The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-26
EXPLOSION OF BENZOL
CHEWING GUM LABORATORY IN
RUINS AN MUCH DAMAGE DONE.
Two Men Killed, Three People Ser
iOusIy Hurt and Over a Score Sc
verely Burned or Cut by Glass.

PHILADELPHIA, April 25.-By the ex-
plosion Of seventy-five gallons of benzol In
the laboratory of Frank H. Fleer & Co..
manufacturers of chewing gum, at 2S43 CAL
lowhill street. to-day. two men were killed.
three persons seriously injured and over a
score OF others were more or less injured
by flying debris.
This Dead
WALTER MANWARING. assistant su-
pe~rintendent.
CHARLES M'KINLEY, engineer.
Some Of the Injured
SALLIE Z. STACKHOUSE. aged thirty
seven, internal injuries.
GEORGE CONNERS, of Camden, N. J.,
arms and hands badly burned.
EDWARD CALANOUGH, aged thirteen.
internal injuries.
MICHAEL HAWAIIAN, aged thirty-two,
burned about the head.
UNKNOWN FIREMAN. injured by fall
Ing wreckage.
MRS. LIZZIE DoNOHUE. not seriously.
BARR, blown from her doorstep
into the street, slight
MRS. O'DONNELL and infant, blown
from doorway into the street, slight.
CHARLES MARION. twelve years old,
cut by flying glass.
HARRY RANDALL. of Camden. N. j..
scalp lacerated and body burned.
FRANK GIvISON, aged one year, badly
burned.
MRS. GIvISON. seriously burned.
MARGARET DRISCOLL, cut by flying
glass.
JOHN M'KEE head and legs cut.
JOHN ZIMMERMAN, bruised and cut.
THOMAS DAILY. cut by flying glass.
ANDREW MONAHAN, cut by flying
glass.
OF the injured. Harry Randall, an en-
ploye, and Mrs. Givison and her son are the
most seriously hurt. but they will recover.
The explosion was a terrific one and for a
time caused the widest excitement. Nc less
than 100 buildings in the vicinity, most OF
them small dwellings, were damaged. The
laboratory building was a two-story struct-
TIRE. AT the time of the explosion there
were only four men working in the building
who were preparing a mixture for the max
ing of vanilline. The doors to the room In
which they were working were closed. but
the fumes from the benZol in some manner
reached the furnace in the next room and
the explosion instantly followed. Manwar-
ing was instantly killed and Mckinley was
so badly hurt that he died several hours
later in a hospital.
Randall's escape was remarkable. He was
blown through the roof and landed on an
adjoining building. At first il was thought
he was dead. but after treatment in the
hospital he regained consciousness AL
though badly hurt he will recover. George
Connor, the fourth employe I'm the room. es-
capped with a few severe bruises. AS Mrs.
Givison, with her child in her arms, was
hurriedly leaving her home. which was d.
iectly opposite the laboratory, her dress
caught fire from a burning ember and she
and the child were badly burned. Their re-
covery is doubtful.
The explosion was so terrific that the
buildings adjoining on each side of the lab
oratory were completely demolished. On
both sides OF the street for a whole square
the explosion wrought destruction. Win
lows were broken. fixtures were smashed
and walls were cracked. Fire added 10 the
destruction in a number OF the places. but
the flames were quickly extinguishcd before
they did any considerable damage. The
score OF persons injured were all tenants of
the many dwellings and were in no way con-
nected with the laboratory. Some were Sc
verely cut by glass. while many of them
We're struck by flying debris. The money
loss is estimated to be considerably over
| 100000.