The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-21
CREMATED IN IN ELEVATOR
EIGHT MEN BURNED To DEATH
AND EIGHT OTHERS FA-
TALLY INJURED.
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.
A DISASTROUS FIRE FOLLOWS AND
CUTS OFF MEANS OF ESCAPE.
Twenty Men at Work in the Build
ing of the Toledo Elevator.
None of the Injured

Twenty wen at Work IN the Bu1ld-
ing of the Toledo Elevator.
None of the Injured
VIII RecOver-Tre-
mendOus Shock.
Toledo, O., Sept 2O.-Eight men cremated
and eight more fatally burned is the re-
suli of the most disastrous fire that ever
occurred in Toledo.
The spontaneous combustion of dust in
the grain elevator, owned by Paddock,
Hodge & Co., at 9 O'Clock, caused this
terrible destruction of life.
William j. Parks, the superintendent,
after being blown through the window of
the lower story, was conscious for a mo-
ment' and said that about $3.50 o'clock
terrible explosion occurred on the south
side of the elevator, and that he knew
there were about twenty men at work on
the seven floors of the enormous building.
None of those who are now alive will
survive the burns and bruises with which
they are covered.
Besides those regularly employed at the
elevator, the three children of Superln-
tendent Parks were visiting him at the
time. One of these may recover from his
burns, but Grace, a 7-year-old girl, is burn
ed almost beyond recognition. and Harold,
the third child, has not been found, being
either blown TO atoms or cremated.
At $50 this evening the people of East
Toledo were startled by terrific explo-
sion which caused panic all over the
neighborhood. Houses were shaken as in
an earthquake and windows were shattered
for blocks around.
Those in the vicinity of the Union ele-
vator soon noticed flames bursting from
all sides of the building. 1t was but few
minutes before the fire department began
the work of rescue which was rendered
difficult by the terrific heat of the fire
Tie river cut off escape on one side and
the flames seemed to be less fierce. The
families of a dozen men were known to
be at work within rushed to the scene
and women calling for their imprisoned
husbands, brothers and fathers. made
ecene indeecribable.
1t was learned that the force of twenty
men expected to load $1,000 bushels of grain
during the night. Not one of the entire
number could be seen In any part of the
building and 1t was impossible to reach
them.
William Parks was found first. He ws
twenty feet from the building frightfully
burned and his clothing almost entirely
torn off. He had been hurled from his place
in the main room through window and
his agonizing cries were most pitlful.
Another employe, John Carr, was hurl-
cd O. and
was found bleeding and burned with many
bones broken. He did not long survive.
Fireman David Kemp aud Charles KeI-
fer, the engineer were found at their
4 places in the engine rooms. They were
wounded by falling timbers and their faces
We're charred TO a crisp by the flames
The little daughter of William Parks was
i sitting near the desk in the office at the
i time Of the explosion and she was hurled
i out of the door, She walked down the ele-
walton on which the building stands, and
dropped down, to be carried away uncon-
scous, suffering from wounds from which
she cannot recover.
John Smith was fatally burned.
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
Sight.
The dead are:
i SAMUEL ALEXANDER.
BERT WAINWRIGHT.
FRED GARRETT.
HAROLD PARKS.
JOHN SMITH.
GRACE PARKS
FRANK VAN HOUSEN.
JOHN CARR
The injured are:
DAVID KEMP.
BERNEY WEIGH
CHARLES KEIFER.
FRED PARGILLIS.
n - ELLIOTT
CHARLES BROCKER.
a EVERETT SMITH
Il HAMILTON PARKS
WILLIAM J. PARKS.
w. c. JORDAN.
d PETER HAAS.
AL BALDIE
our others, names unknown.
Inc heat became so intense that twenty
cars ON sidings near the burning building
were added TO the loss The fire depart
Hent had a hard struggle to save other
SleFdtors and property. The bridge across
.ue Maumee river was on fire several
tuneS, but outside of the loss of the eleva-
'u. the damage is slight.
Mr. Paddock, a member of the firm own
s the plant, said that there was between
.VU and 100000 bushels Of grain in stor-
age at the time, the most of it being Win
Wheat The property and the grain is
,.. '''o iOSS ana Will redcn S4J0iU0p III
suIahce is $4,000 on the building and the
Ialh IS covered with $25S000 insurance.
Nl 1920 o'clock the flames were under
control
$40 a. m.-Supt. Parks and one of the
Unknown injured men dice early this
morning Of their injuries, making the to-
W '' number of fatalities ten.
--s-lr-s-
NiNIsTERIAL NOMINEES ELECTED.
NliO"a Sends the Basque Patriot 'Sa-