The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-05
OVER HALF A MILLION.
MILLS DESTROYED
D. RIrS-A DIsastrOus COpnagratIOn In the Allliag
District Of That CIty-POur PlOnrlug nIla
and One Cotton NH Durasd-P0ur
PSnOnI Burlsd In the RuiRI,

ST., Paul, December 4.-At 4 o'clock this
morning fire broke out in the milling dis,
trict of Minneapolis, destroying before It
was subdued four large Touring mills ard
one cotton mill, and causing the death Of at
least four men. The FIRE broke out in the
Pillsbury Touring mill, owned and operated
by O, A. Pillsbury & Co. communicated
to the Excelsior mill, owned by Darillus
Morris, and operated by G, A, Pillsbury &
Co., and to the Minneapolis mill, owned and
operated by Crocker, Fisk 4 Co., which ex-
poded, killing Neil Frederick, first assist
ant engineer OF the fire department, The
fre then communicated to the Empire mill,
owned by L, F, Watson, Of Massachusetts,,
and operated by O. A. Pillsbury & Co. The
street having been reached at this point the
lire was got under control, but the, brands
from contlagration falling upon the roof Of
the cotton mill near by, owned by Darillus
Morris, 1t was also consumed. Thus four
Touring mills and one cotton mill were
consumed with the railroad trestle work in
the rear OF the mills and several freight
cars filled with wheat,
The fire had communicated TO the mill
Of Crocker, Fisk 4 Co, when the explosion
occurred, and levelled the walls Of tho
structure, crushing the elevated railroad
track in front OF the mill, killing three per.
sons, injuring another fatally, and several
others in less degree, ltis possible that
more than three fatalities have occurred as
tho result Of the explosion, but how many
cannot now be definitely stated. Among
the killed were Assistant Chief Engineer
Nell Frederick and member OF the hook
and ladder company named Huey, who
with other ilremen occupied Il place on the
elevated railrOad truck Immediately Ia
front OF the mill. Several other firemen
similarly engaged were injured, and the
force at the flames was somewhat disorgan-
lied in consequence,
A third person, who has not vet been
identified, and who occup!e q place in front
Of tho Office Of pillsbury Il Co.'s, was killed
by flying missiles, and one other person,
who was standing under the elevated
railroad, was crushed TO death by the walls
and tlmbers and the railroad track. The
explosion was of great violence, shattering
uhNSNS au9 iAl ho tcll WuCkb away from
the, scene, and starting people from their
tearly slumbers in all paris OF the city.
The cause Is n matter of speculation thus
far. The mill had been shut down for
some time, and the explosion Is as likely
10 have been from confined gas, as from
Hour dust, to which the Washburn mill ex.
plosion was attributed. The capacity OF
the mills burned is 2,4O0 barrels. The to-
tai capacity OF the Minneapolis mills Il
$4,000 barrels. Tho mills destroyed repre-.
sent about one.tenth Of the whole, and the
loss may be summarized as follows: pills.
bury mill, $l40,000 Empire mill, Sl25,000;
Crocker Fisk 4 Co.'S mill $l25,00O; Excel.
slor mill, 100000; Cotton mill, $4,000;
plllsbury & Co, on stock, $4,000; Crocker,
Fisk 4 Co. on stock, 5000; Fl. Honeycut
OH stock, $4,000. Total S55S00O.
The following Is summary OF the ins1r.
anCe; O. a. Pillsbury < Co., on the Pills.
bury u Mill, $G4,OO0 @. A. Pittsburgh
Co., on stock in b Mill, $4,000; @, A. Pills
bury & Co., OH stock in Empire Mill, $500
9. A.. Pillsbury, on stock In Excelsior
Mill, $1,000 Crocker, Fisk 4 Co., on Min.
ncapolis Mill, $40, l76; Crocker, Fisk & Co,
on stock, $l0,5OO; II. lIompkirt, on stock,
$1,000. Total, $201175.