Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-02-12
BLAST KILLS MANY.
EXPLOSION IN CHICAGO MEAT
SHOP SPREADS RUIN.
Family of Seven Wiped Out - Four
Other Persons Vanish - ManhoIes
Blow Up and Flames Leap from
Openings and ignite Near Buildings.

SpNhAAf-S anu a GuitS near hu1Id IL -.
Ten persons, including family of sew.
en- members, persisted in fire that was
accompanied by au extensive series Of eX-
ploSions or TweAty second street. Chi
cage, at I o'clock Wednesday evening
There are four other supposed victims
of the disaster. The flames, which de-
stroyed the building at 302 Twenty-sec-
ond street, had their origin in the butch
er shop owned by Otto Trostel and is
said to have been caused by an explosion
of gas. The entire neighborhood was
shaken by the blast and scores of per-
sons Were injured by falling glass Add
ing to the general horror the gas mains
in the district ignited and explosion af-
ter explosion followed the destruction Of
the Trostel home.
The first explosion occurred during the
busiest hour of the day in Trosters
butcher shop. No one appears able :"
explain the cause Many of those who
were in tse shop at the time succeeded in
reaching the street, bat Trostel and his
family persisted. Trostel lived above
the butcher shop and neighbors say his
wife and children were about TO retire
when the explosion occurred. Immedi-
ately after the first explosion the build
ing occupied by TroStel collapsed and in
few seconds the adjoining structure fell
in heap. The latter building was occu-
pied by John w. Mcleod as a saloon
and the proprietor was standing in the
front door when the explosion occurred,
1he crashing OF glass for several blocks
on either side of the burning buildings
created a panic and men, women and
children flocked into the streets in ter
ror.
Several hremen after their arrival on
the scene declared that they heard the
| cries of children in the Trostel home, but
before they could enter the building il
had collapsed. Flames shot up from the
debris and at The same time the gas
mains in the district began to burst with
| rumbling detonations.
The explosions followed SO quickly that
it was hard to distinguish them, The
| first was in a main at Twenty
| street and Archer avenue Then the
| cover of the manh0le half il block south
| in Archer avenue was thrown into the
! air with loud report. Flames sprang
| from the hole. The fire spread below tho
| street and the covers of smaller man
| holes were blown into the air West il
Twenty street third main ex
| ploded.
The flames from the main in Twenty
second street shot high into the air and
reached with the aid of the wind the
butcher shop of Otto Trostel The build
| ing was three-story frame structure
| The fire reached ont aud caught the
| weather-worn timbers. The dry Woo
was a feeding place for the flames ans
in moment they had enyeloped tn,
doomed structure At this juncture the
building collapsed.
! The adjoining two-story structure tbcT
fiared up and n moment later IA ada
cent building caught fire
1t seemed that the whole block woult
be wiped out before the tiremen coul,
bring the blaze under control But ilr
wall of a brick building at the corner .
Archer avenue aud Twenty-secoud stree
checked the flames in that direction.
Disaster had followed the explosion
The district was wrecked Window glas
had been broken and bottles and glass
ware in saloons had been thrown TO tn
floor and shattered. Officials of the IA
company say that they can give no eX
PLANTATION of the explosions.