The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-05-03
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION,
At Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Seven FIGURING Mills Destroyed.
A Large Number of Lives Lost.

MNSEAPoLIs, MIMI, May 2.-At z
o'clock this evening the city was shaken
J as il by an earthquake by terrific ex.
ploSion, which was promptly traced to the
groups Of the great Touring mills In
what is known as the "Plat farm" Just
above 81. Anthony's Falls, where the en-.
tire Touring district Of the city Is con.
centrated.
The explosion came from the great
Washburn Mill, from which column Of
flame was seen to shoot up several hun
dred feet, followed by crash, which
crushed an immense structure like an
egg shell. The second explosion instant.
ly destroyed Thompson & Hoyts and
Hamboldts Mills, and the flames imme-
mediateiy burst out, communicating
to the Galaxy Mills, those Of
Petit Robinson & Company, Cahi,ll
Ankeney & Co., L. Day & Sons, Day &
Rollins, Buell., Newton 4 Co., Carton,
Hayward & Co., the Washburn A and B
Mills, and lesser structures down the
bank OF the river, nearly 10 the Minne-
apolis & 81. Louis railroad shops. The
destruction from the shock Of the eIplo-
sion extended much further.
AT $3.50 the FIRE was raging within these
limits and the fremen worked valiantly
10 subdue the flames.
The immediate theory Of the explosion
is that it took place on gas generated in
a patent middlings purifier process.
The loss Of life Is undoubtedly great
but full details are lacking in the con.
fusion that surrounds the scene. The
first rumor made was that the dead were
from 10 to so; 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 undoubted-
ly in the buildings. Twenty-Five men
went on in the Washburn mill at $50,
none Of whom have been heard from up
to $50, many others of the day force
must have been in the building up to 8
O'Clock. The list OF killed and injured
SO far as ascertained are as follows: Big
mill grinders-Chas. Henning, Fred
Merrill, Wilbur Clark. Oilers-Wm.
Leslie Jas. Ewing. Machinists-Walter
Savage, Patrick Judd and Ed. Merrill;
Watchman Harry Hicks, E. W. Bur-
bank and one unknown. Aug. Smith
was blown out Of the window and hurt,
but not killed. At the Diamond Mill,
John Boyer was killed, and David Ward,
who had gone out for pail Of
water, escaped unhurt. At the Galaxy
Mill, Joe Mantle was in the third story.
After the mill was blown ont he
jumped into tie canal and escaped un-
hurt. In Petit, Robinson & Co.'S mill
Dean Day was thrown out Of a window
and injured.
Later investigation confirms the opin-
ion that the iirft estimates Of the loss Of
life were exaggerated. The number Of
dead is now placed at seventeen. There
were many thrilling incidents. Daniel
Day was blown the whole length OF
Petit & Robinsons mill and through
the rear window and escaped. One poor
fellow, who could not he recognized, had
escaped alive from the explosion and
was observed crambling through the
darting, hungry flames towards the
track Of the Minnesota & St,
Louis road and directly in the rear
OF the Washburn mill. he managed TO
reach the rail and there evidently
became exhausted and fell back
into the raging hell behind
where his agonies instantly end
ed. It 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 eonfu-
sion is too great for an estimate at
the present rough calculation places it
at sl,500,OOO, Of which 100000 will
fall upon the milling interest. The loss
throughout the city by the breaking Of
glass, etc., $4,000. Five mills and
planning mill were destroyed, besides the
adjoining property, including 81 out of
the 1877 runs Of stone in the city.
The fine Touring mills which were in
volved in the disaster form grove which
comprises the heaviest concern In the
State. The chief among these were the
two Washburn Mills. The property Of
ex. Governor c. C. Washburn, Of Wis,
OF which the one in which the explosion
occurred was the largest Touring mill in
the country, and the largest, with one
exception in the world. II was built in
1870, included Al run Of stone, and was
worth 100000. II is now smoking
mass Of ruins, with its companion on the
platform.
The destruction is complete 80 far as
the limits above named and serious
within much wider bounds.
The flames are still raging in the ruins,
but are under control, and no further ex-
tension is feared.
It Is how hoped that the dead will be
confined 10 the fourteen mentioned as in
Al