St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-30

told him to go and try to rescue Mr.
Rosenius, whom had left in the mill.
then went up Sixth avenue to my
boarding house, and remember meeting
the fire engines near the WOODEN mill;
but from there TO Washington avenue
do not remember anything, as the only
thing | had in mind was, that could |
but see Gerish (my roommate), he would
helm me.
When got to his store, he was nearly
covered up with glass from his show
windows and candy jars. | said: For
Gods sake, GerriSh, help me-" but he
did not even notice me.
went into the drug store next door
and got oil for my face and hands and
then started for my boarding house,
which | reached. and, finding no one
there, had to cross the street TO a house
OF friend of mine, where tainted. |
was, however, soon revived, and by
kind attention was helped back to my
boarding house. and three surgeons
worked over me for the entire night,
assisted by my miller friends.
DIR. Ames went home, and being asked
by his wife how Fred was. said: II
would not give cents for him." and
she has said to me frequently since that
l looked as if were worth more than
cents"
remained at the boarding house for
several DAYS, and fate seemed against
me, as. when they were blowing down
the walls of the mills. piece of stone
weighing several pounds
CAME Ora SIZING THROUGH
the top of my room and landed on my
bed. But my time had not come, and,
through the care and attention of my
relatives and friends. | am alive to-day.
and able to tell the story of the only one
left alive out of nineteen.
am often called upon to repeat the
story of my escape, but this is the only
time | have ever attempted to do so.
My only theory for my escape was, that
my time had not arrived.
Perhaps it would be of interest to
many to give an idea of the power of
flour. as an explosive. 1t will be remem-
bered, and the matter need not be gone
into again, that the explosion gave rise
to probably the most scientific discus
sion of which the press has record.
Needless to say that doctors differed. as
is their wont; that theories innumerable
were advanced. some plausible, others
palpablN ridiculous, and that the read
ing public became well posted on all
matters pertaining TO quick combus-
ton. and destructive explosive force.
The conclusion of the whole matter
seemed to be that
EXPLOSIONS IN MILLS
wherein dust accumulateS. both as de-
post and in circulation, were due to one
of two causes: A generation of eyplo-
sive gasses, by experimenting of material
consisting of mlddlings, bran, flour or
ordinary dust, or combustion. so rapid
as TO fill the conditions of an explosion,
of particles held in it. if the term can be
used for the purpose of illustration, 10y
the air in the buildings. 1t was finally
concluded that 1.-The fire originated in
dry set of stones igniting the small por-
ton of griSt remaining on them, which
subsequently flashed into flame, rapidly
communicating with the light dust in
all other portions of the mill, and all re-
sulting in the explosion and destruction
of the mills and the great loss of life"
In the WaShburn A the following
were killed: E. H. Grundman, Charles
Henning, Fred Merrill, Clark Wilbur,