Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-09-29
TEN LIVES LOST
Explosion of Grain Dust Destroys
Grain Elevator.
Toledo, o.. Is Visited by One of the Most
FrightGu. Calamities In Its History
S.xoft the Injured Will Die-Prop-
erty Loss Over Half Million.

Toledo, Sept. 21.-Eight men cremat-
ed and eight more fatally burned is the
result of the most disastrous fire that
ever occurred in Toledo. The spon-
taneous combustion of dust in tho
grain elevator owned by Paddock,
Hodge q Co. caused this terrible de-
struction of life last night and none
of those who were taken out after the
fire started were far enough from
deaths door to tell any of the details.
The dead
Samuel Alexander, Bert Wainwright,
Fred Garrett. Harold Parks, John
Smith, Grace Parks, Frank Van Hous-
en- and John Carr.
The injured: David Kemp, Barney
Welch. Charles Keifer, Fred Pargillis,
- Elliott, Charles Brookseeker, Ev-
erett Smith, Hamilton Parks. William
=. Parks, w. c. Jordan, Peter Haas, Al
Baldie. Four others, names not
known.
William J. Parks, the superintend-
ent. after being blown through the
window of the lower story, was con-
scious for a moment and said that
about S:30 a terrible explosion oc-
Cured on the south side of the eleva-
tor, and that he knew there we're about
20 men at work on the seven floors of
the building. Besides those regularly
employed at the elevator the three
children of Superintendent Parks we're
visiting him at the time. One of these
may recover from his burns, but Grace,
a 17-year-6ld girl, is burned almost be-
yond recognition, and Harold, the
third child, has not been found, being
either blown to atoms or cremated.
At $50 last evening the people of
East Toledo were startled by ter
rife explosion 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 elevator soon noticed flames
bursting from all sides of the building.
In few minutes the fire department
began the work of rescue.
The river cut off escape on one side
and there the flames seemed to be less
fierce. The families of dozen men
who were at work within rushed to the
scene. and women calling for their i'm
prisoned husbands, brothers and faith
ers made a scene indcscribable.
The force of 20 men expected to load
10000 bushels of grain during the
night. Not one of the entire number
could be seen in any part of the build
inc, and it was impossible to reach
them in any way. William Parks was
found first. He was 20 feet from the
building. frightfully burned and his
clothing almost entirely torn OF. lie
had been hurled from his place in the
main room through window and his
agonizing cries were most plutul.
Another employe, John Carr, was hurl-
ed from the fifth floor of the building
and was found bleeding and burned
with many bones broken. lie did not
long survive. Fireman David Kemp
and Charles Keifer, the engineer, were
found at their places in the engine
rooms. They were wounded by falling
timbers and their faces were charred,
The little daughter of William
Parks was sitting at the desk IN the
office at the time OF the explosion and
she was hurled out of the door. She
walkeH down the elevation on which
the building stands and dropped down,
TO be carried away unconscious, suffer
ing from wounds from which she can
not recover.
John Smith was fatally burned. He
was literally dsemboweled and was
taken to the hospital to die. The miss
ing 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.
Superintendent William Parks and
one of the unknown injured men died
early this morning of their injuries,
making the total number of fatalities
ten.
: There were between 100000 and 60o,-
600 bushels of grain in store at the time.
The property and the grain is an en-
tire loss and will reach $550,000. The
insurance is $403,00o.
DONS ARE MOVING OUT.