The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-31
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
EXPLOSION OF A POWDER NAG.
AZINE AT CHICAGO.
Several People Killed, a Number
Seriously Injured and $4,000
Worth ofProperty Destroyed.

CHIcAeo, ILL.,, August 30.-At A
o'clock Yesterday morning, in the
midst OF a heavy thunder storm, the
nowder magazine belonging 10 the
latin. Rand Powder Company, was
struek by lightning. An explosion
/, followed. which destroyed property
valued at S75,0 900, besides killing two
nersons almost instantly, fatslly in
Turing three, and INJECTING painful
Injuries on nearly twenty-five others.
KrFEcrs OF THE DISASTER.
The combined efforts Of hard
tonight battle, a cyclone and the with
ering inhuenc OF lightning could
mot have presented picture OF more
atiset desoiation and destruction than
did the coun ry for half mile in all
directions from the exploded maya
zine. The day nad opened gloomily.
Ats o'clock Iain began falling furi-
orsly from immense banks OF clouds.
Flashes of lighting we're soon cbas-
inc each other scros3 the whole firma-
ment. until the heavens seemed
sblaze. The thunder was deafening.
rAhont 9.lb flash, which all agree
was much b lighter than those pre-
ealing it, was followed by
repon that shook the greater part
Of Cook county. 1t was q sharp re-
mort, but strange TO sa., by those who
lived in the vicinity OF the explosion,
il was hsrdly distinguishsbe from
the series of tnundsr claps which had
been the order Of the morning. All
agree that there was tremendous
shaking OF the earth. Articles oil fur
piture not stationary were thrown
about as il they were
PAINTINGS IN A GIANTS POWER
Men. women and children were tossed
around at the will of the terrible
rssiftless force released by the ex-
plotiop. The scene Of the catastrophe
Il rb9ut two miles { ON the extreme
southwestern edge Of the city, near
where Archer avenue tetes down
into a conventional highway. On one
side wave great fields OF ripeuing CORD.
On the other a broad stretch OF prair Q
runs for nearly mile in all direc-
tions. Ga this are, or rather were. q
dczen plain but strongly built houses
with walls OF yellow brick, roofs OF
slate and strong iron doors. These
houses were the msgsEines in which
the bulk Of the powder supply for
Chicago and tie territory dependent
upon il was stored. A few people OF
the humber class built them poor
homes on the prairie cloee to the
warehouses containing the deadly
stuff, and lived without fear OF
ANY DISASTER FROM THRIp PRO xMTTY.
Right in the midst OF the msgsxines
rnse the home OF w. j. TierDey, Polics
Magistrate OF he town OF Lake in the
limits Of which corporation the ware.
houses stood, The house was until
lately an attractive looking house, two
stories high, with aspacious verandAh
In front and surrounded by nun bel
OF suNs'antial outhouses, II over
looked Archer road about forty yards
away. Three hundred feet northeast
OF the Tierney residence was O LITTLE
cottage, rudely built aid surrounded
by sheds, stables and hog penn. The
magazine Of the Latin 4 Rand Pow
der Company was one OF the largest o
q dozen structures in the neighbor
hood. 1t was substantial bncl
house, 70x30 feet ia dimensions, viii
slate roof and one iron door of grea
strength. Toe magazine was 800 foe
east Of the cottage OF John Guth ant
ZOO feet from the residence OF Mr.
Tierney. When the rain began Il
fall this morning the people OF th'
vicinity we're all in doorp, many o
them prolonging their Saturday night
rest. An occasional wagon passinl
along Archer road was about the onl.
sign Of lie outdoors.
JUST PRKcEpIEG
the explosion long electric hau
seemed to burst from just over tn
LAT ms Rand magazine. In an In
slant the air was hiled with lying mi:
siles, mas es Of brick and clay, sheet
OF tin, large stones and pieces OF tin
Der pc. formed indeecribable gyrahon
hundreds OF feet in the air, some fal
ing back close TO the point from whic
they started while others shot o
through space with frirhtiul velocit,
only conforming TO the laws OF pravit
after long flight. Stones weighin
from one to ten and fifty pounds wei
thrown into fields two miles from tn
scene, Trees we're stripped, fences b
the mile were laid low, telegraph wiru
were snapped and ths prairie tol
seams as ola thousaud steam pillow
Not a building within mile Of the o
plosion escaped damage. The lit
cottage OF John Guhl, with it's ~
rounding outhousee, was laid low wit
out warning, and In a moment par
OF the exploded warehouse beg
falling on the debris OF the cottas
Guhl's family consisted OF himself,
wife and Carrie A. Heranwortb,
years OF age. The latter was instant
killed, while Guhl aud his wife we
dragged from the ruins frightfuly IN
tilated. Their horses, COW Bnd swi
were
ALL KILLED BY THE CONCLUSION
and the bodies blown full OF dirt, sal
and powder. The ruins OF Cub
house Immediately took fire and (
smoldering fragments burned out DIT
ing the day. The body OF Carr
Abr nwerth presented siolIeni
spectacle Hall the face was TOT
away. The eyes were Almost To-
from Their sockets, and there was
gaping hole in her forehead lar
enough to receive mRu's fist. II
girl's left arm was torn from 4
shoulder. The body was removed
the home tf her uncle, Auyutt Ahre
werth, on California avenue.
The dead aud fatally Injured al
Miss Carrie Ahrenwefth, killed
stantly; Peter Venn, farmer, ri
brok IN and feariully bruised; Jol
Gum, tesmster for the 0den.sl 20
der Company, ribs fractured, right
broken in two places, internal wouuC
Mrs. Guhl, tkull crushed; Mrs e.
Devere, right leg crushed.
Mrs Guhl was extricated alive, /
almost beyond hops. Her entire DO
was maugled and bruised. The ril
side Of her body was paralyzed,
the worst OF her wounds was gap
fracture in the back OF her he
through which h,r brains ooz