Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-08-29
AN AWFUL CALAMITY.

The Boiler OF . Papor-AIill Near 1Ienasha
Wis. Explodes, Killing Fourteen Mon.
and Badly Wounding Number Of
Others.
MILWAUKEE, Aug. PA special from
Neenah, Wis, to the Evcntng Wisconst,,
says: At II 80 o'clock Wednesday even
Ing the large paper-mill owned by George
Whitney, situated on the island between
this city and Menasha, was DESTROYED by
fire. While the burning structure was sur
rounded by q crowd of spectators the
battery OF boilers exploded. The roof
and the walls were thrown outward,
sending q shower of brick and timbers
among the spectators. Fourteen persons
were killed, seven fatally injured, and
number less seriously hurt, seversl Of
whom may die. The mill was three story
structure, built four years ago at cost Of
300, 900, and was operated day and night.
When the flames broke out about fifty men
were in the building. The fire alarm
brought several hundred people to
the spot, who crowded as close to
the burning building as the intense
heat would permit. About 1 80 o'clock,
while the building was mass Of fame.
the explosion occurred without warning.
The roof Of the building was thrown up
ward and outward, the walls Of brick
crumbled and crashed into the street, and
In an instant scores Of men were buried
by the heavy debris. There was mo-
ment Of silence and then q cry
of horror went up from the null
titude. The first strong impulse to
fly from possible further danger was soon
overcome and hundreds began the work
of recovering the bodies OF the dead and
rescuing and caring for the injured. Body
after body was found, crushed and
mangled by the great timbers and masonry
almost beyond recognition, and then re-
moved to the City Hall. The injured were
carried to neighboring residences or to
their homes as sooD as their identity could
be established Following is a list Of the
dead:
Joseph Brueggin, Willie Bublitz, Jr., Joseph
Eu', John Holman, Henry Kuelke, Sebastian
Ltebhause, Michael Mcndtner, Gilbert Murrich,
John Mohr, Louis Reesch, Frank Sanborn,
Jacob Vedder and John Weaver.
The severely injured are:
Thomas Jordan, side hurt, 1t is thought f.
tally; Myron c. Fisher, of Bachelor Fischer,
right log broken twice; Will Krsuz, leg broken
and af1erward amputated; August Heckner
laborer. head badly cut; Colly Scheenfer, arm
broken and head hurt: D. Teuchscher, head
md leg cut; Fred Helbach, back hurt; p. v.
Ad"SOns 8nkA0 injured. LII. r. BurfOogn6,
back and arm hurt; John Lull, arm hur.; J.
Koelsch, leg cut; Alice Landick and Mrs. ART,
slightly injured; Edward Leiphauser. side and
back injured; N. Wagner, knocked down from
car and badly hurt: Joseph Dryer, log badly
bruised; A. Frazier. back struck by plank
The loss on the building is S100, 900; in
surance, $52, 900.
The cause of the calamity is traced
directly to the iron bleach. It is said that
this was full of steam and rags and had
become superheated. When the cold water
from the fire engine struck it the explosion
followed instantly.
All of the killed will be buried at tho
city's expense, as they were all in poor
circumstances, and some Of the families Of
the killed are almost destitute Mayor
Lawson has appointed a committee to
solicit aid for the families of the killed
and already good deal of money has
been subscribed. There is nobody who
can describe the explosion, as those
who were nearest and could see were
either killed or injured badly.