from lip to tip, What can it be? In an
instant the entire city was out of doors, and
streaming toward the falls, while it became
known that the great Washburn !" mill
had exploded and was a total wreck. The
Washburn mill was the largest mill on the
American continent, and with the exception
of one in France, the largest and most CON-
plete of any Touring mill in the world. 1t
contained forty run of stone, and employed
regularly from forty to sixty men. The ex-
plosion took place at the hour wnen the day
force of the mill had just been relieved, and
the night force was just taking their places,
and though wild reports were ahoat, IT seems
to be settled that II lives were lost.
Immediately after the explosion the flames
burst forth and ragged with fury, until the fol-
lowing Touring mills were destroyed: Petit,
Robinson & CO.; Cahill, Ankeny & Co.; l..
Day & Sons; Day g. Rollins Buell., Newton &
Co.; Diamond mill; Gorton, Hayward & Co.;
Washington "A;'' and Washington "B" mills
THE FEARFUL EXPLOSION.
No description can convey full idea of the
force of the explosion, two OF which were dis
tinctly heard all over the city. Millers uni
formly attribute the explosion to the -four
dust which was distributed through the atmos-
phere of the closed rooms, and tbs milling
apparatus caught from contact with the flame,
or from.friction. The principal force of the
explosion appears to have been from the
Washburn mill towards the Diamond and
Zenith mills. The second explosion prob
ably occurred in one of these.
The Milwaukee IL st. Paul round house in
| front of these was half demolished by the con-
| cusson, while the railroad shops look as il
| they had been bombarded. The Centennial
| block, on Washington avenue, had all its
| heavy plate windows broken except one store,
which was open. The glass was broken into
| fine pieces, as if run through stamp mill.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
| miller standing near the window of the
| old Washburn mill. was startled by the first
explosion, and had one glance, when he saw
the walls of the big mill spreading outward,
| roofs falling, and flames flashing up. The
next moment he was on the floor blown half
way across the mill by the conclusion.
| IN THE BIG MILL.
| Charles Henry was married man, about
| forty years of age, and leaves wife and one
child. He resided at No. GLIB Third street
and leaves his family in rather reduced cir
cumstances. He was member of Hermon
| Lodge No. Is, X. Of p Yesterday afternoon
the lodge gave his family $50.
Fred Merrill, a single man, aged twenty
eight years, persisted. The Merrill boys came
TO Minneapolis some time since and wished
to locate here permanently. Therefore his
parents were sent for and arrived in the city
and commenced housekeeping about two
weeks ago.
Ed Merrill, brother of Fred, also persisted.
He was single man aged twenty years old,
Clark WILDER was a married man, aged
forty-five years, and has a wife and two girls
living in Vermont.
August Smith, aged forty five years, leaves
wife and one child to mourn his loss. He
resided at 313 Eighth avenue south. Family
in moderate circumstances.
4. III. Grundman, a millwright, about fifty
years of age, persisted. He resided at 1911
Hermon place, and leaves wife and clever
children to mourn his loss. His family were
well provided for.
William Leslie, twenty-eight years old
leaves a wife and one child He resided oil
Seventh street and Cedar avenue. He was 6
member of the Ancient Order of United
| Workmen and the Knights of Pythias. Thu:
his familyiwill!b e.provided for by these orders
Cyrus E. Wing was single man thirty-foul
years old.
Ole Shei was a married man, residing al
south end of Washington avenue. His family
are in IN. derate circumstances, but depended
upon him for support.
Walter Savage, a married man, twenty three
years old, leaves q wife and one child. He
resided at No. 1913 South Third street, and
leaves his family nearly destitute.
Charles Kimball single man aged twenty
years. was new arrival in the city, and hat
been working nut short time.
Henry Hicks was a married man aged forty
years. He was not living with his wife, anS
it is understood was about applying for {
divorce.
I'm. Burbank was the Oldest man in the
mill, being past sixty. He leaves wife and
two daughters.
THE OTHER MILLS.
Those in other mills were John E. Ros
sienus, of the Zenith mill, who was a married
man. Was about twenty-six years old A
wife and ten months-old child are left in no
the most desirable circumstances.
John Boyer. who nearly escaped from the
| Diamond mill. was a married man, about
twenty five years old. Has been here but {
short time.
Peter Holbey, burned in the Humboldt ruins
| was married, leaves a wife and one child, anC
was about twenty five years old. Family moi
| in best of circumstances.
Peter Lund, who was fist reported as hav
ING persisted in the Humboldt mill, escaped
sion occurred he was engaged in bantering
conversation with Peter Holberg, who per
ished, as to who should go out for pail o
water. Lund fortunately for himself con
Guided to go, and was scarcely outside of thu
| mill before the explosion occurred. He asserts
that the explosion occurred in the big mill
and that Humboldt and Diamond mills were
blown down by the conclusion.
Jake Rhodes, who lives gust below the mills
left his home few minutes before the explo
sion, and said he was going to fire. He went
| toward the mills, and has not since been seen
STORY OF A SURVIVOR.
One survivor was met, Joseph Monti, Jr.
the Waterman of the Galaxy n.ill, who wa:
discovered by the reporter in all the pleni
tude Of health. He said he was in the base
ment OF the bill, one story below the canal
engaged in putting in an alarm bell npon the
shafting. The conclusion lifted him full six
feet, when he fell and was stunned for five
| minutes He was in daZed condition wheI
he recovered from the shock, and only heard
one explosion they must have occurred while
he was stunned. When he realized his posi-
ton, he found the water from the canal pour
ing in, and naturally thought the thud o.
the explosion was merely the result of the
breaking in of the canal. He rushed to 6
window up stairs, and looked for place K
Jump. When there he saw John q. Roseni
us, Of the Zenith MILL looking out of the win
dow. Mont called out to him, "Are you go
ing to jump but Rosienius either did moi
understand or did not hear, and that was last
seen of him alive Monti took in the situa
ton, saw the elevator in one tremendou:
sheet of flame, and was momentarily paralyz
ed. Looking below the window, Monti OBJ
served an ash heap, fifteen feet or SO below
him. He stradded the SILL swung himsel
over hung by his hands for second or two or
the sill as the roar of the flames doomed hiss
ingly around him, and then dropped anc
rolled thence in the seething waters. Once
in the water he swan out despairingly anc
exhausted, until he struck protruding rock
uron which he climbed and rested to recover
his presence of mind and courage. His sense;
being gathered, he waded to the paper mill
Reaching the under portion of it, he rose be
fore some of the employees engaged in putting
ont blaze As voice from the dead, hi
asked, Which way can get out?f He was