The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-06
DOWN TO ELEVEN.
Latest Estimate of Dead in
Chicago Gas Explosion.

Chicago, Feb. Sit is now believed
that eleven is the correct number of
people who lost their lives by the explo-
sion of gas in the Trostel butcher shop
at 376 Twenty-second street last night.
The bodies, eharred past human semb-
lance in the majority of cases, lay at a
nearby morgue today. while firemen, as
sisted by laborers still dug in the ruins
on the bare possibility that more bodies
might be under the debris. Fire Chief
Musham today declared his belief that
the explosion was that of a pocket of
gas. A force of laborers was put at
work at daybreak tearing up and re-
pairing the gas pipes which figure in the
two explosions which followed that in
the butcher shop. When the coroner
learned of it he ordered the work stop
ped. II want no changes in present con-
ditions made unless necessary until
have Investigated fully to discover If
negligence was in any way responsible
for the loss of life" said he.
The following is believed to be cor
rected list of the dead:
OTTO TROSTEL, owner of butcher
shop.
AUGUSTA TROSTEL, wife of above
OTTO TROSTEL, JR., aged IL years.
ANNA TROSTEL, aged 3 years.
LENA TROSTEL, aged years.
MINNIE TROSTEL, aged years.
TROSTEL, baby, aged years.
FRED TROSTEL, nephew of Otto
Trostel.
SOPHIA NEIPP, niece of Mrs. Tros-
tel.
MARY ROsENTHAL, aged 81 years,
a neighbor visiting shop.
"Otto,' an empioye; last name not
known.
Two business men in the vicinity said
the explosion was in defective boiler
connected with the gas system in the
basement of the building occupied by
Butcher Trostel, which employees had
attempted to thaw out. Others insisted
the explosion was caused by the gas it
self, but they We're unable to say now
the gas had caused it.
The experts of the Peoples Gas COM
pany are investigating the cause and
are as vet uncertain. They think some
one was thawing out a pipe and that
the explosion resulted. The city fire
marshal is likewise uncertain as to the
first cause.
The most graphic story of the accident
was told by J. Pauly of 366 Twenty-sec-
ond street, who stood across street when
the building went up.
THE first thing l knew" he said, i
was blown against a telegraph pole. l
was facing the market and it seemed
that the whole building rose up in the
air at once and then collapsed into the
cellar, a heap of ruins l ran across the
street, and as I crossed the car tracks
could hear the cries of the people inn
prisoned in the wreckage. Almost i'm
mediately the flames burst out all over
the place, ana II seemed InaI everything
was on fire at once
Then caught sight of a man crawl
ing out from the basement. He did not
seem to be badly hurt and called for
help. / recognized him as the sausage
maker, Troste1 had hired a few days be-
fore do not know his name. Anc\1er
man and I jumped down to help him
and between us we got him to the street
He was able to walk and went away at
once.
THE first explosion in the building
disconnected the gas mains and they
caught fire at once. The fire seemed to
follow the pipes and five minutes later
the manhole west in Archer avenue
blew up with a report almost as loud as
the first The manhole to the east fol-
lowed in a few minutes.
I'VE could hear the cries in the base
ment growing fainter and we had to al
low the sufferers to die without doing
anything to help them"
j. c. Kleiner, of the drug store at
Archer avenue and Twenty-second
street, was witness to the explosion
He says that no one came from the
butcher shop after the shock.
IT was standing in the front of my
store when the explosion occurred Mr.
Kleiner said IT was just looking down
Twenty-second street when the building