Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-01-09
FIREWORKS co OFF.
A Building Demolished In st. Louis
by Three Explosions.
THREE MEN KILLED, FOUR MISSING.
Rulns-Six Ambu,ancss Dusy Con-
veylng the Wounded to the
Dispenaary.


NJ. l.ouls, Jan. a.-Threc persons
were killed, one fatally injured, four
more are missing and 81 received injn.
rics more or less serious as the result
of nm explosion that occurred at 400
Second street. Everybody for blocks
around Second, Third, Locust and
Olive streets were startled shortly be-
fore one o'clock Yesterday by IL &C.
rics Of three explosions that demol-
ishod the building ut 400 Second street,
In which II occurred, badly damaged
adjoining structures and shattered
thousands Of panes Of glass In the
vicinity.
The dead are; Albert Mellier, labor.
er, Excelsior iron and wire works;
Frank Niehaus, porter, I.evison g.
Blythe Manufacturing Co; Paul llaupt.
ncr, laborcr, Excelsior iron and wire
works, Tho missing are; Norman Nc
Arthur, foreman Excelsior iron md
wire works; LAY, shipping clerk Ey-
celsior works; Charlie Axon, teauister
Excelsior works; Joseph Cavorecls.
The fatally injured are; Alays
Schneids, AGED 10, burned internally;
Charles T. Amos, letter carrier, inter.
nally injured
The building, which Is occupied by
the Anchor Peanut CO., and II. Grub,
agents Of Ditwillcr Il Street, OF Green.
field, N. D., was set on fire In some
manner. The flames which started on
the first floor, communicated to a
quantity Of fireworks on the second
floor, owned by t|rubb, These ex'
ploded with terrific force, throwing
burning brands, bricks and debris In
every direction. The conclusion rent
TIE partition wall to the south into
the LAWSON 4 Blythe Muclage and
Ink Manufacturing CO., and the Tx.
celsio' Wire and Iron Manufacturing
Go. adjoining on the north, and thu
halrans soon communicated TO thsse
two buildings in which u considerable
numbcr Of men and boys were at work.
A loss NJ at least 100000 resulted to
the buildings and their contents,
which were destroyed by the OK.
plosiou or damaged by fire or water.
This is fully covered by insurance.
Three alarms were sent, The whole
down town fire department responded
and the work Of re,oung the injured
was performed In courageous man.
ner by the police and drcmen. Some
of the time SIX anbulnnees were kept
busy taking ont he dead and wounded
and conveying them TO the morgne aud
city diSpensary.
Emmett Kennedy, u boy, was taken
from a third story front window OF
Lewiston g. Blythe's establishment.
Kennedy said there were two other
men near the middle Of the second
floor. The firemen hurried TO the spot
md could hear the cries Of the men
who were slowly burning to death.
BY this time II stream Of water was
turned on to the fire surrounding the
burning men, who we're screaming
pitcously for holp, As soon as the
flames were snbdued q dozen lronon
began TO tear away the wreckagc
around the imprisoned men with picks,
axes and saws. Albert steinmycr was
taken out and soon after the crushed
and dead body Of Frank Niohaus was
secured.
The most horrfying incident Of the
fire was the sufferlnps Of Steinmyer,
while the iiremen we're removing the
debris which held him pinned down
In the wreck Both Of his legs were
fastened by tllnbers and heavy iron
ring eneircied his neck while the fire
WAS eating into his flesh, lie suffered
the most horrible agony us hc res
cucrs pulled away Mt the splintered
timbers and twisted iron work. DIR. A.
l.. Boycc, who happened to be passing,
was called In and lie crawlcd into the
wreclsage and administered II hypo.
dcrmic injection OF morphine
to the sufferer. When he was finally
rescued sieinmyer was bleeding from
q hundred wounds, was burned in
many places and badly crushed. Man.
ager Moore, OF Levlson 4 Blythe com.
pany, stated that Joe kaparicl, was
missing and that his body must be- In
tho wreck The tirenen again re.
turned 10 the wrecbage and cleared
away great portion OF II without
finding tie bolles Flames soon broke
ont airesll aud 1 was decided to
abandon The search until the wreck.
age was soaked with water.
Tue hook aud ladder company wore
then tran,ferred 70 Tao rear Of the Elk.
eelsior wire and iron works, where
IS men were at york How many es.
capped conhl not be learned, but the
following we're reported missing. AL.
bert MeIller, Paul IIauptuer, L Lay,
Charlie Axon and Norman Macarthur,
the foreman. The tiremen soon cleared
away tho debris and with 30 minutes
work two bodies were brought to
light. They were horribly mangled
and burned and were hurried to the
morgue, where they were identified ~
Albert Mellier and Paul Hauptner.
The frsmsn kent at THAR work