Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-09-22
EIGHT ARE CREMATtD
Fatal. EXPLOSION AND FIRE IN
TOLEDO.
ELEVATOR Blu
BIG
Twenty Men at Work in the Structure
When 1t Is WreCAed by Terrific
ENplosion-Three Children AmonS
the Nictims--urain Makes Big
Bia2e-Pecuniary Loss S5So,ou0.

Toledo, @. Sept. @l.-Eight people
cremated, eigL fatally burned ana
result of the most DIS
astrous fire that ever occurred in To-
ledo. Spontaneous combustion OF
dust in the grain elevator owned by
Haddock, Hodge n Co Tuesday night
caused this terrible destruction OF life.
William j. Parks, superintendent, at-
ter being blown through a window Of
the lower story, was conscious long
enough TO say that at $50 there was a
terrible explosion on the south side
of the elevator, and that he knew
there were about 70 men at work on
the several floors of the enormous
building.
Besides those regularly employed at
the elevator, three children OF Will
liam }. Parks were visiting him at
the time. One of these may recover
from his burns, but Grace, seven years
old, was burned almost beyond recog-
milton, and Harold his third child,
has not been found, being either
plONH W dlOlllS VI SISlidlSu.
At $50 p. m. The people OF East
Toledo We're startled by terrific en-
plosion which started panic all over
the neighborhood. Houses were
shaken as in an earthquake and win
dows were shattered for blocks
around. Those in the vicinity of the
Union elevator soon noticed names
bursting from all sides of the build
ing. 1t was but five minutes until 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 where the flames seemed to be
less fierce. The families of those
known to be at work, rushed to the
scene and women calling for their
imprisoned husbands, brothers and
fathers made the scene indesCribable.
1t was learned that force of 70
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 1t
was impossible to reach them any
way. William Parks was found first.
He was 20 feet from the building
and frightfully burned, and his cloth
ing almost entirely torn OFF. He had
been literally hurled from his place
in the main room through window.
Another employee, John Carr, was
hurled from the fifth floor and found
bleeding and burned with many bones
broken. He died in a few minutes.
David Kemp, fireman, and charles
keifer, engineer, We're found in their
places in the engine rooms. They
were wounded by falling timbers and
their faces charred to a crisp by the
flames. The little daughter of VIII
liam 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, suffering from wounds
from which she cannot recover. John
Smith was fatally burned, He was
literally disembowclled and taken to
a hospital 70 die. The missing men
are doubtless ali dead, No track can
be found of any of them and as
they were employed at the top of the
elevator their chances for escape
were slight.
The list of the dead so far as known
follows: Samuel Alexander, Fred,
Garrett, Bert. Wainwright, Harold
Parks, John Smith Grace rarks,
Frank Van Housen, John Car.
The injured: David Kemp, Barney
Welch, Charles Keifer, Fred, Pargil-
lis, ---- Elliott, Charles Brookseeker,
Everett Smith, Hamilton Parks, Will
liam j. Parks, w. G. Jordan.
The pecunia ry loss is s550,000.