The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-21

William ]. Parks, the superintendent
after being blown through the window
of the lower story, was conscious for
moment and said that about $50 a ter
rible explosion occurred on the south
side of the elevator and that he knew
there were about 20 men at work on
the seven floors of the great building.
Besides those regularly employed at the
elevator. the three children of Superin-
tendent Parks were visiting him at the
time. One of these may recover from
his burns. but Grace, a 17-year-old girl,
is burned almost beyond recognition,
and Harold, the third child. has not
been found being either blown to at
oms or cremated.
All over Toledo houses were shaken
by the explosion as by an earthquake
and windows were shattered for blocks
around.
Very soon afterward flames burst
from all sides of the elevator. It was
but few minutes until the fire depart
ment of the city began the work of res
cue, which was rendered difficult by the
terrific heat of the fire. The river cut
off escape on one side, and there the
flames seemed to be the less fierce. The
families of a dozen men who worked
within rushed to the scene and women
calling for their imprisoned husbands,
brothers and fathers made a scene in
describable.
1t was learned that a force of 20 men
had been in the building, their purpose
having been to load $4,000 bushels of
grain during the night.
No one of the entire number could be
seen in any part of the building, and it
was impossible to reach them in any
way. William Parks was found first.
He was 20 feet from the building, fright
fully burned and his clothes almost en-
tirely torn off. He had been hurled
from his place in the main room
through a window, and his agonizing
cries were most pitiful. Another en-
ploye, John Carr, was hurled from the
fifth floor of the building and was found
bleeding and burned with many bones
broken. He did not long survive. Fire
man David Kemp and Charles Keifer,
the engineer, were found at their places
in the engine room. They were wound
ed by falling timbers and their faces
were charred TO a crisp by the flames.
The little daughter of William Park
was sitting at the desk in the office at
the time of the explosion. and was
hurled out of the door. She walked
down the elevation on which the build
ing stands, and dropped down, to be
carried away unconscious, suffering
from wounds from which she cannot re-
cover.
JOnn smith was 1atdlly burned. he
was literally disemboweled and was
taken to the hospital to die.
The missing men are doubtless all
dead. No trace can be found of any of
them, and as they Were employed at
the top of the elevator, their chances
for escape were but slight.
The heat became so intense that 20
cars standing on the sidings near the
building were added to the loss. The
fire department had a hard struggle to
save other elevators and property.
The bridge across the Maumee river
was on fire several times. but, outside
of the loss of the elevator. the damage
is slight.
Mr.. Paddock. a member of the firm
owning the plant. said there was be-
tween 10000 and 100000 bushels of
grain in storage at the time, most of il
being winter wheat. The property and
the grain is an entire loss and will
reach $3.50, 900. The damage TO adjoin-
ing property is $4,000.
The insurance is s135,000 on the build
ing and the grain is covered with s25s, 900
insurance.
At 1890 o'clock the flames were under
control Superintendent William Parks.
and one of the unknown men, died early
this morning from their injuries. max
ing the total number OF fatalities 10.