Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-03-22

emUlOYes, who had hurried 70 the
scene. the danes quickly spread
throughop, the building.
In les than twenty minutes the hre
was beyond control While the em-
plcyes and fremen we're fighting the
fames q terrific explosion occurred and
the immense structure was blown TO
fragments. John COwie, head milI-
wright, whose home was at Waterloo,
n. Y, was Instantly killed, and severa.
other employees were seriously injured.
The explosion practically wrecked
every business house IN the town and
many persons were badly hurt oy lying
bricks and falling timbers.
When the Gre started the citizens
were awakened by the ringing OF bells,
and many Of them were stunned by the
terrific shock of the explosion, and the
next moment found the walls OF their
homes falling upon them. For q time
regular panic prevailed, and the widest
rumOrs were af0at, as 10 was thought
that nearly every house IN the town was
wrecked and that many people had been
killed. Fortunately the first reports
were found, lpOn investigation, 10 be
greatly exaggerated.
The loss by the destruction OF the i'm
menSe mill is estimated at fully $1,000
600, ard the loss on the other building
damaged by the explosion is about $780,
600. The shock was felt In the adjOin
ing villages OF Clyde Butler, Gillespie,
and HillSbOrO. In mauy Of these places
the cOncuSsiou was so great that plate
glass windows were broken. The gen
eral belief is that the disaster was the
result OF an explosion OF flour dust, OF
which there was a great quantity IN the
mill.
In addition 70 the wrecking Of busi-
ness houses, scores Of dwellings were
rendered uninhabitable, many OF the
houses having been shaken loose from
their foundations. The shock or the
nexplosion Jared the machinery Of the
"~hfeid Car and Machine COmpany's
lishment to such an extent that
work had 10 be suspended. Many OF
the people thought an earthquake had
devastated the town, and il was several
hours before the panicky feeling
subsided. The large elevator stand
lug Immediately across the Wa
bash track west OF the mill, and con-
tanning some 25O,OOO bushels OF grain,
was burned 20 the ground. Ten or
twelve cars standing on the track
were also reduced 70 ashes. A large
pile Of debris ten or fifteen feet high,
fell on the main track OF the Wabash
railroad, and as a consequence traffic on
that road is badly impaired. The West
ern Union telegraph wires were also
down, making matters a great deal
worse.
Mr.. COwle, the head millwright was
killed while making an effort 70 secure
his tools from the burning building.
He was stunned by the explosion in en-
deavOring 70 escape, and was pinned
against the smoke stack and burned to
death. When found, about three hours
afterward, his legs were burned of at
the hips, the right arm and left hand
were entirely consumed and his body
was burned 20 a perfect crisp. 10 is be-
lieved that several other persons were
killed, but owing 20 the excitement
which still prevails 10 is difficult TO Sc
cure reliable details.
The explosion shook the Farth over q
slngularly wide area, willie the atmos-
pherlc conclusion was felt as FAR as De-
catur, a distance OF 80 miles. The FIRE
Is supposed 20 have originated by 4
spark from a passing locomotive falling
in one OF the dust rooms. The fire
gained such headway that for some
time nothing could be done 20 check 10,
and it seemed as IL the entire southern
part Of the town would be consumed.
The fremen battled with the flames for
three hours, finally subduing them TO
such an extent that adjoining property
was saved.
A number Of serious but not neces-
sSrily fatal accidents are reported.
Among she injured are Mrs. Y. HOtf-
man, leg broken, and Mrs. L. Erche-
both, Sr., head badly crushed.
The mill was the property Of Kehlor
Bros, OF ST. Louis. The capacity of
the mill was &, 900 barrels Of -four daily.
It employedl5O men. General Manager
A l. Smith stated that the amount Of
insurance carried on the mill, elevator
and contents was about $3.50, 900, while
the loss will run up into almost one
million.
The theory that the explosion was
occasloned by flour dust, finds no favor
among local millerS.
~ II know nothing about the particu-
ars," said Alex 5. Smith. "but I am
Rlh that aOur dust was not the
There have been very disastrous
sions OF this character. Il the old
the dust was blown about the mill
very finely disseminated condition.
q the air was filed with minute parti-
es
The smallest shock, such as striking
match, was likely 70 cause an explo-
90. Just why the dust should explode
not known. Probably to-day it would
be said that it was due TO electricity,
but since the invention OF the dust ma
4 chine by George T. Smith no such ex-
plOsions are possible, as all mills are
! provided with them and there is no
dust in the air. The explosion, in all
likelihood, was a boiler explosion; Il
certainly was not due 20 dnst
John w. Kaufman said: 81 DO not
think IL possible tnat the explosion was
caused by -four dust.
The burned mill was considered the
largest red winter wheat mill in the
country. u had an output Of $500
barrels Of hOur every tWenty-fOur