Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-03
Nineteen Are Missing.


 St Louis Mo, Jan. 2-Just at 1 o'clock this afternoon a series of terrific explo- sions laid waste to the vicinity of Second and Vine streets, where printing houses and allied trades are numerous. Just after the clock struck a boiler in George F. Merritz's printing office, in the base ment at Mo- 308 North Third street across the alley from the storage and commission house of H. B. Grubb, ex- poded. In the rear of the Grubb estab- lishment a large quantity of fireworks was stored, and a second explosion oc- cured. followed immediately by third that lifted the Grubb building and dropped 1t in a mass of wreckage. The explosion caused general conSternation, 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 have been recovered; four persons are missing, and as far as reported to the police the list of injured numbers nineteen. In addition to the list of in- jured given several others were hurt Following is the roll
 The Dead.
 Joseph Kovarick, boy employed by Levison & Blythe.
 Frank Niehaus, boy employed by Le- vson X Blythe.
 Charles Claybrook, colored; porter
 Two corpses taken from the basement of the Excelsior Wire company, as yet unidentified.
 The Missing.
 Chris Karger, Thomas Ley, Al Mellier, Charles Ericson.
 The Injured.
 Albert Steinmier, probably fatally; Will BrondiWinder, Chris Kraft, Horace Dioert, L. Dioert John Corcoran Edgar Vance, Ben Taylor, Joseph BrandeWeid, William Horner, Hugh Allen Joe Corco- ran, Albert Schneitz Henry Stack, Rich ard Couleshaw, William Couleshaw. John Carter, Joe Barker, Charles Amos.
 The full list of all employees of the four firms is not obtainable, and prob ably the list of dead will be increased when the ruins are overhauled. D. r. Lass. proprietor of the Excelsior Wire company, says he is quite sure five of his employees did not escape from the building. The work of examining the ruins was continued tonight. The total loss will exceed $100,000, all covered by insurance.
 The H. B. Grubb company occupied the ground floor of '309 North Second street, and the Anchor company the second and third floors. Adjoining the wrecked building on the south Is the Levison x Blythe Printing company, where most or the injured were employed. The north walls and two floors went down. On the north is the Excelsior Wire company's building, also partly wrecked. Within half minute the three buildings were wrapped in flames.
 The police have made as complete canvass as possible tonight to ascertain the number of the missing, and the result is disheartening. The list has grown to nineteen, though 1t is hoped some of these are temporarily housed with friends. At 2 o'clock the body of Albert Mellier, aged IS, was taken from the eel lar of the Excelsior works building. It was partly burned.
 As late as clock groans were heard in the wreck, and the police had difficult ty in restraining the anxious relatives of the missing The city dispensary was turned into hospital, and fully thirty slightly injured persons. besides the list given, were treated there. There are four bodies at the morgue. one not yet identi- fled The scene of the wreck is the cen- ter of anxious inquiry from the relatives of the missing ones. They stand In the biting cold and watch with fearful eyes the work of the wreckers.
 Little work can be done tonight. but 1t will be continued until the debris is thoroughly searched. It is believed that many buildings In the vicinity have been rendered unsafe, and a cessation of busi3 ness about the wreck will be had until thorough inspection is made. |
 Some of the escapes from death were miraculous. James Kennedy. a printer. perched for twenty. minutes on the frame of thirdstory window, which fell just as the ladder men reached him. John Mariow was on the street in front of the Grubb building. and was hurled across the street, against a horse that had been killed against the opposite wall. James Couleshaw, one of the injured men. was found under the debris, with a 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 unin- jured. These stories of escape from