The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-21

burned, is the result of the most dishs-
,rous Are that ever occurred in Toledo.
The spontaneous combustion of dust in
the grain elevator owned by Paddock.
Hodge & Co., at . o'clock, caused this
terrible destruction of life and none OF
those who we're taken out after the fire
started, were far enough from deaths
door 10 tell any OF the details.
The following are the dead: Samuel
Alexander. Bert wainwright, Fred Gar
rett, Harold Parks, John Smith. Grace
parks Frank Van Housen. John Carr.
The injured: David Kemp, Barney
welch. Charles Keller, Fred Pargillls,
- Elliott, Charles Brookseeker. Ever
81, Smith, Hamilton Parks, William j.
Parks, W. C. Jordan, Peter Hast, Al
Baldie. and four others. names not
known.
william ]. Parks, the superintendent,
after being blown through the window
OF the lower story. was conscious for
moment and said that about $3.50 o'clock
a terrible explosion occurred on the
south side Of the elevator. and that he
knew there we're about twenty men at
work on the seven floors OF the enor-
nous building None OF those who are
NOW alive will survive the burns and
bruises with which they are covered.
,,..r5,, ,b,sa rep,iIarIV empioyed at the
elevator, the three children of superin-
,endent Parks were visiting him at the
time. One of these may recover from
his burns, but Grace. seventeen-year-
old girl. is burned almost beyond rec
ounltlon, and Harold, the third child.
has not been found, being either blown
to atoms or cremated.
TlRr nn Earthquake shock.
AT $40 O'Clock this evening the people
OF East Toledo. were startled by ter
rlac explosion which caused a panic all
over the neighborhood. Houses were
shaken as in an earthquake. and win
dows we're 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 a
few minutes till the fire department Of
the city began the work of rescue.
which was rendered difficult by the ter
rife heat OF the fire. The river cut on
an escape on one side and the flames
seemed to be less fierce. The families OF
dozen men who were known to be at
work within. rushed to the scene and
women calling for their imprisoned hus-
bands. brothers and fathers. made a
scene Undesirable. 1t was learned
that the force of twenty men expected
to load $4,000 bushels OF grain during
the night. Not one of the entire num-
ber could be seen in any part OF the
building and It was impossible to reach
them In any way.
AEOnIEinE CrIo,.
william Parks was found frst. He
vas twenty feet from the building.
thghtfuny burned and his clothing al
most entirely torn OF, He had been
hurled from his place in the main room
through a window and his agonIzinE
cries were most pltitul. Another en-
ploye, John Carr, was hurled from the
fifth floor Of the building and was found
bleeding and burned with many bones
broken. He did not Ioag survive. Fire
man 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 we're charred to a crisp by the
flames.
The little daughter OF William Parks
was sitting Rt the desk IN the Office at
the time OF the explosion and she was
hurled out Of the door. She walked
down the elevator on which the build
Ing stands, md dropped down, to be
carried away unconscious. suffering
from wounds from which she cannot re-
cover.
sIIssinE DoubiIsGS Dead.
John Smith was fatally burned. He
was literally dlsembowelled and was ta-
ken to the hospital 90 die. The missing
men are doubtless all dead. 40 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.
The heat became so intense that
twenty cars standing on sldlngs near
the burning buildings, were added to
tho loss The Gre 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.
Nr, Paddock, a member OF the frm.
owning the plant. said that there was
between 100000 and 100000 bushels OF
astorageat etlmc,t the most Of It
being winter wheat The property and
the Rraia is an entire loss and VIII
reach s''ooCo The insurance Is iisS 900
on the building and the Grain Is covered
with 125s,Ooo Insurance
AZ 1890 o'clock the flames were fully
under CONTROL