The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-03-22
Terrible Explosion of Flour Dust In
the Big Keeler Mills ut Litch-
field, Ills.
One Killed and Many Injnred-Over
Million Dollars Damage
Done.
The Explosion Heard for Twenty. five
Miles, and Windows Broken
Ten Miles Off.

LTTCHFIELD, Ills., March 22.-At $3.50
o'clock a. m. fire was discovered in the
big Keeler Touring mill in this place,
and despite the efforts Of the exployes,
it quickly spread throughout the build
ing. In less than 20 minutes the flames
were beyond control. While the en-
ployes and firemen were fighting the
flames terrific explosion, caused by
-four dust occurred. and the immense
structure was blown to fragments.
John Cowie. the head millwright, liv-
ing at Waterloo, N. Y, was instantly
killed and several employees were badly
hurt.
Wrecked Business HouseA
The explosion wrecked nearly every
business place in the village. Many
persons Were hurt by flying bricks and
falling timbers. The damage to the
mill alone will reach 81 ZOO. 900, and
other property was damaged over
$15O, 200. The shock was felt in the
adjoining villages of Clyde, Butler,
Gillespie and Hillsboro. In many of
these places the conclusion was SO
great that plate glass windows were
broken.
When the fire started the citizens
of this town were awakened by
the ringing of fire bells and before
many of them could dress they were
stunned by theterrific shock of the ex-
plosion, and the next moment found the
walls of their homes falling upon them.
1t is not yet known how the fire or
iginated.
Water Pipes Didt't Work.
The fire ewas discovered by the night
watchman in the bran room of the -four
mill. He ran to hydrant but the
water pipes did not work properly and
in an instant the flames spread to adj
joining rooms. In less than two min
utes the flames reached the -four rolling
room and an explosion of dust followed.
Thenight watchman was hurled through
a window and badly injured. MILL
wright John Cowie was stunned by the
shock and unable to escape. He was
burned to death. The building tottered
for a second and fell in a
heap of blazing timbers. The flames
lSdpcu tt@IO5S a sItid1A pdsSeaScNdy diu
ignited two large grain elevators. In
the elevators were stored 10000 barrels
of -four and 200,0UO bushels of wheat.
The firemen were driven back by the
intense heat and in less than half an
hour the elevators and their contents
were total loss Several small build
ings adjacent to the elevators were
burned. The shock of the explosion
was rt
Heard 25 Miles Away,
and window glass was broken and
chimneys blown down in towns 10
miles distant. Nearly every house in a
radius Of two blocks from the mill YVES
badly wrecked All the plate glass in
the stores on Main street and State
street were blown out.
The -four mills and elevators were
owned by Kehlor Bros. of st. Louis,
and their loss is estimated at $500. 900.
This is partially covered by insurance.
About forty small dwelling houses were
wrecked and many others slightly dam
aged. The Wabash railway tracks run
between the -four mill and elevators,
and are covered with debris for dis
tance Of 300 feet. The company will
only suffer slight inconvenience, as they
will use the tracks Of other roads at this
su%