The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-08-06
BLOWN INTO THE RIVER
Terrific Explosion in a Chicago
Grain Elevator.
EIGHT LIVES WERE LOST
Bursting OF a Boiler or an Explosion OF
Mil Dirt Caused the Awful Havoc
Men Were Killed by the
Falling Walls.

Chicago, Aug. 5.-Seven and pos
sibly eight hives were lost In the ex-
plosion which took place this after
noon during a fire in the Northwestern
grain elevator at Cook and West
Water streets. Three OF the dead are
iiremen. the body of another fireman
is thought Ia be buried In the ruins
OF the elevator and three people were
blown into the Chicago river. From
the force with which the explosions
swept the spot on which they were
standing they certainly must have
been Instantly killed. Either the
bursting of a boiler or the explosion
OF mill dirt caused the awful havoc.
The three who were killed by the fall
Ing walls of the elevator We're:
JACOB j. SCHNUR.
JOHN ]. COOGAN.
JACOB s. STRAMER
The injured are: Charles II. Con-
way. fireman. burned about face and
hands, body crushed. may die: Chief
Dennis Sweeney. right foot crushed;
Fire Marshal Campion. Lieutenant
Smith. legs crushed; Lieutenant w. III.
Bartlett, legs crushed: Assistant En-
gineer Benjamin Blanchard, John r.
Smith, william Mcguire rs years old.
feet crushed; Thomas Engle. pipeman:
Ignatius Bond. Captain John J. Ev-
ans. struck by debris and rendered un-
conscious. serious; William Hanley.
pipeman; william Thompson. Besides
these dozens of hremen and passersby
were more or less cut by glass and fly
ing debris.
The origin OF the blaze Is believed
to have been in the vicinity Of the
boiler house. Granulated dust as dry
as powder. which had been piling up
for years. formed a ready means for
the fire. IA spread with great rapidity
and then came a terrific explosion.
completing the work Of scattering the
fire throughout the entire structure.
Just as the firemen were getting into
position for advantageous work and
nearly all the members OF engine COM
pany three were mounting the ladder
and bringing lines OF hose to place on
the interior from the upper window.
there came a roar that could he heard
for half a mile. the roof was raised
high In the air and the walls came
down with a crash. The force OF the
explosion was 80 great that the east
ern wall was hurled into the river. the
western wall was tumbled down up
on the heads OF the unfortunate men
below, and the roof was torn into
many fragments and distributed for
blocks around. Every window In the
vicinity of the elevator was shattered
by the concussion. dozen OF persons
were struck by flying debris and sew
eral small fires resulted In addition 10
those which were already In flames.
AT Jefferson street and Carroll ave-
nue.. many blocks distant. great burn
ing masses OF wreckage fell upon four
wagons loaded with hay and set them
I'm flames.
The building was Of composite con-
struction. the lower portion being OF
brick and the upper part frame. cover
cd with a roof Of corrugated iron. The
explosion caused q perfect lombard
ment Of tiling. bricks and sheet iron at
almost white heat. leaving little OF the
building save the framework OF wood
and iron surrounding a great pile OF
blazing wheat. The explosion siunn'd
for moment the police and firemsr,
but they quickly rallied TO help these
who had been hurt. Dozens OF men lay
injured In the withering heat. some not
seriously harmed and others In the
throes OF death. II was dangerous
work to get them out. but II was gal
lantly and quickly done and all OF the
slightly injured were removed. The
dead were for 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
number OF wall frame buildings. which
continually caught fire. The total loss
Is estimated at 5000 fully insured.