Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-06
BLOWN In THE RIVER.
HORRIBLE EXPLOSION IN A
CHICAGO ELEVATOR.
FIREMEN KILLED IND INJURED
While Fighting the Fiames-The
BuiIding Was Blown to Atoms, and
fbe Braye Men Were Fearfuliy
MufjIated and tangled.

CHICAGO, August 5.-four hVes "eie
lost in an explosion this evening during
fire in the Northwestern Elevator. at the
corner OF Cook and west Water streets.
Three OF the dead are found, and the
dead body Of another fireman is thought
to be in the ruins. The force OF the
explosion must have certainly instantly
killed them The bursting OF boiler or
the explosion OF mill-dust caused the
havoc.
The three firemen, who were killed W
falling walls of the elevator, were:
JACOB J. SCHNUR.
JOHN J. COOGAN.
JACOB S. STRAMER.
The injured: Charles II. Conway, fire.
man, burned about the face and hands
and body bruised, and crushed; may die.
Chief Dennis swenie, right foot crushed,
left arm wrenched and painfully burned.
Fire-Marshal Campion. burned about
face. Lieutenant Smith, both legs crush
ed. Lieutenant W. II. Bartlett, leg crush
ed. Assistant-Engineer Benjamin Blanch-
ard badly bruised. John Il. Smith, in
jured by debris. William Mcguire, 10
years old, both feet crushed. Thomas
Engle, pipe-man, cut about the face and
hands; internally injured. Ignatius Bond,
cut by falling glass. Captain John j.
Evans, struck by debris, and rendered
unconscious; serious. William Haniey
pipe-man, cut in head. William Thomp-
son, hit by falling glass. c. f. Walter
knocked down by explosion, and injured
about the spine. John Hentz, struck by
Fsa.r .s.sl Iuf =
Mcclure. leg fractured. All firemen:
joseph Lacey, badly burned about face;
case serious. Frank G. HALEY, face
burned beyond recognition; may lose sight
of both eyes. Captain Martin Lacey,
burned about the face and body; wounds
on face and forehead. Lieutenant John
}. Miller, compound fracture of legs, bad
ly burned; condition critical. Captain
William Rooney, badly burned about
face; may die John Evans, fracture or
right arm, badly burned about face; con-
dition critical Harry Kugleman, con-
tusions Of side and badly burned about
the face and body; condition serious.
William Schubert, bruised and burned.
John Hassey, left arm crushed at the
shoulder Lieutenant Smith, struck by
flying debris. lieutenant f. Donagan, hurt
by falling bricks. injured internally; con-
AAAlyA rtl4buss A1BAaAAA JDAAii A@f-N+A-f 49,
and hands and shoulder burned. Captain
Falvey, legs, arms, and shoulders badly
burned. Lieutenant Frank Nigg, badly
burned about face and arms.
The origin of the flame IS believed TO
have been in the vicinity Of the boiler
house. Accumulated dust as dry and in
hammable as gunpowder, that had been
piling up for years, formed ready
means for the fire. 1t spread with great
rapldlty, and then came terrific eX-
plosion. completing the work OF scatter
ing the fire throughout the entire struc-
ture.
Just as the fremen were getting into
position for advantageous work. and
nearly all the members Of Engine Com
pany No. were mounting ladders and
bringing lengths Of hose TO play upon
the interior from the upper windows,
there came a roar that could be heard
for half a mile. roof was raised hlgh
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 west wall was
tumbled down upon the heads OF the men
below. and the roof was torn into trag-
ments and distributed for blocks around.
Every window in the vicinity OF
the elevator was shattered by the
conession, dozens of persons were
struck by flying debris, and seve-
raj small fires resulted from fail
ing timbers that were still in flames.
At Jefferson street and Carroll avenue
many blocks distant great burning
masses Of wreckage fell upon four
wagons loaded with hay and set them on
fire. The elevator was of composite con-
struction, the lower portion being OF
brick and the upper part Of frame, COW
cred with corrugated iron. The explo-
sion caused a perfect bombardment OF
filing bricks and sheets of iron at al
most white heat, leaving little OF the
building. save a framework OF wood and
iron surrounding a great pile OF blazing
wheat. The explosion stunned for
moment the police and the firemen, but
they quickly rallied 10 help those who
had been hurt. Dozens Of men lay IN
iured in the withering heat, some IN
the throes Of death. 1t was dangerous
work TO get them out. but 1t was gall
lantly and quickly done, and all Of the
slightly injured were soon removed. The
dead were left where they lay. no man
could reach their bodies and live. The
fire was a most difficult one, as the eleva-
tor was surrounded by number OF
small buildings, which were continual
ly catching on fire.
The total loss is estimated at %O)co0'
covered by insurance.