The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-12
A FATAL BLOW UP.
Terrific Explosion Of Meal Dust,
An Oatmeal Mill Completely
Wrecked by the Mishap.
Flying Timbers and Bricks Bonn
bard Neighboring Buildings.
Panes OF Glass Broken in Windows
Six Blocks Away.
Three Men Are Killed in the Accident
and Not Trace OF Their Bodies
Can Be Found-EXcavating
Parties at Work.

NHlCA0O, ILL.,, Dec. ll.-lnroe men are
known TO have been killed, one fatally in
jured and a number of others badly bruised
and shaken up early this morning by an
explosion of meal dust, which completely
wrecked the three-story brick building on
North Halstead street, occupied by David
Oliver as an oatmeal mill. Several adjein-
ing buildings were also badly shattered.
The explosion, which occurred shortly after
2o'clock, was terrific one, the shock beng
felt a mile away, The buildings in the
immediate vicinity were bombardcd with
flying bricks and timbers, and nearly every
pane of window glass within q radius Of
six blocks was smashed. Almost before
the rumble of the explosion died away
flames sprang up from the wrecked mill,
and the whole place was ablaze in few
minutes. The fire spread with incredible
rapidity, and when the first fire companies
reached the scene they found block Of
roaring flames 10 contend with.
A general alarm was at once turned in.
Engines were stationed at every available
point around the blazing patch, and build
ings that did not fire at the outset were
saved after the hardest kind OF work.
Sparks that were carried by the wind ig-
nited buildings two blocks away, and for
half an hour the firemen had all they
could do 10 prevent half o dozen serious
conhagrations. The stpc,s were filed
with debris for block on every side and
obstructed the flromen in their work.
They stumbled over boards and timbors
and debris until their clothes were torn,
aud their hands and faces cut aud their
limbs so badly stiilened that they could
scarely walk. IL was nearly two hours
before the flames were under control.
When the fire was IL iis hight the wild.
est rumors prevailed regarding the loss of
lite. twas known that four men had been
at work in the meal mill aud about twenty
In the planing-mill mex door. Besides
these, enoighboring houses contained
many men, women and children. At one
time il was asserted tha. twenty people
had perishod. but later Lis estimate was
found 10 bo greatly syhpgcrntcd. The
men at work In the plnnr g-mill all mado
their escape, n few Of them badly hurt,
hut the majority only slightly injured.
Hundreds of men searched anxiously for
the missing milleH, and after some time
one OF them, John Holmes, was found
lying in an alley across the street from the
mill, terribly burned and lnccratod. He
was working In the second story Of the
mill when the explosion occurred and was
hurled through window and across the
street. lie can not live.
n. geaa. ..ptI A., l..,I "a Al. Ill.
three mcn-Charles Miller, Charles
Cooper and John Smiih--and II Is be-
lieyod that the bodies are buried in the
debris. The iiremen arr hopeful that no
more lives were lost, but people living In
the vicinity Of the explosion are suro that
morc bodies will be found when the debris
is explored. This cannot bo done thor.
oughly for several hours yet Persons
who were asleep in the buildings adjacent
10 the wrecked mill were thrown clear ont
Of their beds by the force Of the explosion
and most Of them were more or less in
jurcd during the terrific bombardmcnt Of
bricks and other debris.
Charles Murphy occupied rooms over
the saloon at the corner oi Fulton aud
llalstcad. With him Wrre his family,
OF his wife, two children aud
mother. They were all In bed when the
explosion occurred aud were all nslccp.
The force OF the conclusions rocked them
from side 10 side aud all he members Of
Murphy's family were thrown violently
from their beds upon the lOOr or against
The walls. Within an instant the house
was cnyelopod In flames, and the cries Of
The dazed occupants reached the people Of
The street.
Charles blow was among the spectators,
and upon hearing the crios from the Muir
phys's rooms, rushed into tho building at |
.ho risk Of his life and carried out the |
women aud children, making three trips |
INTO the burning house. Murphy was so |
iazcd that he was almosl unable 10 get out |
)i the house. All weTo secured without |
serious injury. Blew was badly scorchcd |
and bruised.
Tho inmates Of TIcng's boarding.house.
lcross the street, and Charles Mccormick |
md his wife, whorcsidencxt door, escaped |
rom the shattered buildings with great |
liillcully, several Of t,cm being badly |
bruised and losing ihoif personal ELECTS.
The losses will aggregate sljO,0O1 The |
oss on the mill ~ about 300. Jacob |
Iircss, OF tho planing.milI loses about So |
lOO, and Il is estimated that tho other |
osscG will be SIS, 900.
A battalion Of twenty hpmen and over |
100 hundred volunteers are at work clear |
ng away the ruins. Ernest Casper, one |
II three known 70 be dead, was working |
n the cupola nj the limo Of The explosion.
The cupola was liiiol almost entirely aud |
brown distance Of slNiy feet upon tho |
.Juth filc ~ lie street The mulilaad |
orm oi Casper Is somewhere under the |
wreck.
John Christensen, the Kiln man, Is the |
cclnd known victim. lll- body has not /
jccn found and lac may have been blown |
.omo distance by the force Of the oxplo. |
lion.
Charles Miller the engineer, l. also |
buried under the mass Of debris, and 10 is |
h0ught that hiB body ai.l be- found near
hc boiler,
David Oliver proprietor aud Potter II. /
manager OF ~, mill, were on tie I
ground carly This mDnbs bat ~ yet have |
been unable io learn positively the cause /
jl the explosion. Each thInks that Oai. /
meal dust nay haNH caurl b., but the ter /
.ilic lolce IA unprecedented II this theory I
lo accepted No 1ihor f.l lnablc explain |
iti1u Is offered, howcv'r and tbH cxplu. /
.iOu 0f lh, dust Is hcccpipd Until u better |
Ivason can De found.
A vast efONd surrounded the ruins. |
Tor !-ianee " a = .le ia 4J.ng lIfcvlOnJ ]