Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1897-08-11
AN EXPLOSION
In a Chicago Elevator in Which Sew
eral Lives We're Lost.
Was Blown Into the Chicago River
The Elevator Was Burned. EntaiI-
ing = Loss of About 100000.

CHICAGO, Aug. give and prob
ably more lives were lost in an ex-
plosion which took place Thu -sday
evening during a fire in the North
western grain elevator at Cook and
West Water street Four of the dead
are fremen-the body of another fire.
man is thought TO be buried in the
ruins of the clevator-and one man
was blown into the Chicago river
From the force with which the ex-
plosion swept the spot on which he
was standing it is certain he must have
been instantly killed. Either the
bursting of a boiler or the explosion of
mill dust caused the awful havoc.
The origin of the blaze is believed &c
have been in the vicinity of the boiler
house. Accumulated dust as dry and
infiammable as gunpowder, that had
been piling up for years, formed a
ready means for the fire. 1t spread
with great rapidity and then came n
terrific explosion, completing the work
of scattering the fire throughout the
entire structure.
Just as the fremen were getting
into position for advantageous work.
and nearly all the mem bers of Engine
Company were mounting ladders and
bringing leads of hose TO play on the
interior from the upper windows.
there came a roar that could be heard
for half mile, the roof vas 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 west wall was
tumbled down upon the heads of the
unfortunate men below, and the roof
was torn into mighty fragments and
distributed for blocks around. Every
window in the vicinity of the elevator
was shattered by the concussion, doz-
ems of persons were struck by living
de bris, and several small fires resulted
from falling timbers that were still in
flame. At jefferson street and Carroll
avenue, many blocks distant, great
burning masses of wreckage fell upon
four wagons loaded with hay and set
them in flames.
The elevator was of composite con-
struction, the lower portion being of
brick and the upper part of frame
covered with corrugated iron. I he
explosion caused perfect bonn bard
ment of flying bricks and sheets of
iron at almost white heat, leaving lit
tie of the building save a 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 quick
ly rallied to help those who had been
hurt Dozens of men lay injured
in the whitening heat, some not
seriously harmed and others in the
throes of death. 1t was dangerous
work to get them out, but it was gal
lantly and quickly done and all of the
slightly injured were 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
mum Der of small frame buildings which
were continually catching fire. The
total loss is estimated at $500, 600 which
is fully covered by insurance.
Late Thursday night the body of
Fireman Jacob Struck man was found
under the ruins. This makes FIVE
deaths as the result of the fire. In all
81 firemen were injured.