Evening journal., 1898-09-21
SIXTEEN MEN PERISH
Disastrous Fire In a Toledo
Grain Elevator.
STARTED WITH An EXPLOSION.
Spontaneous Commission the Cause
Children Also Perish I'm the
FIames-A Scene of Inde-
scribable Horror.

TOLEDO. Sept. 21.-Eight men were
tremated and eight more fatally burn
ed last night IN the most disastrous fire
that ever occurred in Toledo. The spon-
taneous combustion Of dust In the grain
elevator owned by Paddock, Hodge &
Co. caused this terrible destruction OF
life, and none of those who were taken
out after the fire were far enough from
deaths door to tell any OF the details.
The dead are Samuel Alexander, Bert
Wainwright. Fred Garrett, Harold Parks
John Smith. Grace Parks, Frank Van
Housen and John Carr.
The injured are David Kemp. Barney
WEIGH, Charles Keifer, Fred Pargillis, j.
Eliot Charles Brocker. Everett Smith,
Hamilton Parks, william J. Parks, w.
G. Jordan, Peter Haas, AL Baldie and
four others whose names are unknown.
William j. Parks, the superintendent,
was blown through the window of the
lower story. He said that about $3.50
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 enormous building.
None of the injured will survive their
burns and bruises. Besides those regu-
larly 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 H-year-old girl, is burned almost be-
yond recognition. and Harold, the third
child has not been found
The explosion caused a panic in the
neighborhood Of the elevator Houses
were shaken as in an earthquake and
windows were shattered for blocks
IA
quickly began the work of rescue, which
was rendered difficult by the terrific
heat. The river cut Off escape on one
side. and there the flames seemed TO be
less fierce. The families of a dozen men
who were known to be at work within
rushed TO the scene. and women calling
for their imprisoned husbands. brothers
and fathers made O scene indescribable
It was learned that the force Of 20
men expected to load $4,000 bushels Of
grain during the night. Not one of the
entire number could be seen in any p1it
OF the building, and # was Impossible
TO reach them In any way. william
Parks was found first. lie was 20 feet
from the building frightfully burned
and his clothing almost entirely torn
or. He had been hurled from his place
in the main room through a window,
ana his agonizing cries were most pitt
FOL. Another employee. John Carr. was
hurled from the fifth floor of the build
ing and was found bleeding ana 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 terribly
burned
The little daughter OF William Parks
was sitting near the desk in the office
at the time Of the explosion. and she
was hurled out of the door. She walked
down the elevation on which the build
ing stands and then fell unconscious,
suffering from wounds from which she
died soon after.
The heat became so intense that 20
cars on sldlngs near the burning build
ing were added to the loss. The fire de-
partment had a hard struggle to save
other elevators and property. The bridge
across the Maumee river was on fire
several times but outside OF the loss of
the elevator the damage is slight.
Mr.. Paddock, a member of the firm
owning the plant said that there was
between 100000 and 100000 bushels OF
grain in storage at the time, most of II
being winter wheat. The loss will reach
$3.50 900. Insurance is S135,000 on the
building, and the grain is covered with
1858 900 insurance.