Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1898-09-22
Spontaneous Combustion of Dust
Caused the Accident In q Grain
Elevator at Toledo.
THE EXPLOSION
WAS TREMENDOUS.
Houses Shook as n by an Earthquake.
and Windows shattered For Many
Blocks People Near by We're
Panic Stricken.

Toledo, Sept. 2l.--ln the Gre here last
night eight men were cremated,
eight fatally burned and eight seriously
burned. The spontaneous combustion
Of dust in the grain elevator owned by
Paddock, Hoge g. Co. at O'Clock caused
the terrible destruction OF life, and none
Of thoss who were taken out after the
Ere started were far enough from deaths
door 10 tell any Of the details. William
J. Parks the superintendent, after be-
ing blown through the window Of the
lower story, was conscious, and before
he died said that terrible explosion 90.
CURED on tho south side OF the elevator
and he knew there were about 20 men
at work on the seven floors Of the enor.
nous building Some OF those alive
will survive the burns ana bruises with
which they are covered.
Besides those employed at the eleva-
tor, the three children Of Superintendent
Parks were visiting him at the time.
One Of Thorn may recover. Grace, II.
year.old girl, is burned almost beyond
recognition, and Harold, the third chic,
has not been found, being either blown
to atoms or cremated.
Ats;b7 O'Clock the people Of East To
ledo were startled by a terrific eIplo.
sion, which caused a panic all over the
neighborhood. Houses wero shaken a.
II by an earthquake and windows were
shattered for blocks around. Those in
the vicinity Of the Union elevator soon
noticed flames bursting from all sides Of
the building. II was but few minutes
until the fire department Of the city DO.
gan work.
The families OF dozen men who werc
known 10 be- At work within rushed 10
the scene and women calling for their
imprisoned husbands, brothers and faith.
ers, created soene indescribable.
William Parks was found first. He
was 20 feet from the building, frightful.
ly burned and his clothing almost on.
tirely torn of. He had been hurled
from his place in the main room through
window and his agonizing cries were
most pitiful
Another employe, John Carr, was
hurled from the fifth floor Of the build.
ing and was found bleeding and burned.
He did not long survive.
Fireman David Kemp and Charles
Keifer, the engineer, were found at their
places In the engine room. They were
wounded by falling timbers and their
faces wero charred TO crisp by the
flames.
John Smith was fatally burned. lie
was literally disomboweled and was
taken 20 the hospital to die. The miss
ing men are doubtless all dead. No
trace can b. found Of any Of them and
As they were employed at the top Of tho
elevator their chances for escape were
but slight
Tho dead are Samuel Alexander, Bert
Wainwright, Fred Garrett, Harold
Parks. John Smith, Grace Parks, Frank
Van Housen, John Carr and superin.
tendont Parks.
The heat became 90 intense that 20
cars standing ON the siding near the
burning buildings were added 10 the
loss This fire department had hard
struggle TO save other elevators aud
property.
The bridge across the Maumee river
was ON fire. several times, but outside
the loss Of the elevator tho damage il
slight
Mr. Paddock, a member Of tho firm
owning the plant, said there was DO.
tween 800, 900 and GOO, 900 tons Of grain
In storage at the time. The property
and the grain is an entire loss aud will
reach $l00,0OO. The insurance Is slg5,
900 ON tho building and tho grain Is
covered with s25s, 100.