The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-21


The spontaneous combustion of dust in
the grain elevator owned by Paddock,
Hodge & Co., at Q o'clock. caused this terri
bic destruction of life, and none of those
who was taken out after the fire started was
far enough from deaths door to tell any of
the details William J. Parks. the super
intendent, after being blown through the
window of the lower story. was conscious
for moment and said that at about $3.50
o'clock terrible explosion occurred on the
south side of the elevator and that he knew
there were about twenty men at work on
the seven floors of the enormous building.
Besides those regularly employed at the
elevator the three children of Superintend-
ent Parks were visiting him at the time.
One of these may recover from his burns.
but Grace, a seventeen-year-old girl. is
burned almost beyond>> recognition, and
Harold, the third child, has not been found,
being either blown to atoms or cremated.
At $3.50 o'clock last evening the people of
East Toledo were startled by terrific ex-
plosion. which caused panic all over the
neighborhood. Houses were shaken as if
by an earthquake, and windows We're shat
tered for blocks around. Those in the
vicinity of the Union elevator soon noticed
flames bursting from all sides of the build
ing. 1t 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 off
escape on one side, and there 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 CALI
ing for their imprisoned husbands, brothers
and fathers made a scene indescribable
1t was learned that the force of twenty
men expected to load so 900 bushels of grain
during the night. Not one of the entire
number could be seen in any part of the
building and it was impossible to reach
them. William Parks was found first. He
was twenty feet from the building fright
fully burned and his clothing almostly en-
tirely torn off. He had been hurled from his
place in the main room through window
and his agonizing cries were most pitiful.
Another employe, John Carr, was hurled
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 Charles Keifer, the en-
gineer. was found at their places in the en-
gine rooms. 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 she was hurled out of
the door, She walked down the elevation
on which the building stands and dropped
down. to be carried away unconscious, suf-
fering from wounds from which she cannot
recover. John Smith was fatally burned.
He was literally disemboweled and was
taken 10 the hospital to die.
The missing men are doubtless all dead.
No trace can be found of any of them, and
as they We're employed at the top of the
elevator their chances of escape were but
slight.
The heat became so intense that twenty
cars standing on the sidings near the burn
ing building were added to the loss. The
fire department had hard stsuggle to save
other elevators and property. The bridge
across the Maumee river was on fire sew
ereI times. but outside the loss OF the ele-
vator the damage Is slight.
Mr.. Paddock member Of the firm own