The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-12-13
An BxpIosion Of Ntu Dust.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, Dec. 11.-Three men
are known to have been killed, one
fatally injured and number of people
badly bruised and shaken up early this
morning by an explosion of meal dust
which completely wrecked the three
story brick building, north Halstead
street, occupied by David Oliver as an
oatmeal mill. Several adjoining build
ings were also badly shattered. The
explosion which occurred shortly after
o'clock was terrific one, the shock
being felt mile away. Buildings IN
the Immediate vicinity were bonn barded
with flying bricks and timberS and near
" every pane of glass within radius
of six block smashed. Almost before
the rumble of the explosion died away
flames sprang from the wrecked mill
and the whole place was ablaZe IN a
few minutes. The fire spread with in
credible rapidity When the first fire
companies arrived on the scene they
found block of roaring flames to con-
tend with and a general alarm was at
once turned in. Engines were sta
toned at every available point around
the blazing patch.
Buildings that did not take fire at
the outset were saved after the hard
est kind of work. Sparks that were
carried through the air by the wind
ignited buildings two blocks away.
For half an hour the firemen had all
they could do to prevent half dozen
serious CONGREGATIONS. The streets
were filled with debris for block on
every side of the burned patch, and
this seriously INSTRUCTED the fireman in
their work. They stumbled over
clothes were torn, their hands and
faces cut and their limbs so badly
-stiffened that they could scarcely walk.
1t was nearly two hours before the
flames were under control.
When the fire was at its height the
widest rumors prevailed regarding the
loss of life. 1t was known that four
men had been at work in the meal mill
and about twenty in the planning mill
next door.
Besides these, neighboring houses
contained many men, women and chill
dren. At one time it was asserted
that twenty persons had persisted, but
later the estimate found to be greatly
exaggerated. The men at work in the
planning mill all made their escape, a
few of them badly hurt, but the major
ity only slightly injured. Hundreds OF
men searched anxiously for the miss
ing millers, and after some time one OF
theme John Holmes. was found lying
in the alley across the street from the
mill, terribly burned and lacerated
He was working in the second story OF
the mill, when the explosion occurred
and was hurled through a window and
across the street. He cannot live. Nc
trace could be found of the other threE
men-CharIes Miller. Charles Cooper
| and John Smith-and it Is believed
| their bodies are buried in the debris
The firemen are hopeful that no more
| lives have been lost, but people living
in the vicinity of the explosion are SUR
more bodies viii be found when the de
| bris is explored. This cannot be dont
| thoroughly for several hours yet. Per
sons who were asleep in buildings ad.
| jacent to the wrecked mill were thrown
clear out of their beds by the force o.
| the explosion. and most of them wert
more or less injured during the terrifi'
bombardment of bricks and other de
bris.
Charles Murphy occupied rooms
over saloon at the corner of Fulton
and Halstead street and within wer
his wife and family. consisting of ;
wife and two children and mother
They were all in bed when the explo
sion occurred and were asleep. TIL
force of the conclusion wrecked tn
house from side to side and all tn
members of the Murphy family wer
thrown violently from their beds upol
the floor or against the walls. Within
an instant the house was enveloped il
flames and the cries of the occupant
reached the people on the street
Charles Blen was among the spects
tors and upon hearing the cries frOr
the MurPhys rooms rushed into tn
building at the risk of his life an
carried out the women and children
making three trips into the burnin
house. Murphy was so dazed that h
was almost unable tc get out of tn