New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-03-12
EXPLOSION KILLS EIGHT
SIX MORE MISSING AND MANY HURT BY
ACCIDENT IN CHICAGO LAUNDRY.

Chicago, March 1l.-By the explosion Of the
boiler in the Dorernus laundry. at No. 4oS West
Madison-s:.. this morning eight persons were
instantIy killed, forty-two were injured.
The cause Of the explosion has not been deter
mined, and il win probably require an official
investigation 10 settle the matter. II is known
that the boiler was an old, second hand one. and
shere is no record in the office Of the city boiler
Inspector Of any inspection having been made
in the last year. Pending the verdict OF the
oorouer's Jury, A. /. Doremus. the proprietor
of the laundry is held in custody by the ponce
and Il is the intention Of the authorities TO IN
stitute criminal proceedings against him, should
che facts brought out at the investigation war
rant such proceedings.
The building in which the explosion occurred
WAS known as the old Waverly Theatre, and
WIS built in 1877. Subsequently it was re-
modelled and the rear used by the Doremus
laundry The part OF the auditorium running
toward Throop-st. used by the Volunteers
Of America, while the small stores built out
from the wings of The auditorium and facing on
Madison-st. were rented 10 shopkeepers. The
eylopsion lifted half of the roof OF the immense
building many feet in the air. 1t fell PACK
snto the ruins Of the building carrying with Il
me portion of the brick walls that had not been
blown outward, and burying under tons OF
debris the unfortunate employees.
The zvreclsage near the boiler and in the east
part OF the building at once took IRE. ana the
Fire Department. although at work hve minutes
after the explosion. had some difficulty in e1-
1fnguishing the flames. Through the binding
clouds Of dust and escaping steam could be
seen struggling men and women, some OF them
half buried in wreckage. The work OF rescue
began at once. Here and there were dead bodies,
generally those of women. and in two instances
go frigh;fuy mangled that baskets We're used
by freTnen TO carry them out.
Most of the dead were found in the east end
IF the building, where the fire was hottest
Pinioned down under tons OF heavy timbers,
crushed and mangled almost beyond identified
ton, and in one two instances half cooked,
this point was 80 massed that the fremen had
great difficulty in working.
All Of the dozen more little stores at
tached TO the Waverly Theatre and facing on
AIadson-st. were wrecked by the explosion. In
n restaurant owned by Peter Dean one of the
fatalities is supposed TO have occurred. The
rear OF the restaurant was almost opposite the
boiler Mr. Dean, his wife and two boys were
eating al the time of the explosion which blew
IN the rear wall Of the little establishment, bury
ing the Dean family
All were extricated except William a ten
year-old boy, who has not yet been found and
who IS believed TO be buried in the ruins. A
Madison-st. cable train passing the building at
the time was almost lifted from the tracks by
the force OF the explosion, and the passengers
however.
Five girls working in the PAPER nache works
Of ]. K. Young. occupying part of the wrecked
building, narrowly escaped death. The plant
was completely wrecked and the roof blown in,
but none OF the employees We're injured.