The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-12

About 1890 o'clock this morning the
eXcavatlng party discovered the body of n
man, which was supposed 10 be that OF
Engineer Miller. The corpse was found
on the north driveway OF the mill, and was
covered with about three feet OF debris.
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 ongino-room clear TO the
driveway.
The boilers have been uncovered and
are intact, which disposcs OF the theory
that they had expo led. 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 exploded.
All tho buildings in the noighborhood
were damaged to some extent. A wagon
factory adjoining the mill was crushed be-
meath the falling walls. Tho windows and
doors We're blown ont OF bakery and
saloon across the street. A large brick
building at the corner OF Green and Full
ton streets, block distant, occupied by
the Chicago White Lead Company, was
badly shaken, and many barns, sheds and
houses near the mill had roofs caved in
10y falling masses OF bricks and iron. For
blocks around in all directions window
glass was shivercd into atoms. A large
new, unoccupicd building, over block
south Of the mill, erected for the use Of
manufacturing companies, and furnished
with windows l0xl5 feet in size, was ter.
ribly shaken. The lower windows, cas-
ings and all, were thrown upon tho side
walk by the recoil Of the explosion Pancs
OF glass on the third, fourth and fifth 500
rics were cracked and broken The noise
made by the explosion was 40 great that
people mile away were awakened, and
ran out upon the street in their night
clothes. At the Dcsplaincs Street Station,
three blocks away, the sleeping officers
were all awakened, and one of them was
thrown from his bed. An iron bunk was
overturned.
Another body, that OF Ernest Casper,
has been found in the ruins
Holmes, the miller, and the only sur.
vivor Of the castrophe, IN lying at the hos
pital badly burned, cut and bruised. lie
saws he was at the millstoncs on the first
floor, examining the flour as Il came out.
II seemed TO start below him, tearing up
the floor, throwing him upward and rem.
TO. hc began 10 crawl about in the wreck
OF the tmbcrs and debris, but was unable
10 find an exit until the fire had gained
such headway that he was severely burned.
His belief was that the boilers had cX.
plodod until he WIS informed that such
was not the case. lie Is not inclined TO
the opinion that the flour dust WIS rcspon.
sible and intimatcs that he has another
theory OF the cause. What this is, hc dc.
clincs to make known ut present
A street car had Just passed ON lIalstcad
street when the explosion occurred,
and one Of the passengers happened
10 bc looking directly at that moment.
His description Of the explosion accorls
with the theory that the explosion was Of
mill dust lie said. ~ was looking di-
rcctly at tho mill when suddenly the en-
tiro building seemed 10 bo filed with one
glnfe Of light. never saw anything like
II before In my life, and | have wiine' VI
a great many fires. From roof 70 cellar
the building was one blaze of fire, which
was followed Immediately by loud rum
bling nUisc that seemed 10 shake the ycrv
earth under our feet This was followed
by what appeared 10 be second eXplo.
sion, and then the bricks aud machinery
began 10 ily through TIE air
The Oatmeal Trust las many enemies
among the firms not In the combine. and
II was insinuatcd that these parties might
have had something 10 do with the oxplo.
sion.
The only man known 10 have opposed
the trust ia Chicago Is j. N. Drulcv. the
proprietor Of the kcnsinglon Oatmeal.
Mills, which woro burned down about two
weeks ago.
Mr.. Drulcy was seen by reporters. lie
said: 81 know absolutely nothing of tho
cause Of the fire, but | have my sus
piciOns. Last night ! went to Joliet and
did not get back until o'clock this morn.
ing. see by the accounts in the papcrs
that the fire is attributed "a an explosion
OF mill dust. Now, have had n great deal
Of trouble myself In that line. nnd know
II Is next TO Impossible for the dust 10 ox.
plode in the manner indicated. In my
mill ! was greatly troubled with the dust.
| experimental With the stuff and tried Ia
set II aiirc, but IL would not burn. There.
fore | have come 10 the conclusion that
the trust will have 10 look elsewhere inr |
the cause Of the fire. ] would Just ns
soon believe that the managers Of the |
INHttlH hntN hnUflHiUH moro uhuut tNr /
iiro than they have told. The boilers did |
not explode, aud 10 my mind the dust |
was not the cause, aud, therefore. what |
WIS ~ Careful investigation might prove |
something interesting. To lay the matter
against the enemies Of the oatmeal trust Is
1Onsonse.
officials Of the fro department and 9th. |
Pm competent to Judge arc ~ the opinion /
That mill dust h responsible for the cxplo- I
ZION. Mr.. Oliver himself however, |
when asked about tho matter. |
hat the dust oi the mill was never left |
lfound IN quantities sufficient 10 create
my such havoc and be- WIS not sure that |
nilldust would explode, even though II |
was left around. lie denied also that lac |
bad ever had any difficulty with bis men. |
A report 10 the effect that bis own work. |
men destroyed the factory with explosives |
'annot find any supporters among the sur. |
,iying workmcn thcmscly,a That out. /
.ido parties wrecked the building IL not |
man named Nicholas Aulon. /
! friend oi the engineer, WAS nt the mill |
ast night, aud as ho has not been fccn |
.inrc. i u believed thai he is Ia the ruins,
making four victims.
The Distiiiery Explosion.
gutgtgo ftl Doc 4 TbrrD Upro up /