The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-04

Chicago. Dec. 3-Four men and one boy
were instantly killed and thirteen people
injured by the explosion OF boiler in the
power house OF the Chicago and North
western road this evening. Several OF thu
injured are hurt so badly that they may
die. The dead:
AUGUST cLAAAN. section foreman.
Unidentified man. about forty years OF age bloza
through roof Of building
Unidentified man. about twenty years Of age,
blown through roof OF building
Unidentified man, name supposed to be schrner.
Unidentified boy, twelve years Of age, killed ~
nying bricks.
The injured:
John Bai;srworth. chief electrician Of power
house; viii probably die.
Anthony Krause: Will probably die.
August Beck. Milwaukee.
Mrs. August Beck. Milwaukee: may die.
William Becker. sheboygan. Wis
Mrs. Ethel Becker. Sheboygsn, wis-
Michael MeGresor; may die.
Joseph Koyelski-
George ellis.
John Brown.
Carl Peters.
August Hoitz.
Eugene Gingrlek.
Foar Of the Dead Unknews.
The power-house was a two-story struc-
ture which stood west Of the passenger
station and north of the tracks leading In
to it, On the first floor was the boiler
room. containing a battery of four boil-
ers. and the dynamO-room, which held
nine dynamOs. Twelve men were en-
ployed around the building. and in addi-
uon TO such of these as were present at
the time, a number of strangers were
standing around watching the dynamos.
-Four of those killed we're people not en-
ployed by the road, and all four bodies
were taken TO the morgue unidentified.
IL is not known what caused the explo-
sion, as everything in the boiler-room
seemed In excellent condition, according
TO the uninjured men who worked in the
place. At few minutes past 8 O'Clock
one of the boilers in the center OF the row
OF four burst with a detonatlon that was
plainly heard at points a mile distant II
new toward the depot tracks and landed
iuily seventy feet away.
Cars Torn by Debris.
Just as the explosion occurred the Ash
land Limited train was pulling out OF the
station. The greater part OF The train
had passed. and although the cars were
all heavily battered with falling bricks
and debris. none OF them was badly dam
aged, and the passengers within them es-
capped unhurt.
The last two cars-a Pullman sleeper
and a drawing-room car-were not so
fortunate. and the bOiler-head ana the
boiler itself caught them. The boiler
struck the car in the rear. while the boil
Ell head plowed through the one imme-
dlately in front. Fortunately both flew
high and struck the cars above the wiE-
dows. carrying away portions Of the roof
and vestibule. But few Of the passengers
happened at the time to be in the ends OF
the two cars hit by the flying metal, and
such OF them as were hurt were struck by
flying splinters or suffered from being
thrown 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 tour, and all four were injured.
Mrs. Beck was dashed against a seat in
the car and sustained internal injuries
which may prove fatal.
The destruction OF the electric lighting
plant plunged the depot into darkness.
and the pile of debris which was thrown
across the tracks temporarily blocked tho
suburban traffic Of the road
The property loss to the road will not
be far from 10000. The boiler-house was
practically reduced to d ruin. two sides
being blown completely out, and the cost.
ly electric plant was nearly torn TO pieces.