The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-02-07
eAs0LINE's DIRE WORK.
A Terribly Fatal Explosion at Alliance,
Ohio.
Several Persons Killed and . Number
Manned.
Telegram from Alliance. Ohie.l

Telegram from Alliance. ClhoJ
About O clock p. m. a terrible explosion
occurred I'm the business center Of tho city.
Glass I'm windows for blocks along Main street
was shattered, and CONSERVATION retgned SUI
preme. Men lost their senses, and smoke and
dust covered everything for radius OF
quarter of mile. When the horrible cloud
arose IL was discovered that the explosion
had occurred at the brick business block OF
y. NJ. Orr. occupied on the first floor as "A
stove and tin store, ana In the
second and third stories as tenement
apartments. The block was ieveied 10 the
ground and two brick blocks, one on each
SIDE, succumbed to the shock, WINE o,ners,
farther away, were shattered, riddfed, ana
badly injured. In a few moments names
arose from the ruins and the fre alarm was
sounded. Such excitement prevailed that the
fire gained so much Roadway as TO nearly
consume the ruins, and burned two houses
before it was got under control
Meanwhile the scene was narrowing I'm the
extreme. 1t was known that six or more
people were killed or were then imprisoned
I'm the wreck, and would perish by fre. Men,
women, and children, bareheadcd, wringing
their hands, and relatives OF the inmates or
the buildings destroyed, wandered about III
despair at their inability 10 save the unfor-
tunates. +. NJ. Orr, Elmer Orr, his son, MIS-
Homer Highland, his daughter, Mrs. FRANK
Evans. and two children aged and months,
were known TO have been i'm the building AT
the time of the explosion. These all perished-
The woman and children were In the second
and third stories, and are supposed 10 nave
been killed by falling walls MIR. Orr anu son
were both spoken to while confined unuer the
debris, but were burned to death. Many
were also wounded.
Besides those mentioned there were TWO or
three others in the store at the time OF tne
explosion whose names have not been learned,
but who were spoken with beneath the runs
hafo fa had baan crushed
them. AT present all those previously known
TO have persisted have been extricatcd from
the debris. Some OF these are charred ana
mangled beyond recognition. The work,
however, of clearing away the rubbish ana
searching for the todies is being vigorously
pushed forward by the aid of such light as is
at orded by the moon and u bonfire In the
street.
q The scenes Immediately following the dis
aster were well calculated TO anect the mOSt
Indifferent The buildings we're an indescrib-
able mass of ruins. Men and women rushed
about franticaly beSeeching tiat something
be done. Homer Highland, whose vile ana
child persisted in the danes. was almost be-
side himself with grief and horror, as was
also Frank Evans, whose wife and two chill
dren likewise persisted. Mrs. Orr was COM
pletely FRUSTRATED by the shock.
The great loss OF life re ulted from the fact
that the second and third stories were used as
dwellings. The persons W thin were not all
killed outright, as could be too plainly told by
their audible but unavailng cries for help.
Every means that could be was used To res
cue the victims. but the rapid spend of the
fames Notwithstanding the heroic efforts OF
the fire company, soon drove the rescuers
back. The grocery store of Mr.. Mcdonnell,
adjoining, had some seven or eight persons
in it, but all of them were dragged out not
severely hurt
The explosion was caused from fumes OF
gasoline, child of Mr.. Orr having turned the
faucet in gasoline barrel, allowing the fluid
10 run out on the floor. Mr.. Orr was hopping
up when the gas arising from the Oh ignited
from "A Raslight and the explosion occurred.
John Curry and Charles II. Hayden, of
Duprez & Benedicts Ministries were blown
out of Orr's store, through plate-glass win
dow, and carried clear across the street,
where they were picked up badly injured and
carried to n hotel, but will recover.
The explosion was felt and heard for a
distance OF two miles, while those In the imme-
date vicinity thought for "a moment that
there bad been an earthquake. Some idea OF
its force may he guessed from the fact that
n team of horses standing in the street in
front were thrown a. ainst the walls OF the
building on the opposite side.
The Orr block was one Of the finest in the
city, and was completed only asst fall. II is
"a total wreck, as are the Mi. Ter block and the
building occup ed by Mr.. Fullerton as
leather store. and by Miss Stanley IA a mil.
linery establishment. A reasonable estimate
of the value of the property destroyed would
be $50 coo. a very small part OF which was
covered by insurance.