West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-04-03
DISASTER IN CHICAGO. |
a Sugar Refinery Blows up
With Fearful Results.
Many Men Killed and Injured by
the Explosion.

An explosion occurred shortly before six
o'clock I'm the starch department OF the inn
mense building OF the Chicago Sugar Keiin-
ing Company at Chicago, Ill
At least eight workmen were killed and
sixteen injured, many OF them fatally.
Tho main structure Of tho refinery Is six
teen stories in height, while tho starch de-
partmcnt is located in two story addition,
which burned freely. Owing 20 the danger
10 which the main building was EXPOSED n
general alarm was turned In 90 the Fire De-
partment aud by hard work the main struc-
ture was saved
The men employed IN this department.
were preparing 20 leave, when deofening
explosion was heard, which was quickly fol-
lowed by "A second, and In almost nm instant
great mass Of bricks and beams camc
tumbling down upon the mon In the house.
SO great was the force OF the explosions that
the reports were heard nearly n mile away,
and the rumOr at once spread 20 tlIe effect
that thirty or more workmen had been
killed.
Thousands hurried 30 the scene of the dis
astcr and the efforts Of the hremeu were
seriously impeded untn nm additional force
81 police was ordered out.
Hundreds Of women, wives Of tho men om-
pOycd i'm the works gathered around and
begged and implorcd the fremen 20 save
their husbands who they were sure, were iu
the blazing pile. Volunteers being called
debris. hundreds sprang forward TO offer
their services aud under intelligent direc-
| ton soon succeeded Ia removing the wounded
and three ~ the dead.
The building IN which the explosion oc-
Cured was rather himsly constructed and
was fifty feet in width aud seventy-fve feot
| In length SO far as can be ascortained tho
| cause Of the explosion was the accumulation
| Of fine starch dust, similar ~ that which
| gathers in Touring mills which IN some way
| became ignited
Before the men at work could realize what
| had occurred bright sheet OF fame like
broad fash Of lightning, blinded them, and
| the first explosion took place, being followed
| in FIVE seconds by the second. No one had
au opportunity 30 escape, as almost coinci-
| dent with the second explosion the building
| collapsed, and the walls and roof, together
| with the heavy machinery on tho second
| floor. came tumbling down
Thirty men were in the structure NJ the
| time aud were imprisoned there Shrielgs and
/ groans were hoard arising from tho dob.is
/ and the wOrkmen in the main building, who
| had rushed out at the sound Of the explosion,
were set 90 work a. soon as they had re-
| covered from their panic 90 help their Inn
| prlsDucd cOmrades
The first eiforts OF 1he framen wore d.
/ rected toward pouring water ON the burning
/ mass in order ~ facilitate tine task Of rescue,
/ and then the search begau
Noar the main door The first man was dis
| covered De was The engineer. who had been
thrown against the brick covering 20 the
| great boiler Ilo was not badly hurt though
/ bleeding freely from several cuts around the
head but was too daze1 % tell an intelligent
| story.
AS he was being conveyed to the County
| Hospital Doe partially recovered and then
| said ho could not tell how the explosion or.
/ CURED oe Doe was busy 90 the engine at tho
time 40 Tho first shock he must have been
blown several feet. but could not SOY in what
direction. Everything seemed % be sudden
| ly lifted up Doe sald 8ud then he knew no
more until be- was dug up out Of the ruins.
/ The collapse 0f the building was complete
and tho heat from the burning pile was 50 I'M
! tense that the nremen police aud volunteers
had tho greatest difficulty in working. ncv~
| orai times streams were turned upon the
| workers to enable them to keep up The
| bricks soon bocawe hot ord lcars were
! entertained thatE0t man Of those imprs
oned was alive for ihe hnut below he wal.
] was like furnace The treucu we're pushed
| forward. howcvor and the water ra poured
/ upon tho debr iu such Tuent.t' that re
| recuers .oou bad 70 comparurvcT tma
] of it
/ Before nine O'Clock .xt..l W.... mem
/ had been removed nui three u.l Ic1t-
| erred. al so badly IisGUur tnri could
! not hc dcn Haf Eight uf f. wh0
/ were found 1 nr.t Sustained Zm oi no
| particular consequence. hu ~ ne seventeen
| wounded fni llun.ideen n The BURNING pI.e
many won. fatally HHlt
s .--