The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-03
BOILER BLOWS UP BUILDINGS.
TEN or TWELVE LIVES LOST IN A
SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS.

The First Conclusion Followed by
the Explosion of Quantity or
Fireworks and Moment Later by
Third ExpIOsion-The Printing
House District i'm ~. Louis the
scene of the Accident.
ST. Louis. Mo, Jan. 2-This afternoon
just at / O'Clock a series OF terrific ex-
plosions laid waste to the vicinity of Sec
ond ana Vine streets where printing
houses and allied trades are numerous.
just after the clock struc', a boiler in
George r. Merritze's printing office I'm
the basement OF No. 30s North Third
street. just across the alley from the stor-
age and commission house OF II. b. Grubb,
exploded
In the rear OF the c. II. Grubb estab-
lishment a large quantity OF fire works
was stored and a second explosion occur
red. followed at once by a third that lifted
the Grubb building and dropped 1t in
mass of wreckage
The explosion caused general conster-
nation and every window for three blocks
was broken. A large plate glass window
In the Merchants exchange four blocks
away, was shattered and the traders
stampeded.
Up to o'clock tonight five bodies had
been recovered; four persons are missing
as far as reported to the police and the
list of injured numbers nineteen. In ad-
dition to the list Of injured given sew
eral others were hurt. Following is the
roll:
Dead:
Joseph Kovarick. a boy. employed by
Levison & Blythe.
Frank Neihaus, a boy, employed by
Levlson 4 Blythe.
Charles Claybrool, colored porter for
the Anchor Peanut Company.
Two corpses taken from the basement
OF the Excelsior Wire Company.
The missing are:
Chris Karger, shipping clerk for the
Excelsior Company.
Thomas Ley, shipping clerk for the
Excelsior Company.
Al Meller an employe of the Excelsior
Company.
Charles Ericsson, an employe Of the Ex-
celsior Company.
Among the injured are: Albert Stein-
meyer, probably fatally; win BrondiWe-
Henry Stack Richard Coulehaw, John
Garter, Joe Winjoe, - Barker, Charles
Amos.
The fun list of all the employees of the
four firms is not obtainable, and prob
ably the list of dead will be increased
when the ruins are overhauled.
celsior Wire Company saws he is oiiifa
sure five of his employees did not escape
from the building. The work OF examin-
lng the ruins was continued tonight.
The total loss viii exceed 100000; all
ooyered by insurance.
The II. B. Grubb Company occupied fha
ground floor of 309 North Second street
and the Anchor company the second and
third floors. Adjoining the wrecked build
ing on the south is the Levison & Blythe
Frlnting Company, where most of the In
yureu We're employed. The north walls
ana two floors went down.
an the north Is the Excelsior Wire Conn
pany's building, also partly wrecked.
Wlthin half Minute the three build
lngs were wrapped in flames.
Inc police have made as complete a
canvas as possible tonight of the CITY TO
ascertain the number of the missing and
ane result Is disheartening. The list has
grown 10 nineteen, though II Is hoped
with friends. 7'N
At o'clock the body of Albert Mellier
aged Is, was taken from the cellar OF the
burned. F~''S
AS late as s o'clock groans were heard
IN the wreck and the police had difficult
tysin restraining the anxious relatives OF
the missing. The city 'dispensary was
turned into a hospital and fully thirfv
slightly injured persons, besides the li:t
given, We're treated there. There are four
bodies at the morgue, one of which is not
The scene of the wreck Is the center OF
anxious inquiry from the kindred of the
MISSING ones. They stand in the biting
cold and watch with fearful ewes thS
work of the wreckers. Little work can
be done tonight, but It will be Continued
until the debris is thoroughly searched.
1t is believed that many buildings in the
vicinity have been rendered unsafe and
cessation of business about the wreck
Will be had until thorough Inspection is
made.
Some of the escapes from death wera
miraculous. James Kennedy, a printer
perehed for twenty minutes on the frame
or q third story window, which fell iust
as the ladder men reached him.
John Marlowe was on the street in front
OF the Grubb building, and was hurled
across the street against a horse thar
had been killed against the opposite wall
James Coulashaw, one OF the injured.
was round under the debris with heavy
beam supporting the wreckage above him.
A heavy telegraph pole fell across an
express wagon and killed the horse. John
carney, the driver, escaped uninjured
Inc stories of escapes from death are
almost innumerable,
RITTHER REnRnnnr num-, vwu-