The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-09-29
FATAL ELEVATOR FIRE
Terrible Result of Dust Elk.
plosion in Toledo.
TEN PERSONS WERE cREMATED
Fifteen Others Seriously Injured-Sev-
eral We're Blown Out OF Win
dOws by the Shook.

Toledo, O., Sept. 22.-Ten cre-
mated and IL seriously injured is the
record of the most disastrous fire that
ever occurred in Toledo. The spontan-
eous combustion of dust in the grain
elevator owned by Paddock, Hodge &
Co.. at 9 O'Clock caused this terrible
| destruction of life, and none of those
who were taken out after the fire start
ed were far enough from deaths door
to tell any Of the details. The dead
are:
Samuel Alexander, Bert Vain
wright, Fred Garret, Harold Parks.
John Smith. Grace Parks. Frank Van
Housen. John Carr, w. ]. Parks, and
an unknown man.
The injured are: David Kemp,
Barney WEIGH. Charles Keller, Fred
Pardigillis, Charles Brookseer, Ed
Elliott, Everett Smith, Hamilton
Parks. w. g. Jordan, Peter Haas, AL
Baldie and four others, names un-
known.
William J. Parks. the superintend-
emit. after being blown through the
window of the lower story, was con.
scious for a moment, and said that
about $3.50 terrible explosion occurred
on the south side of the elevator, and
that he thought 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
Superintendent Parks were visiting
him at the time. One of these may
recover from his burns. but Grace, a
17-ycar-old girl, is burned almost be-
yond recognition, and Harold, the
third child. has not been found, being
either blown to atoms 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 sidets of the elevator.
It was but few minutes till the fire
department of the city began the work
of rescue, which was rendered difficult
by the terrific heat of the fire. The
river cut of escape on one side, and
there the flames seemed to be less
fierce. The families of dozen men
who worked within rushed to the scene,
and women calling for their imprisoned
husbands, brothers and fathers made
scene indescribable.
It was learned that a force of 20
men had been in the building, their
purpose having been to load 80,
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 employee, John Carr, was
hurled from the fifth floor of the build
ing, and was found bleeding and
burned. with many bones broken. 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 were charred to crisp by
the flames.
The little daughter Of William Parks
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
recover.
John Smith was fatally burned. He
was literally disembowled, and wat
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 al
the top Of. the elevator, their chances
for escape were but slight.
The heat became 80 intense that &c
cars standing on the SIDING near the
building were added to the loss. The
fire department had hard struggle tc
save other elevator property. The
bridge across the Maumee river was on
| fire several times. but outside the losf
of the elevator, the damage is slight.
Mr.. Paddock, q member Of the firm
owning the plant, said there was be.
tween 500, 900 and 600. 900 bushels OF
grain in storage at the time. the most
| Of it being winter wheat. The proper
| " and the grain is an entire loss, and
will reach $3.50, 900. The damage to
adjoining property is $500 At 1890
o'clock the flames were unter 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.
London, Sept. 29.-The Times Can.
/ - -v~~n~m