The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-06
HURLED SKYWARD
Terrific Explosion at a Grain
Elevator Fire.
Kills Four Firemen and Injuries
a Large Number.
ROOF WAS BLOWN OFF.
Walls Came Down Without
Warning On Fire Fighters.
One Man Was Blown Into the
River Near By.

place last evening during a fire in the
Northwestern grain elevator at Cook
and West Water streets. Three of the
dead are fremen-the body of another
fireman is thought to be buried in the
ruins of the elevators. Either the burst
ing of a boiler or the explosion of mill
dirt caused the awful havoc.
The three firemen who were killed by
the falling walls of the elevator were:
JACOB J. SCHNUR.
JOHN ]. COOGAN.
JACOB S. STRANGER.
Unidentified man blown into the river.
The injured:
Charles H. Conway. fireman; burned
about. the face and hands and body
crushed; may die.
Chief Dennis Sweenie, right foot
crushed.
Fire Marshal Campion.
Lieutenant Smith, both legs crushed.
Lieutenant w. H. Bartlett, leg crushed.
Assistant Engineer Benjamin Blan-
chard.
John F. Smith.
William Mcclure. Is years old. both
feet crushed.
Thomas Engle, pipeman.
Ignatius Bond.
Captain John ]. Evans, struck by debris
and rendered unconscious; serious.
William Hanley, pipeman-
William Thompson.
Joseph Lacey, badly burned about the
face; case serious
Frank c. HALEY, face burned beyond
recognition; may lose sight of both eyes.
Captain Martin Lacey, burned.
Lieutenant John Miller, compound frac-
ture of leg; badly burned; condition criti-
cal.
Captain William Rooney, badly burned;
may lose sight of both eyes; condition
serious.
John Evans. fracture of right arm.
badly burned; condition serious.
William Schubert.
John Hassey. left arm crushed at the
shoulder
Lieutenant Smith.
Lieutenant Frank Donagan, hurt by
falling bricks, injured internally; cond1>
ton serious.
Captain John Evans, badly burned.
Captain Falvey, badly burned.
Lieutenant Frank Nigg, badly burned.
C. r. Walker.
John Heintz, struck by falling beam and
skull fractured.
James Mcclure, leg fractured.
All these were firemen.
Dozens of firemen and passersby were
more or less cut and bruised by glass and
flying debris.
Inc origin OF the DlaZe is Den6VeQ TO
have been in the vicinity of the boiler
house. Accumulated dust as dry and in
f1ammable as gun powder, that had been
piling up for years. formed ready means
for the fire. 1t spread with great rapid
ity, and then came a terrific explosion,
completing the work of scattering the
fire throughout the entire structure.
Just a. the firemen were getting into
position for advantageous work and
AaTIxr oil he Of
No. were mounting ladders and bring
ing leads of hose to place in the interior
from the upper windows, there came a
roar that could be heard for half mile.
The roof was raised high in the air and
the walls came down with a crash.
The force of the explosion was SO great
that the eastern wall was hurled into the
river, the western wall was tumbled upon
the heads of the unfortunate men below
and the roof was torn into many frag-
ments and distributed for blocks around.
Every window in the vicinity of the ele-
vator was shattered by the conclusion,
dozens of persons were struck by flying
debris, and several small fires resulted
in addition to those which were already
in flames. At Jefferson street and Carroll
avenue, many blocks distant, great burn
ing masses of wreckage fell upon four
wagons loaded with hay and set them in
flames.
The building was of composite con-
struction, the lower portion being of
brick and the upper part frame, covered
with roof of corrugated iron. The ex-
plosion caused a perfect bombardment of
thing bricks and sheets of iron at almost
white heat, leaving little of the building
save the frame work of wood and iron
surrounding a great pile of blazing wheat.
The explosion stunned for a moment,
the police and firemen, but they quickly
rallied to help those who had been hurt.
Dozens of men lay injured in the writh-
ing heat. some not seriously harmed and
others in the throes of death. 1t was
dangerous work to get them out but it
was calamity and quickly done. All of
the slightly injured We're removed. The
dead, were for the time, left where they
lay. No man could reach their bodies
and live.
The fire was most difficult to control as
the elevator was surrounded by a num-
Der of small buildings, which were con-
stantly catching fire. The total loss is
estimated at 100000. which is fully in
sured.
Fireman Charles NJ. Conway died this
morning from injuries received while at
Conway was at work in the narrow area
way at the rear of the elevator when the
explosion occurred and he was thrown
with great force against a shed. He was
rendered unconscious and before rescued
from his position, his body and limbs had
been terribly burned.
The death of Conway brings the total
number of fatalities in last nights fire to
four. The report that an unknown man
who was watching the fire had been
blown into the river and drowned has not
vet been confirmed FNirarnap dra oerad tho