The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-01-09
EXPLOSION AT ST. LOUIS
Large Amount of Fireworks Kept
in Stock.
THE WALLS WERE SHATTERED
Fire Deyoured the Wreekage and the
Victims We're Unable 10 Escape
List of Uufortunates.

st. Louis, Jan. 2.--Three persons were
killed, two fatally injured. four are
missing and 81 received injuries more
or less serious as the result of an ex-
plosion that occurred this afternoon al
No. 300 Second street Everybody for
blocks around Second, Third and Olive
streets were startled shortly before
D. m. today by three explosions that
demoralized the building in which it oc-
CURED, badly damaging adjoining
structures and shattering thousands of
panes of glass In the vicinity.
The list of casualties follows. Dead:
Albert Mellier, laborer.
Frank Niehaus, porter
Paul Hauptner, laborer.
The missing are: Norman Macarthur,
foreman Of the Excelsior Iron Works;
l.. Lay, shipping clerk; Charlie Axon,
teamster; Joseph Cavoreck.
The fatally injured Alloys Schneider,
aged Is, burned internally; Charles
Amos, letter carrier, internally injured;
81 others received less serious injuries,
caused mostly by falling glass and
bricks
As near as can be ascertained those
most painfully hurt are as follows:
Albert Steinmetz, John Corcoran, Ed
gar Vance. r. w. Coeshaw. Hugh AL
len. Joe Corcoran, AL Seitz, w. l. Coles
hard, Richard Coleshaw.
FIREWORKS EXPLODED
The building was set on fire in some
manner. The flames communicated to
a quantity of fireworks on the second
floor. These exploded with terrific force,
throwing burning brands, bricks and
debris In every direction.
The conclusion had rent the parti-
ton wall to the south 20 Levison &
Blythe Mucilage and Manufacturing
Company and the Excelsior Wire and
Iron Manufacturing Company, adjoin-
ing on the north, and the flames soon
communicated to these buildings, In
which considerable number of men
and boys were at work. The whole down
town fire department responded and the
work of rescuing the injured was per-
formed In a courageous manner by the
police and firemen.
For some time six ambulances were
kept busy conveying the dead and
wounded to the morgue and city dis
pensary.
Emmett Kennedy, a boy. was taken
from a third-story front window of
Levison e. Blythe's establishment. Ken
nedy 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 men who were slowly
burning to death. By this time a stream
of water was turned on the fire sur
rounding the men, who We're screaming
piteously for help. AS soon as the flames
were subdued a dozen firemen began to
tear away the wreckage around them
with picks, axes and saws. Albert Stein
meyer was taken out and soon after the
crushed and dead body of Frank Mel
haus was secured.
A HORRIBLE INCIDENT.
The most horrible incident of the fire
was the sufferings OF Steinmeyer while
the firemen We're removing the debris
which held him pinned down in the
wreck. Both of his legs were fastened
by the timbers and heavy iron ring
encircled his neck, while the fire was
eating into his flesh. He suffered the
most horrible agony as the rescuers
pulled away at the splintered tlmbers
and twisted Iron work. When he was
finally rescued, Steinmeyer was bleed
ing from hundred wounds, was burn
ed In many places and badly crushed
Manager Moore, Of the Levson &
Blythe Company, stated that Joe Kava-
rick was missing, and that his body
must be In the wreck. the fremen
again returned to the wreckage and
cleared away great portion of 1t with
out finding the body. The flames soon
broke out afresh. and 1t was decided
to abandon the search until the wreck
age was soaked with water.
The hook and ladder We're then trans
ferred to the rear of the Excelsior Wire
and Iron Works, where 10 men were at
work. How many escaped can not be
learned.
WORK OF RESCUE.
The firemen soon cleared away the
debris, and after 80 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 Mellier and
Paul Hauptner
The f1remen kept at their work clear
ing away the debris and searching every
foot of the ground for the bodies OF 9th
er missing men. They were unable to
find any more, however. The missing.
1t Is thought, may still be in the ruins
or may have escaped and neglected TO
report their safety.
For three hours the city dspensary
physicians were kept busy attending
the injured victims.
The building in which the explosion
occurred Is complete 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 Company were
entirely demolished. Fire completed
the work of destruction. by licking IN
all the light wood work.
Across the alley all the rear windows
were blown out and bricks. mortar and
flying timbers We're hurled into the
building. creating havoc and woundlnr
many employees.
A POLITICAL sCl7 nee ASSOCIATION