The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-09-28
A TOLEDO HORROR
Spontaneous Combustion in Ele-
vator Scatters Destruction.
EIGHT MEN KILLED OUTRIGHT
Scenes OF the Catastrophe. Men
and Children Were Blown
TO Atoms. Names of
the Victims.
the Victims.

S@S41S A@-SAS
fatally burned is the result of the most
disastrous fire that ever occurred in To-
ledo, Ohio. The spontaneous combus-
ton Of dust in the grain elevator own
ed by Paddock Hodge & Company at 9
o'clock caused this terrible destruction
of life.
The dead are: Samuel Alexander.
Bert Wainwright, Fred Garrett, Harold
Parks, John Smith, Grace Parks, Ka-
rang Van Housen, John Carr.
The injured are: David Kemp, Bar
ney WEIGH. Charles Keifer, Fred Par
gillis, -. Elliott, Charles Brocker,
Everett Smith, Hamilton Parks, Viii
liam J. Parks, W. C. Jordan, Peter
Haas, Al. Baldie. -Four others, names
unknown.
William J. Parks, the superinten-
dent, after being blown through the
window Of the lower story, was con-
scious for moment and said that about
$50 o'clock a terrible explosion oc-
CURED 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 thosewho
are now alive will survive the burns ana
bruises with which they are covered.
Beside those regularly employed at the
elevator, the three children of Super
intendent Parks were visiting him at
the time. One Of these may reco7s:
from MS burns, but Grace, a 17.year-
old girl, is burned almost beyond rec
ognition, and Harold, the third child,
has not been found, being either blown
to atoms or cremated.
At $50 Tuesday 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.
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 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 andfath-
ers, made 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
part of the building, and it was impos-
sible to reach them. William Parks
was found first. He was 20 feet from
the building, frightfully burned and
his clothing almost entirely torn of.
He had been hurled from his place in
the main room through window, and
his agonizing cries were most pitifu!.
Another employe, John Carr, was hurl-
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
Charler Keifer, the engineer, were
found at their places in the engine
rooms. They were wounded by fall
ing timbers, and their faces were CHAR
ed to crisp by the flames.
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 dropped down, to be car
ried away unconscious, suffering from
wounds from which she cannot recover.
John Smith was fatally burned.
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
escape were but slight.
The heat became so intense that 20
cars on sidings near the burning build
ing 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 Of the
loss of the elevator, the damage IS
slight.
Mr.. Paddock, member Of the firm
owning the plant, said that there was
between 100000 and 6OO,O bushels
of grain in storage at the time, the most
of It being winter wheat. The prop
erty and the grain is an entire loss and
will reach $3.50 900. Insurance is
Sl35, 900 on the building and the grain
is covered with ;s259,O00 Insurance.
At 1920 o'clock the flames we're under
control.