The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-06
AWFUL SCENES IN CHICAGO.
Seven Lives Lost and a Number Prob
ably Fatally Injured.
FOUR BLOWN INTO THE CHICAGO RIVER
The Loss of Life Was Caused by the Expio-
sion Of "A Boiler During Fire In an
Elevator Compapy's Factory.
1he Dead and Injured,

CHICAGO, August 5.-Seven and proba-
bly, eight lives were lost in a fire and ex-
plosion this evening. during a fire in ths
Northwestern Elevator Company, corner
Cook and West Water streets. Three oi
the dead are found and the dead body OF
another fireman is thought TO be in thu
ruins. and four people were blown inte
the Chicago river. The force OF the cX
ploslon must have certainly Instantly Kill
ed them.
The bursting Of a boiler or the explo-
sion OF mill dust caused the havoc.
The three firemen who were killed By
falling walls Of the elevator were: Jacob
J. Schnur John j. Coogan. jacob :.
Stramer.
The injured are:
Charles A. Conway, fireman, burned
about face ana hands and body bruised
and crushed. may die.
Chief Dennis Swcnic right foot crush
ed left arm wrcnched and painfully
burned.
Fire Marshal Campion. burned about
face.
Lieutenant Smith both legs crushed
Lieutenant w. II. Bartlett. leg crushed.
Assistant Engineer Benjamin Blanch-
ard, badly bruised.
John +. Smith, injured by debris.
William Mcclure. fifteen years old, both
feet crushed.
Thomas Engle plpeman, cut about face
and hands and internally injured.
Ignatius Bond cut by falling glass.
Captain John j. Evans. struck by debris
and rendered unconscious, serious.
William Hanley. pipeman. cut In head.
William Thompson, hit by failing siass.
Besides these dozens Of hremen and
passers hy were cut and bruised by glass
and flying debris
Unidentified man, blown INTO river py
explosion; body not recovered,
ORIGIN or THE FIRE
Tho origin OF the fame is believed 10
have been in the vicinity of the boller
house Accumulated dust as dry ana IN
DANA bic as gunpowder that had been PIT
ing ND for years formed ready means
for tho fire IL spread with great T'plu-
49,, ard then came "A terrific explosion com
nieting the work OF scattering the hre
throughout the entire structure.
lust as the firemen we're setuhs "l''
positon for advantageous "oik anu ne"'
lv all the members OF Engine 'onpHnS
10 . we're mounting ladders and bring
| terio- from the upper windows. there
| ,a,,,a a roar that could be heard Tor hait
| = r,ue a roof was raised high In the ar
| and the walls came down with q crasn'
rhe force of the explosion was 50 sr~s.
| 49, tba eastern wall was hurled INTO '"e
river the west wall was tumbied gov"
unon the heads OF the men beio" anu .u'
| roof was torn into fragments anu "'N'
| buted for blocks around -
Every window in the vicinity oil inc s'e-
! vator was shattered by the concusSion'
! dozens of persons were struck by flying de-
| drts and several small fires resulted rom
| Falling tfnbers that were still in nanies.
| Al Jefferson street and Carroll avenue
| many blocks distant great burning masses
| of wrockage fell upon four wagons loadeu
with hay and set them on hre.
BOMBARDMENT OF BRICKS.
! The elevator was of composite construc-
! ton. the lower portion being OF brick ana
| the upper part of frame covered WIN cor
rugated iron. The explosion caused a
perfect bombardment OF flying bricks and
| sheets Of iron az almost white heat. leav-
! ing little OF the building save a frame work
| of wood and iron surrounding great pile
/ of blazing wheat. The explosion stunned
for Il moment the police and the nrcmen
/ but they quickly ra1ied to help those
/ who had been hurt. Dozens Of men lay
| injured i'm the withering heat. some In the
/ throes Of death. II was dangerous work
TO get them out. but 1t was gallantly and
| quickly done. add all OF the slightly in
! iured were soon removed. The dead
were left where they lay no man could
! reach their bodies and live. The fire was
= most difiicult one. as the elevator was
surrounded by a number OF small buildings
which were continually catching on fire.
| The total loss Is estimated az $500 90 COW
! cred by Insurance.
Joseph Lacey. badly burned about facet
! case serious.
Frank c. HALEY. face burned beyond
/ recognition: may lose sight OF both eyes
| Captain Martin Lacey, burned about
the face and body, wounds on face ana
forehead.
Lieutenant John J. Miller. compound
fracture Of legs badly burned condition
/ critical.
Captain William Rooney, badly burned
/ about face: may die.
John Evans. fracture Of right arm
badly burned about face: condition criti
/ cal.
Harry Kugleman. contusions Of sid,
and badly burned about the face snc
body: condition serious.
william Schubert. bruised and burned
John Hassey, left arm crushed al IN,
shoulder.
Lieutentnt Smith struck by nylns
| debris
| Lieutenant Frank DOnagan hurt b.
falling bricks; injured internally condi
| tiOn serious.
Captain John Evans face and hand
/ and shoulders burned.
Captain Favey legs, arms and should
! ers badly burned.
Lieutenant Frank Nigg. badly burned
about face and arms.
C. T. Walter. knocked down by espio
/ sion and injured about the SPINE
| John Hcntz. struck by falling bean
| and skull fractured
James Mcclure, leg fractured