The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-30
BOILERS BURST AND
LEAP THROUGH ROOF
Explosions Roar Death KneII
for thirteen.
ALL IN BOILER ROOM DEAD
The Scene Of the Disaster in Swift and Com
pany's Plant, Chicsg4 g4---The Cause of
the Explosion May Never
be Known.
(By the Associated Press


Chicago, Nov. 29.-With a deafeninr
| report, boiler in Swift e Company's
plant exploded shortly after ten o'clock
| this morning. Thirteen lives were sac
rificed and scores of employees, visitors
and others We're injured. Huge boil.
ers were sent through the roof Of the
structure and hurled hundreds of feet.
| Nobody within the boiler room survived
to tell the story of the accident. and it
may never be known what caused the
| explosion. A careful investigation TODAY.
however, convinced the experts that the
explosion was the result of carelessness
on the part of an employe, whose own
| life also was sacrificed. Five minutes
after the explosion nothing of the build
ing but pile of twisted iron, bricks ard
| mortar remained
Sheets of flame 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-
ploson was of such force that adjoining
buildings were wrecked, torn and twisted
like toys. 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 it was nee
essary to remove them to hospitals 9th
ers were taken to their homes. The list
of dead, compiled by the police officers
of the company, follows:
H. ARNOLD. colored. taken to Mercy
Hospital where he tfied.
NAMES OWENS, colored.
A. RACHUG. sewer digger.
SIMON TATE. colorcd fireman.
w. o. O'CONNOR, sewer digger.
f. WRIGHT, colored, fireman.
w. PARKS. foreman.
THOMAS HOLMES, engineer.
CHARLES WEBB, colored, fireman.
JOHN HENRY, colored. fireman
ALBERT NJ. BUSHNELL, purchasing
agent
-- CUAT, millwright, died at Mercy
Hospital.
- SCHULTZ, ,millwrght.
Tt was rumored that from fifty to
hundred persons had been caught in the
wrecked building. This report caused
great excitement and repeated calls
were sent for police and amublances. A
dozen patrol wagons and as many ambu-
lances were sent from all parts OF the
city. Extra calls for the fire engines
followed and soon the flames We're being
fought from every side While the fire
was still burning. police, firemen and
employees of the packing firms began
digging in the ruins Soon the mangled
remains of a man were discovered. At
the same time other rescucrs We're dig
ging with desperation to rescue several
victims who were still alive.
Bodies, torn, bruised and mangled
were taken from the ruins and sent to
the morgues. boy, scalded from head
to foot and bleeding from cuts and
bruises, staggered toward the office of
the general superintendent, G. O. Young
The boy was Mr.. Youngs personal mes
senger The lad, however, had been so
badly disfiured that Mr.. Young did not
recognize him.
Many theories were advanced as to
the responsibility for the disaster. The
inspector decided that the explosion had
been cause by cold water injected into
the boiler, but a majority of investiga-
tors held the opinion that the catas-
trophe had been caused by low water.
Nothing was learned, however, and, as
all the men in the baler room were
killed. it is not likely the cause of tho
accident ever will be known. 1t is not
thought that tthe oss to Swift & Com
pany will amount to more than $4,000.