Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-05-09
the GREAT WASHBURN
MILLS DESTROYED.
AN EXPLOSION WITH 81
100000 LOSS.
EIGHTEEN MEN KILLED.

Minneapolis, May 4.-Interest on
the scene of the great mill disaster of
thursday centers mainly in the search
IN the ruins for additional remains, in
more accurate estimates of the money
loss, and in the prospects for rebuild.
ing. Working parties are industri.
ously engaged upon the ruins, bnt
their operations are necessarily con-
fined to the outer side of the wreck
on account of the heat and smoke
still remaining in its vortex. A large
gang has been employed in clearing
the broken timber and the stone Of
the east wall of the Washburn Mill
from the canal, which seems literally
choked with debris. Between the
Washburn and Petitt-Robinson, Re.
NTH, and Galaxy, which stood oppo-
site the crushed and crumbling walls
Of Washburn "a" are being gradually
moved away from the exposed foun-
dations, and another force of men
was employed yesterday in saving
the masses of wheat which had only
been partially injured by the fire, and
lies in great heaps at the westerly
end of the building. The debris still
smokes and steams, and occasional
flames leap up. The engines have
been playing upon the buildings all
day. Two safes have been taken
from the ashes-those of Pettitt, Rob.
inson d Co., both of which are in
tact. The number of dead is now
swelled to eighteen, the names of Ja-
cob Rhodes and John Grandman be-
ing added to those sent last night.
The bodies of eight of the eighteen
have been recovered. Ten more are
buried in the ruins of the Washburn
mill, one in the ruins of the Zenith,
and one in the ruins of the Humboldt.
Almost every semblance to humanity
has been obliterated by the cruel heat
that left only charred and blackened
trunks In some CAGES, and in others
only few handfuls of blackened
eones, which crumble at touch.
Three of the number were identified
last night as Clark WILDER, John
Boyer, and E. W. Burbank, watch
men. These and others were identi.
fed by such articles as keys, knives,
etc. A fifth body is identified by Incl
dents OF his death, as that of the boy
Jacob Rhodes. 1t is he whose tragic
death was witnessed by a crowd on
the railroad track, and who was first
supposed to be John Boyer. The
other remains are believed to be
those of Cyrus Ewing and Peter HoI-
berg.
The latest revised list of losses and
insurance makes the total loss SS24,-
l60, and the total insurance $5l9,3O0
Speculation continues to be rite as
to the origin of the explosion. The
theory of Mr.. Christian, of the fire
originating in the friction Of the dry
stones, communicative to an explosive
gas generated from mill-dust, is gen.
orally received. Another theory is
that the building became super
charged with electricity thrown off
from the shafts, and not neutralized
by conductors. Hence other charges
which caused the destruction and
communicated the fire.
As to the mills no doubt is enter
tanned that all will be rebuilt at once.
General Washburn, who is here,
states that he will put up mill on
the ruins ofthe Washhurn GA which,
it is believed, will be the largest in
the world, containing fifty runs Of
stone. The new mill will be larger
on the ground than the old one, and
contain improved machinery. The
other proprietors are less definite in
their statements, but all propose to
rebuild. The Mill Company's eleva-
tor has been losing investment, and
it's rebuilding is doubtful.