The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-22
Largest Winter Wheat Flour Mill in the
Country Wrecked and Burned.
The Mammoth Planet Establishment at Litch.
field. Ill, and an Elevator Destroyed, and
Many buildings in the City Damaged.
Total Loss of q Million Dollars, with
$230,000 Insurance on the Mill.
Fire Followed by an Explosion That Was Heard
in Towns Many Miles Awsy-0ne Life
Lost and Several Persons Injured.
FIRE AND EXPLOSION.

FIRE AND EXPLOSION.
The Planet Flour Mill aud an Elevator De.
stroyed, Entailins Large Loss.
LIICHFIELD, Ill. March 2l.-Litchfield
was visited this morning by q million
dollar fire, in which the Planet mill. the
largest winter wheat mill In the United
States. was consumed and one man killed
and several wounded.
At 800 O'clock this morning FIRE was dis.
covered In the Planet mill. which is owned
by Kehlor Brothers. of st. Louie. A Smith
being general manager. While the fire de-
partment and the esuddenly-arousedc citizens
were hurrying TO the scene Of the confagra-
tiOn the entire city was startled by
an explosion. the like of which has rarely
been eQualed. Houses tnmbled upon their
foundations chimneys toppled and fell.
sides and fronts of buildings were crushed
as if they were eggshells. women were
almost crazed with fright and men were
panic-stricken. Few could conjecture tho
cause. the majority appearing to think that
1T was the crack of doom. Those who wit
messed the explosion soy there was q rum
bling sound, then simultaneously with the
terrific report a vast column of dust and
and from it's midst a central column Of
flames, by some described as ball of fire,
ascendsd high in the air. which instantly
was filed with flying debris. The report
of this explosion was heard at Taylorsville,
Hillsboro. Staunton. Highland. Vandalia.
Mendoza, and ell other points within forty
miles.
The fire departments efforts were useless,
so far as saving the mill property was con-
cerned. Fortunately the night was calm,
and the buildings adjacent were not in
iured. At daylight the Planet mill. with q
capacity Of two hundred barrels of flour
per day. together with the immense ele-
vator and it's contents. as well as o number
of cars loaded with grain, were q mass of
smoldering ruins.
Strange to say. but one life was lost. that
of John Carr, the head milIwrIRht. of
Waterloo. who leaves wife and three
children. Carr had entered the burning
mills intending TO save some tools. In the
explosion he lost his life. and his chsrred
remains were recovered this morning. The
coroners jury this afternoon exonerated
the mill owners from all blame. A number
of persons In the vicinity of the mills and
elsewhere were injured by fragments Of
glass and wood, but none seriously.
Mr. j. b. NJ. Khelor who came from st.
Louis this morning, would give no esti-
mate on the loss. He said he had gwen this
mill q great deal of attention. had used all
efforts to make it as clean as posi- BILE and
felt highly gratified at his success: lad seen
explosions of such character before. but
never such disastrous one. He thinks
the accident was caused by the flour or an
inferior grade being carried to the dust
w m a IN a
terial. as In one process of manufacturing
dynamite the dust thus accumulated is
used.
Mr.. L. A. Smith. the general manager,
places the loss at 100000. while the insur-
ance Is about S23OO0O placed in some
twenty or thirty companles Other losses
are Adolph Newburg: store residence and
in part. Mrs. V. Hoffman, three tenement
houses. Charles Baker, Peter Oller and
Mrs. ONeii are left practically homeless.
John Crass's store. Immediately in the rear
Of the mills, was almost entirely demol-
ished.
Upon State. Rider and Kisham streets.
the principal business thorouRhfaras OF the
city. nearly every plate-glas front was de-
stroyed by the concuesion. The damage to
the Litchfield, q new hotel recently erected
here. ls Tot far from SIC. 900. while the New
York store suffered q heavy loss. More than
one hundred residences were damaged to .
greater or less extent Tonight 1t 10 i'm
curate estimate of the total damages in
ficted. Residences several miles away IN
the country also suffered slightly. At tbe
Litchfield car and machine works. one-half
milo from the scene of the explosion. the
machinery, and line and other shaftinG
were 20 moved out of position that not q
wheel oan turn. Two hose companies have
been detailed to keep the flames under oon-
troll TO- night, but as q rain has set In their
services will hardly be needed.
Other Fires.
CHICAGO. March 2l.-The Hoaa Manu-.
featuring Block. occupied by q number Of
small concerns. was DESTROYED by tire to-
night. entailing loss of $4,000.
FALMOUTH. KY. March 21.-R. B. Mo.
DoDald's dlstiilery. mill, coopershop, dwell
linghouse and Office burned last night
Loss SAC. 600; no insurance.
BURNED WITH MOLTEN METAL.
One Man Fatally Injured and Five Others