The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-03
TORN By FIREWORKS
Disastrous Explosion in a st.
Louis Building.
THREE MEN BURNED TO DEATH.
Horrible Suffering OF q Prisoner In the
Burning Debris 500, 900 Worth
of Property Destroyed.

explosion that occurred this afternoon az
30 Second street. A boss OF at least $ioo,-
600 resulted to the buildings and their con-
tents which were destroyed BY the explo-
sion or damaged by fire or water. This is
fully covered by insurance.
Everybody for blocks around Second,
Third. Locust and Olive streets were start
led shortly before / o'clock today by a
series OF three explosions that demolished
the building al BE Second street, In which
II occurred. badly damaged the adjoining
structures, and shattered thousands or
panes OF glass In the vicinity. The build
ing, which is occupied by the Anchor Pea
nut Company and II. y. Grub. agent for
Detwiller & Street, OF Greenfield, y. J..
was set on fire IL some manner. The
flames, which started on the first floor,
communicated to a quantity OF fireworks
on the second floor. owned by Grub. These
exploded with terrific force, throwing
burning brands. bricks and debris in every
direction. The conclusion rent the partE-
ton wall to the south into the Levison &
Blythe Mucilage and Ink Manufacturing
Company. and the Excelsior Wire and
Iron Manufacturing Company, adjoining
on the north, and the flames soon commu-
n.cated to these two buildings, in which
a considerable number of men and boys
were at work.
Three alarms were sent in. The whole
downtown fire department soon respond
Cd, and the work or reScuing the injured
was performed In a courageous manner by
the police and fremen. For some time
six ambulances were kept busy conveying
the dad and. wounded TO the morgue and
city hospital Emmett Kennedy. boy,
was taken from a third-story front win
dow of Levison & Blythe's establishment
Kennedy said there were two other men
near the middle of the second floor The
firemen hurried to the spot. and could
hear the cries of the men, who were slowly
burning to death. BY this time a stream
of water was turned en- the fire surround
ing the men, who were screaming piteous-
~ for help AS soon as the flames were
subdued a dozen firemen began to tear
away the wreckage around them with
pickaxes and saws. Albert Streinmeyer
was taken out and soon after the crushed
and dead body of Frank Neihaus was Sc
cured.
The most horrible incident of the fire
was the sufferings Of Streinmeyer while
the firemen were removing the debris
which held him pinned down in the wreck.
Both of his legs were fastened by the tim
beers. and heavy iron ring eneircied his
neck. while the fire was eating into his
flesh. lie suffered the most terrible agony
as the rescuers pulled away at the splin-
tered timbers and twisted ironwork. DR..
Boyce. who happened 10 be passing, was
called In. and ne crawled into the wreck
age and administered a hypodermic injec-
ton Of morphine to the sufferer. When
he was finally rescued Streinmeyer was
bleeding from a hundred wounds, was
burned in many places and badly crushed.
Manager Moore, of the Leyison * Blythe
Company. stated that Joe Kavarick was
missin. and that his body must be in the
wreck. The fremen again returned to the
wreckage and cleared away a great por-
ton Of it without finding the body. Flames
soon broke out afresh, and 1t was decided
to abandon the search until the wreckage
was soaked with water. The hook and
ladder was then transferred to the rear OF
the Excelsior wire and iron works, where
fifteen men were a work. How many es-
capped cannot be learned
Albert Meillier. Paul Hauptner. L. Lay.
Charles Axon ard Norman Macarthur, the
foreman, were reported missing. The fire
men soon cleared away the debris. and
after thirty minutes work two bodies
were brought TO light They were horribly
mangled and burned. and were taken to
the mOrgue, where they were identified as
Albert Meillier and Paul Hauptner The
firemen kept at their work clearing away
the debris and searching every foot of the
ground for the bodies Of the other missing
men, They were unable TO find any more.
however. The missing. II is thought, may
stu be In the ruins. or may have neglect
ed 10 report their safety.
T.. c. Whitlock, foreman Of a gang of
was on tho third floor at the rear when
he saw the smoke across the allev. and.
realizing the danger. called to his men.
and they all attempted to escape by the
rear stairway. Before they could reach it
the explosion came. Whitlocl was buried
under a mass of debris and did not regain
consciousness until dragged out by fire.
man. He sustained a fractured rib. and
was sent TO the city hospital Alavs
Schneids. a fellow employee Of Whitlock.
presented a sickening sight Every inch
or his body was burned, blackened and
roasted His injuries were said 10 be fatal
Michael Stack a teamster employed by
the Lammert Furniture Company, was
across the alley from the burning building
at the time Of the explosion, and was
knocked senseless \ heavy timber fell
across him, breaking his right leg and in
Turing him internally.
The building at 500 North Second street.
IN which the explosion occurred, IS a COM
plete wreck. The rear half was blown TO
atoms and the whole front Of the four
story building was blown out The rear
Of the Excelsior Iron and Wire Works and
the rear Of the Levison & Blythe Manu-
featuring Company was entirely demol-
iShed. Fire completed the work OF de-
struCton by licking no all the HIGHT wood
work. Across the alley all the rear win
dows were blown out. and bricks. mortar
and flying tmners were hurled into the
building. creating havoc and wound ng
many OF the employees. Little & Becker's
printing establishment. OF 81 North Sec
oai. 81 situated IN the rear OF the build
irg whsre the explosion occurred 4 fan
OF bricks and dror4s pied Their type.
wrecked their presses and broke every
pane ot glass n The building. Their Joss
VIII be about son The Frey stationery
company. at 5A North Third street. he
Western Engraving Company. ana type
foundry az 81 olive street. and the Daily
street. suffered 10 the extent Of Sf.ela ana
many other small amounts. Most of this
damage was caused by the explosion which
shattered everything within its reach.
The heaviest losers we're the Anchor Pea
nat Company, az &8 North Second street.
in whose building The fire works We're
stored. Their loss Is placed al sl2Ha. fuzzy
insured. The building. which is to,ai
loss. was valued al $500, insured AR
Gruaa says the fireworks were valued az
S1'.s" ana " III be q total loss The Lew
son & Blythe Manufacturing Company VIII
Jose S30s0 Insurance h2lf Their building
vlls valued Al SlapA1. IL Rls a total loss.
and was lusuEe5. Tle Excelsior Iron ard
We orks Jose Si50" Insurance, $li0e0.
Damage - Buildings. &.oe. insured.
The dead are: Joseph Chcmelir. lahore~.
Excrlsior iron ami Wire Works Frank
N.ehacs. porter. LaEison s. Blythe Manu-
featuring Company. Paul Hauptaer. Ia
hortr. Excelsior Iron Works.
The missing are Norman Macarthur.
foreman. Excelsior Iron Works l. Lay.
Shipping clerk. Excelsior Iron Works:
Charlie ANo1. tsausteC. Excs .slor Iron
Works. Josep1 CavuTr
fhe fatally injured are. Alays Sctnei1S.