The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-01-17
FrightfuI Accident.

FrightfuI Accident.
\ frightful accident took place at the Starch
Factory on Thursday morning last resulting in
the death of Robert Lowe probably, one Of the
operatives and the burning badly of three
others.
The Factory is built in three parts, the north
side being seven stories high; the central about
the height Of five, and the south side about two.
In the west end Of the central part Of the build
ing are the drying kilns built tier upon tier. Be
tween the two series of tiers is space about 80
feet wide running the full length of the division
of the building. This space is divided IN three
stories, under which are the furnaces for heat
ing
At the time Of the accident there were stored
in the third story several tons Of starch, the
room being used as packing room, Of this
enormous quantity Of starch the greater part
was piled in one place, close to the wall IN about
the centre Of the room north and south. The
weight was too much for The hoor timbcrs, which
giving way first ct the wall, where the brick floor
proved to be too weak, broke the timbers IN tive
and trctipiacd Il space Of the floor about Is feet
s,Uare to the floor bclOw-about - feet, upoi.
which also several tons were stored. The second
strain, also gave way and both sets OF ttmoers
and tons of starch fell to the first floor, ABOUT 80
feet, which in turn gave way, letting tie entire
mass Of debris down to the ground between the
furnaces.
Fortunately, although there were large num-
Der of girls, boys and men at WORK on both the
upper floors mono were caught in the falling
mass Those on the third floor worked further
10 the south. On the second floor a packing ma
chine stood almost under the break, the north
side of it being buta few Inches to the south Of
the hole made by the fall. At this machine Mr..
Nolan worked, assisted by crowd Of boys who
carried the starch from the machine to the pile
which was carried down. The boys had caught
M with the machine and were standing south Of
it waiting for pile to accumulate before re-
moving it 10 the large pile on the floor and thus
escaped. Mr.. Downey, one Of the forcmen, and
Mr. Chas. A. Cation, the book-keeper, had the
Darrowest escapes The were conversng on the
second floor, under the spot which fell OF the
third foor had just separated when the crash
came. Mr.. Cation thus escaped by a few feet and
Mr.. Downey by jumping out Of its way, knocking
down man ia his scrambes. The room below
where are usually a large number of men at
work around the elevator lin the center of the
break was empty after nine o'clock.
At the furnaces, however, all was not so for
tunately ordered. Not under the falling mass,
but nearly so, being only few feet to the south,
were Robert Lowe, James O'Rcily, VIM. Ma
honey and Timothy Driscoll. They were about
TO eat their dinners, having opened one Of the
furnace doors to warm vctuals. The falling
mass OF starch, timbers, &C. created a ter
rble dust which was forced down with the debris.
Now, starch dust like mill dust, ignitcs and
burns like powder; so when this dust came IN
contact with the fire below an explosion took
place around these unfortunate men. They
were partially blow out into the room south con.
tanning watts and hauled themselves out the rest
Of the way, being found in that room. The
stream OF fire must have been terrific, one of the
workmeH reporting that he saw it shoot out
from the vault into the vat room not less than 30
feet. The fire, of course, caught in the mass OF
Debris, all of which was as dry as powder, and be-
gan rapidly to ascend the elevator used for rails
ing the starch from story to story; but so com
pete are the arrangements OF the building for
fighting fire and so prepared were the men, that
in less than three minutes the fire was eXtn
gushed, so that the city's department which
reached the ground four minutes after the alarm
was gwen, was not needed
The injured men were Immediately put under
medical care, Drs. Hathaway, Vance and Weis
being on the spot within very few minutes af-
ter the accident Robt. Lowe was terribly burned
about the head and arms. He seemed utterly un-
conscious of what was going on, and although
carefully taken care of his life is in great danger
He is man of about 60 years Of age, hard
working man, who has wife and two grown
sons. James O'Reiy, after Lowe, was the most
in a dangerous condition. but if no internal inu-
res resulted, he will probably recover. He re-
ceived blow on the back of the head, which
however, did him no serious injury. William
Mahoney was burned about the face and arms
and was cut in the hand; while Timothy Driscoll
also was burned on the arms. The latter two are
in no danger, and will in a short time, compare
lively, be able to return to their work.
The amount of starch dropped TO the cellar is
estimated at Is tons. II will all have to be
worked over, and as soon as possible was gath.
cred up for that purpose. The necessary repairs
will be made, work being commenced on the
same day. The weakness being knewn, support
ing timbers will be put in, so that no such acct.
dent can possibly happen again.
The accident will cost the works probably
$1,000
The Rev. Mother Paul, from ST. Josephs Con
vent, Ottawa, accompanied by several other sis.
tiers, went TO Streator on Saturday last to take
charge of their new convent and to assist the