New-York tribune., 1900-12-04
EXPLOSION KILLS FIVE.
DESTRUCTION IN CHICAGO RAILWAY
STATION BY BURSTING OF A BOILER
OF THE ELECTRIC PLANT

Chicago. Dec. 3.-Four men and one boy were
instantly killed and thirteen other persons were
injured by the explosion of a boiler in the cleo
trio plant Of the Chicago and Northwestern road
this evening Several Of the injured persons are
hurt so badly that they may die. The dead are
August Claman. a section foreman. killed by
falling debris; three unidentified men, one about
forty years old, blown through the roof Of the
building and badly mangled; another about
twenty years old. blown through the roof OF the
building, and one leg torn off and otherwise
mangled. and a third whose name is supposed
to be schriner covered with falling debris and
boy. twelve years who killed by flying
bricks and debris
Among the injured are John Butterworth'
chief electrician of the poweThouse. skull tract
ured, internal injuries will probably die; An
thony Krause. badly scalded. chest crushed, ooth
elbows dislocated will probably die; August
Beck, Milwaukee, injured by part OF roof OF
parlor car falling him; Mrs. August Beck.
Milwaukee thrown against seat internally IN
jured, may die. and Michael McGregor. severely
burned, may die
The powerhouse was a two story structure,
which stood west of the passenger station and
north Of the tracks leading into il. On the hrst
floor was the boiler room, containing battery
OF four boilers. and the dynamo room, which
held nine dynamos. Twelve men were employed
around the building. and. in addition TO such OF
these were prestnt at the time, number OF
strangers were standing around watching the
dynarnos -Four of those killed were not en-
poyed by the road. and all four bodies were
taken to the mOrgue unidentified.
1t is not known what caused the explosion, as
everything in the boiler room seemed in excel
lent condition. according to the uninjured men,
At a few minutes after O'Clock one Of the
boilers in the centre of the of four burst.
with a detonation that was plainly heard at
points a mile distant. The end of the boiler
nearest the tracks the weak part Of the
structure and it few toward the station tracks
and landed fully seventy feet away from its
starting point The boiler itself. which weighed
ten tons, lies tonight sixty feet from the
boiler house.
Just as the explosion occurred the Ashland
limited train was pulling out of the station
The greater part Of the train had passed, and
although the cars were all battered with falling
brick and debris. none Of them were badly
damaged and the passengers within them es-
capped unhurt.
The last two cars, Pullman sleeper and a
drawing room car. were not so fortunate, and
the boilerhead and the boiler itself caught them
The boiler struck the car In the rear. while the
boiIerhead ploughed through the one immediate
ly in front Fortunately. both flew high and
struck the cars above the windows. carrying
away portions OF the roof and vestibule. Few
of the passengers happened at the time 10 be IN
the ends OF the two cars hit by the flying metal.
and such of them as were hurt were struck By
dving splinters or suffered from being 'thlown
violently to the floor.
on the train were Mr.. and Mrs. August Beck
of Milwaukee and Mr.. and Mrs. William Becker,
OF Sheboygan. Wis. Both couples were returning
from their bridal tours and all four persons
were injured. Mrs. Beck dashed against a
seat in the car and sustained internal injuries.
which may prove fatal Neither OF the cars
was thrown from the track, and the engine
drew them a considerable distance before COM
ing TO a stop.
The destruction Of the electric lighting plant
caused darkness in the station, and the pile OF
debris which was thrown across the tracks tenn
porarily blocked the suburban traffic Of the road
Every attention 10 the wounded persons was
shown by the officials OF the Northwestern road
All were conveyed quickly as possible 10
hospitals where their wounds were dressed
The property loss to the road will not be far
from S10gOl0 The boiler house was practically
reduced to a ruin. two sides being blown com
pletey cut and the costly electric plant Was
nearly torn to pieces. The regular traffic Of The
road was delayed about four hours, II requiring
that length OF time to clear the tracks. The
cause Of the explosion is mystery. the pollers
having been inspected by the insurance COM
panies or September l and November l. and be-
ing reported in perfect order.