The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-12
AN EXPLOSION IN A MILL
THREE MEN KILLED OUTRIGHT
AND ANOTHER DYING.

Adjoining Buildings-People Blown
Out of Bed and Forced to Run for
Their Lives.
CHICAGO, I'LL, Dec. 11.-Three men are
known to have been killed, one fatally in
Jured and number of people badly bruised
and shaken up early this morning by an ex-
plosion of meal dust, which completely
wrecked three-story brick building on
North Halstead street, occupied by David
Oliver as an oatmeal mill Several adjoin-
ing buildings were also badly shattered.
The explosion, which occurred shortly after
2 O'Clock, was terrific one, the shock being
felt mile away. The buildings in the i'm
mediate vicinity were bombarded with hy-
ing timbers, and nearly every pane of
window glass within radius of six blocks
was smashed.
FIRE BREAKS OUT.
Almost before the rumble of the explo-
sion died away flames sprang up from the
wrecked mill, and the whole place was
aolaze in few minutes The fire spread
with incredible rapidity, and when the first
companies reached the scene they had a
block In roaring flames to contend with.
A general alarm was at once turned in.
Engines were stationed at every available
point around the blazing patch of buildings.
Those that did not take fire on the outside
were saved after the hardest kind Of work.
SPARKS IN THE AIR.
Sparks carried through the air by
the wind ignited buildings two blocks
away, and for half an hour the
firemen had all they could do to
prevent half a dozen serious confagrations
The streets were filled with deoris for
blocks on every side of the burned patch,
and this seriously obstructed the firemen in
their work. They stumbled over boarding
and timber and debris until their clothes
were torn, their hands and faces cut. and
their limbs so badly stiffened that they
could scarcely walk. 1t was two hours be-
fore the flames were under control
RUMoRs OF LOSS OF LIFE.
When the fire was at its hight the widest
rumors were advanced 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. Be-
sides these, the nelghboring houses con-
tanned many men, women and children
At one time it was asserted that twenty
people had persisted, but later this estimate
was found to be greatly exaggerated. The
men at work in the planning mill all made
their escape. A few of them were badly
| hurt, but the majority We're only slightly
| injured.
THE FIRST FIND.
Hundreds of men searched anxiously for
the missing millers, and after some time
one of them, John Holmes, was found lying
in an alley across the street from the mill
terribly burned and lacerated. He was
working on the second story of the mill
when the explosion occurred, and was
hurled through window and across the
street. He cannot live.
No trace can be found of the other three
men, Charles Cooper, Charles Miller and
hn Smith, and it is believed their bodies
are buried in the debris.
The firemen are hopeful that no more
lives were lost, but people living in the
vicinity of the explosion are sure that more
bodies will be found when the debris is ex-
plored.
BLOWN OUT OF BED.
Persons who were asleep in the buildings
adjacent to the wrecked mill were thrown
clear out of their beds by the force of the
explosion, and most Of them were more or
less injured during the terrific lombard
ment of brick and other debris.
Charles Murphy occupied rooms over a
saloon at the corner of Fulton and Halstead
streets. With him were his family, consist
ing of his wife, two children and his
mother. They were all in bed when the ex-
plosion occurred and were all asleep. The
force of the conclusion swayed the house
from side TO side, and all the members of
Mr.. Murphy's family were thrown violently
from their beds upon the floor or against
the walls. Within an instant the house was
enveloped in flames and the cries of the
dazed occupants reached the people on the
street.
LIFE SAVER.
Charles Bleu was among the spectators,
and upon hearing the cries from the
Murphys rushed into the building at the
risk of his life and carried out the women
and children, making three trips into the
burning house. Mr.. Murphy was so dazed
that he was almost unable to get out of the
house. All were rescued without serious
injury Mr.. Bleu was badly scorched and
bruised.
The inmates of Heng's boarding house
across the street, and Charles Mccormick
and his wife, who reside next door, escaped
from the shattered buildings with great
difficulty, several of them being badly
bruised and all losing their personal effects.
The losses will aggregate about $3.50, 900.
The loss on the mill is about s75,0 Jacob
Press planning mill proprietor, loses about
$50, 900. 1t Estimated that the other losses
will be $4,000.
A CUPoLA BLOWN OFF.
Ernest Casper, one of the three men
known to be dead, was working on the Gu
pola at the time of the explosion. The Gu
pola was lifted almost entirely, aud thrown
distance of 60 feet upon the south side of
the street. The mutilated form of Casper
was under the wreck.
John Christensen, kiln man, is the sec
ond known victim.
Charles Miller. the engineer, was also
buried under a mass Of debris.
CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION.
David Oliver, the proprietor, and Peter
M. Kimme, the manager of the mill, were
on the ground early this morning, but
were unable to learn positively the cause OF
the explosion. Each thinks that oatmeal
dust may have caused it, but the terrific
force is Unprecedented, if this theory be
accepted. No other reasonable explaua-
ton is offered, and an explosion Of dust is
accepted until better reason can be founds
For a distance Of miles in some directions
plate glass windows were shattered and
buildings violently jostled by the terrific
force Of the explosion.
NOT BOILER EXPLOSION.
The boilers have been uncovered and are
intact. which disposes of the theory that
they had exploded. The police say there is
no evidence of the use of dynamite, and Ii
is not considered certain that mill dust was
the material that exploded, although the
weight Of opinion is that way.
All of the buildings in the neighborhood
were damaged to some extent.
A wagon factory adjoining the mill
was crushed beneath falling walls.
The windows and doors were blown out of
a saloon and bakery across the street. A