The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-12-15
WRECKED By MEAL DUST.
Several Structures at Chicago Destroyed
and Number of Persons killed-The
Shock Felt for Blocks Around-The
Debris Takes Fire and is Destroyed.

CHICAGO, H., Dec. l1.-1hree 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 on North Haisted
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 a terrific one, the shock
being felt mile away. The buildings
in the immediate vicinity were bonn
barded by flying bricks and timbers
and nearly every pane of window glass
within radius of six blocks was
smashed.
Almost before the rumble of the ex-
plosion 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 to contend with. a general
alarm was at once turned in. Engines
were stationed at every available point
around the blazing patch and buildings
that did not take fire at the outset were
saved after the hardest kind of work.
Sparks that were carried through the
air by the wind ignited buildings two
blocks away and for half an hour the
tiremen had all they could do 10 pre-
vent half dozen serious conliagratons.
The streets were filed with debris for a
block on every side OF the burned
patch, and this seriously obstructed the
firemen in their work They stumbled
over boards and debris until their
clothes were torn, their hands and
faces cut and their limbs so badly stiff
fened 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 III the meal mill
and about twenty in the planning mill
next door. Besides these, the neigh
boring houses contained many men,
women and children. At one time it
was asserted that twenty people had
perished. but later this estimate was
found to be greatly exaggerated. The
men at work in the planning mill all
made their escape, few of them badly
hurt, but the majority only slightly in
iured.
A battalion of twenty fremen and
over one hundred volunteers are at
work clearing away the ruins. Ernest
Casper, one of the three known TO be
l. Eo A1o 90 l,a
time of the explosion. The cupola was
lifted almost entire and thrown dis
tance of sixty feet upon the south side
of the street. The mutilated form OF
Casper is somewhere under the wreck.
John Christensen. the kiln man, is the
second known victim. His body has
not been found and he may have been
blown some distance by the force Of the
explosion. Charles Miller, the en-
gineer, is also buried under the mass of
debris and it is thought that his body
will be found near the boiler.
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 lacer-
aUed. He was working in the second
story of the mill when the explosion oc-
Cured and was hurled through a win
dow and across the street. He cannot
live.
No trace could be found of the other
three invertebrates Miller, Charles
Cooper and John Smith-and it is be-
lieved that their bodies are buried in
the debris. The tiremen are hopeful
that no more lives are lost, but people
living in the vicinity Of the explosion
10 - -, 4
when the debris Is explored. This
cannot be done thoroughly for several
hours yet.
About l0:30 this morning the excavat.
ing party discovered the BODY of man
which was supposed to be that of the
engineer, Miller. The corpse was found
on the north driveway of the mill and
was covered with about three feet of de-
bris. The lower part of the body was
covered with bruises and burns, and the
face was mangled so that ii could not be
recognized. The unfortunate man had
evidently been blown from the engine
room clear to the driveway.
Persons who were asleep IN the build
ings 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 bOmbardment of bricks and
other debris. Charles Murphy occupied
rooms over the saloon at the corner OF
Fulton and Halsted Streets. With him
were his family, consisting of his wife
two children and mother. They were
all in bed when the explosion occurred,
and were all asleep. The force of the
side to side and all members oi
hvr'u
lently 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 oc-
cupants reached the people on the
street. Charles Bleu was among the
spectators, and upon hearing the cries
from the MuTphys' rooms rushed into
the building at the risk of his life and
carried out the women and children,
making three trips into the burning
house. Murphy was so dazed that be
was almost unable TO get out of the
house. All were rescued without seri-
GUS injury. 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 dIthcultY, several
of them being badly bruised, and all
losing their personal effects.
David Oliver, proprietor, and Peter
NJ. KINNEY, manager of the mill, were
on the ground early this morning. but
a. vet have been unable to learn posi-
lively the cause Of the explosion. Each
thinks that oatmeal dust may have
caused it, but the terrific force is un-
precedented if this theory be accepted.
No other reasonable explanation is Of
fered, however, and the explosion OF
the dust is accepted until better reason
can be found.
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 dyna-
mite, and it is now considered certain
that mill dust was the material explod-
ed.
Another body, that Of Ernest Caspar,
was found in the ruins late this after
noon.
The losses win aggregate about $780,
COO. The loss on the mill is about 475,
COO. Jacob Press, theplaniDg mill own
T--0- .4.-r+ go 400 ovI - "a a.sff mat