The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-30
Swift S Co.'s Plant at Chicago
 a Mass of Debris
SCORES OF PERSONS HURT l
Boiler ExpIodes and Entire Building Is Demolished, Burylng Work men In the RuIns-Adjoin-
 Ing Houses Wrecked.

Chicago, November 2a-With a deafen- ing report a boiler in Swift & Co.'S plant exploded shortly after 10 o'clock this morning. Thirteen lives were saeri- feed and scores of employees, visitors and others were injured. Huge boilers were sent through the roof of the structure and hurled hundreds of feer.
 Nobody within the boiler room sur- vived to tell the story of the accident. and 1t may never be known what caused the explosion. A careful Investigation to- day, however, convinced the experts that the explosion was the result of careless ness on the part of an employe, whose life was also sacrificed. Five minutes after the explosion nothing remained of the building but a pile of twisted iron, bricks and mortar.
 Sheets of flames sprang from the ruins and the spectators realized that it would be impossible to save the lives of those who were caught in the wreck. The ex- plosion was of such force that a. ad- joining buildings were wrecked torn. and twisted. Men, women and boys at work in adjoining departments were hurled through windows to the ground below. Many of them escaped with but slight bruises, but most of the victims were hurt to such an extent that 1t was necessary to remove them to hospitals. Others were taken to their homes.
 List of Dead.
 The list of dead, compiled by the po- lice and officers of the company, follows; P. A. Arnold, colored. James Owens, colored.
 A. Rachug, sewer digger. simon Tate, colored. w. O. OConnor sewer digger. b. Wright, colored.
 W. Parks, foreman.
 Thomas Holmes, engineer. Charles Webb, colored, fireman. John Henry, colored, fireman Albert M. Bushnell, purchasing agent.
 = Cubat, millwright
 - Schultz. millwright
 The injured are: N. DeVoore, F. F. Francis, E. Minnick. IA years old, mes- senger boy, may die; M. T. Ash, J. Franks, R. Venable. K. Chandler, w. T.. Wells, N. F. Oliver, J. D. Cooper, E. Olsen, J. Angus, J. D. Ogden, Moses Ber- ryman, J. McArdie. Louis Zirk, Herman P. Relaste John Walsh, James M. Wlash, Edward Jones. Richard Hallo- way, Peter Steinback, Clinton, Ia. i;
  | Mattie Lynch, N. I. Endora. B. Zirman. J. WrennA carpenter.
 Great Excitement. It was rumored that from fifty to one hundred persons had been caught in the wrecked building. This report caused great excitement and repeated calls were | sent for police and ambulances. While the fire was still burning. police, firemen and employees of the packing firms be- l gan digging in the ruins. Soon the mangled remains of a man were discover ed. Bodies, torn. bruised or mangled, were taken from the ruins and sent to the morgues. A boy scalded from head to foot and bleeding from cuts and bruises, staggered toward the office of General Superintendent c. O. Young. The boy was MT. Young's personal messenger. The lad had, however. been so badly dishgured that MT. Young did not recognize him.
 Many theories were advanced as to the responsibility for the disaster but it Is not likely that the facts will ever be exactly ascertained.
 It is not thought that the loss to Swift & Go. will amount to more than $50,000.
 With the exception of the demolished boiler house, small brick building there is no damage that cannot be repaired within ten days.