The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-21
SPONT ANEOUS
COMBUSTION
Causes an Explosion of Dust In
an Elevator
At Toledo Resulting In Its
Complete Destruction.
EIGHT PEOPLEKILLED
And as Many More Will Die
From Burns.
Half Million Bushels of CIR ain
Burned Up.

Toledo, O., Sept. 21-Eight men Gre
mated 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 the grain
elevator owned by Paddock, Hodge &
Co., at 9 o'clock last night caused this
terrible destruction of life, and none of
those who were taken out after the
fire started, were far enough from
deaths door to tell any of the details.
William J. Parks, the superintendent,
after being thrown through the window
of the lower story, was conscious for a
moment and said that about 80 o'clock
a terrible 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 build
ing.
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 were three children of Sup
erintendent Parks, who were visiting
him at the time. One of these may re-
cover from his burns, but Grace, a IT.
year-old girl, is burned almost beyond
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 afterwards flames
burst from all sides of the elevator. 1t
was but few minutes till the fire de-
partment of the city began the work
of rescue, which was rendered difficult
by the terrific heat of the fire The
river cut off escape from one side, and
there the flames seemed to be less
The families of a dozen men who
were known to be at work within rush
ed to the scene, and women calling for
their imprisoned husbands brothers
and fathers, made a scene indescriba-
BILE.
1t was learned that a force of 20
men had been in the building their pur-
pose having been to load $4,000 bushels
of grain during the night. Not one of
the entire number could be seen in any
part of the building and it was impos-
sible 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
torn off. He had been hurled from his
place in the main room through a win
dow, and, his agonizing cries were most
pitiful.
Another employee, John Carr,was hurI-
ed from the fifth floor of the building,
and was found bleeding and burned,
with many bones broken. He did not
long survive.
Fireman David Kemp and Chas. Keif-
er, the engineer, were found at their
places in the engine room. They were
wounded by falling timbers, and their
faces were charred to a 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 hurl-
ed out of the door. She walked down
the elevation on which the building
stands and dropped down, to be car
ried away unconscious, suffering from
wounds from which she cannot re-
cover.
John Smith was fatally burned. He
was literally disem boweled and was ia
ken 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 es-
cape were but slight.
The dead:
SAMUEL ALEXANDER.
BERT WAINWRIGHT.
FRED GARRETT.
HAROLD PARKS.
JOHN SMITH.
GRACE PARKS.
FRANK VAN HOUSEN.
JOHN CARR.
The injured
Dave D. Kemp.
Barney WEIGH.
Charles Keifer.
Fred PardigilliS.
Charles Brookseeker.
- Elliott.
Everett Smith.
Hamilton Parks.
William J. Parks.
w. c. Jordan.
Peter Haas.
Al Baldie.
Four others, names unknown.
The heat became so intense that 20
cars standing on the sidings near the
burning building were added to the
loss The fire department had hard
struggle to save other elevators and
property.
The bridge across the Maumee river
was on fire several times, but outside
the loss of the elevator, the damage is
slight.
Mr.. Paddock, a member of the firm
owning the plant, said there was be-
tween 100000 and 100000 bushels of
grain in storage at the time, the most
of it being winter wheat. The property
and the grain is an entire loss and will
reach $3.50, 900.
The Insurance is $135, 900 on the build
ing. and the grain is covered with $685.