The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-02
Thirteen Lives Were Sucriaced Ina m
Most Horrible Manner-score. Of
People Were Injured and Had ,o
be Sent to HospitaIs-Thc Large
Structure Was Torn to Pfeces-Ad-
Joining Buildings Were Also
Wrecked - Firemen and Ambu-
lnRccs Were Called to the Scene
From all Parts of the City.

Chicago. November 29.-With a deaf
ening report a boiler in Swift & Com
panys plant exploded shortly after 10
o'clock this morning. Thirteen lives
were sacrificed and scores of employees,
visitors and others were injured. Huge
boilers We're sent through the roof of
the structure and hurled hundreds OF
feet. Nobody within the boiler room
survived to tell the story of the accI-
dent, and 1t may never be known
what caused the explosion. \ careful
investigation today. however, con-
vinced the experts that the explosion
was the result of cdrelessress on the
part of an employe, whose own life
also was sacrificed. Five minutes after
the explosion nothing of the building
but a pile of twisted iron, bricks and
mortar remained
Sheets of flames sprang from the
ruins and the spectators realized that
1t would be impossible to save the lives
of those who were caught in the
wreck The explosion was OF such force
that adjoining buildings were wrecked.
torn and twisted like toys Men, wo-
men and boys, at work IN adjoining de-
partments, were hurled through win
dowS to the ground beloy. Many of
them escaped with but slight bruises
but most of the victims were hurt to
such an extent that II was necessary
to remove them to hospitals others
were taken to their homes The st of
dead. compiled by the police and officers
of the company, is as follows:
ii. Arnold, colored, taken to Mercy
q I a "a ind To
colored; A. Rachug, Sewerae; Simon
Tate, colored fireman: w. o. O'Con,
nor, sewer digger; Z. Wright, colored.
fireman; NJ. Parks, foreman: Thomas
Holmes, engineer; Charles Webb. col
ored. fireman; John Henry, colored,
! fireman; Albert NJ. Bushnell, purchas-
| ing agent; Cubat. mill wright,
| died at Mercy hospital; - Schultz.
| mill wright
1t 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 ambu-
| lances. A dozen patrol wagons and rs
| many ambulances were sent from all
| parts Of the city. Extra calls for the
fire engines followed and soon the
| flames were being fought from every
side. While the fire was still burn
| ing, police, firemen and employees of
| the packing firms began digging in
| the ruins. Soon the mingled remains
| o. a man were discovered At the
| same time other rescuers were digging
| with desperation to rescue several vic
| TINS who were still alive.
Bodies, torn, bruised and hangied,
| were taken from the ruins and sent To
| the morgues. A boy, Scalded from
| heal to foot and bleeding from cuts
and bruises, staggered toward the Of
fee of General superintendent @. o.
| Young The boy was Mr.. Young's
| personal messenger. The lad. however.
had been sa badly disfigured 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 caused by cold water inject
ed into the boiler, but a majority OF
| investigators held the opinion that the
catastrophe had been caused by low
water. Nothing was learned. however.
and as all the men in the boiler room
were killed, SO it is not likely the cause
of the accident Will ever be known. II
is not thought that the loss to Swift
and Company Will amount to more
| than $50 900.