Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-13
SEARCHING FOR FACTS.
TO DETERMINE HOW IT HAPPENED.
Continuing the Coroner's Inquest--An the
Witnesses Swear There Was Fire in the
Mill Previous to the Observation-Disclosures
ment Until Wednesday,.
The IH1ttest-Thira Dan.


The Inq,test-Third Day.
The coroners jury met yesterday as per adj
journment to continue its investigation into
the cause of the mill explosion and fire, and
MISS PoMERoY
was called and testified follows:
Was gong across the lower bridge from the
West Side to the East; was about half way
across; the frat thing that attracted my atten-
ton was vivid flash of light; thought it was
lightning and that it was going to rain; turned
to look to see where the light was from and
just then heard the explosion and saw the
roof of the big mill go up; and saw that the
most of it Immediately came down again, and
as it came down the walls fell down; saw
flames In the two mills above the
big MILL and soon after they fell down; heard
three explosions; saw a good many others on
the bridge where was, but did not know any
one; there was q gentleman and lady with q
baby In q carriage; the horse was much fright
ened and they attracted my attention from the
mills, and when l looked again all the mills in
that vicinity seemed to be on fire; it could not
have been moro than a minute between the
time when 1 saw the light and turned and
saw the explosion; am not much &C
qualnted with tho position of the mills,
but am sure it was what they called the
big MILL that exploded first; saw the
flames in the windows of the two upper
only moment before the explosions took
place; the last two explosions were in the two
upper mills; they were very close together, al
most instantaneous, but could distinguish that
there were two.
E. E. DuNwooDY
was up on Twelfth street at the time of the
explosion; 1 represent my brothers interest in
the Union mill; know more about the fire
than any other person that happened to hear
the explosion. Excused for the present.
j.. j. THOMAS. {.
Was on the track near tho big mill about
twenty minutes before the explosion; filled the
Christian track with cars; am locomotive en-
gineer on the Minneapolis l. st. Louis railroad ;
came up to the big mill after that and
then put up our engine and started home and
got as far as Menzels T. Co.'S: f9Sndry, about
four blocks from the big mill, When the ex-
plosion occurred; l thought when l first saw
the light and smoke, that it was n heavy train
coming out of the G. NJ. & st. p. yard, and the
engine was working hard, but Just after saw
the smoke heard the reports and looked in
the direction of the big mill and saw that the
air around the mill was full of debris and fire;
the cars on the tracks around the mill,
think all contained wheat; my engine does not
drop Goals from the CRATE; we have patent
ash-pit; am sure saw the light and smoke in
the direction of the big mill before heard the
explosion; it could not have been the paper
mill.
HON. FRANK MORSE.
At the time of the explosion was at my
house, which is about IA miles from the mills;
saw through the trees down the river, very
bright light in the direction Of tho mills;
thought it was MIR. Eastman's private
gas machine, but soon after an explosion or
conclusion occurred which caused u large col
nm Of an IN int, tt,o, T VI
$40 feet high, and about one third as wide the
first Zig INT attracted my attention by it's in
tense Brightness; it reminded me of the ref]ec-
ton OF the sunset in large window, only
ire 20 up as 1t in an explosion, heard no
noise, but the windows ratified two different
times very close together, at the same
time of the large column Of fame.
JOHN MELANa.
Was at home ut the time of the explosion,
corner of Sixth street and Sixteenth avenue
south; am foreman of the crew that does the
switching around the mills on the M. & st. L.
railroad; had filled the Christian track with
cars of wheat, about one-half hour before; had
had a hard day work; had taken ont and put
in OH that track large number Of loaded cars
there was nothing explosive i'll any of the cars;
I see all the way-bills or the contents of the
cara that come into our yard;
the mills; there is nothing combustible on or
near the tracks that am aware of; we have
particular instructions in regard to being
full about fire in that vicinity, both from tho
superintendent and Mr. Washburn.
No other witnesses being present, the Jury
took a recess while Mr.. Gale went after the
ground plans of the big MILL which had been
made for the insurance companies.
MIR. L. CHRISTIAN.
to %1,o of T ;,&;c r ~
am general manager of the mill; had entire
charge of the mill at the time of the explosions;
we have printed instructions in regard to car
rying lights, that no stationary lamp should he
moved; use lanterns for carrying around the
mill have printed instructions in regard to the
water in case of fire; we have Babcock's extin-
guishers on each floor; the all thor
oughly trained in the use of all the fire appa-
ratus; the men have instructions to shut down
the mill at the first sign of ire.
MIR. Christian at this time occupied about
fifteen minutes in enlightening the jury in re-
gard to the running and the machinery of the
big mill with the aid of plans.
WILLIAM CASEY.
About one-half hour before the explosion we
set some cars in on the Christian track, after
which we put the engine up and then started
for home, and got far the lower bridge;
I had just got on to the bridge when saw a
the direction of the big 10. milf Il;
passed them and had got about twenty feet
when I heard explosion, and the debris
came toward me and ran. and by the time
got half way across the bridge it was all over,
when l came back to the round house of the
NJ. and St. l.. railroad; the man and boy were
standing near the west end Of the bridge when
the boy pointed out the fire; saw light like
it was in the sky in the direction Of the big
n. Of know uho ! n iul
anything about it until heard the explosion
two three minutes after; heard two different
reports; the first was the heaviest.
g. K. WATERMAN
was at homo on Nicollct island, in Eastman.
new tenement; was sitting in the back window
in the third story facing the mills; could see
tie top stories of the big mill; saw brigh,
light reflected on the wall; my wife asked what
it WASP and I got up and looked out and coulC
see flames in the top story of the big mill; thu
walls were all standing perfcct in a very few
moments after saw the flames heard the ex
plosion; 1t raised the top off the mill and the
air was filled with debris and fire; shortly after
ward heard another explosion which appeared
to be from tho same place perhaps little tt
the right; only heard two explosions.
s. A. WOOD.
was standing on the corner O.
Third street and Third avenue
south, and heard an explosion ant
saw fire and smoke, and very soon after heart
.,o%bor ond then ran To seo. rhera tho 6-