The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-26
OFFICIALS MAKE
CLOSE INQUIRY
Regulations May Result to
Prevent Any Repetition of
the Oil Explosion.

1t is highly probable that city and
state legislation will be induced by
the disaster of Thursday at the plant
of the Northwestern Star Oil company.
While probably no human being is con-
verSant with the exact conditions
which preceded the explosion, which
cost the lives of ten persons, and while
nothing can be learned concerning the
origin of the bloW-up, theory seems
to point to the fact that the cataStro
phe was directly resultant upon care
less and negligent system of handling
the tons of oils representing the stock
of the concern.
In the light of this and Of the fact
that the establishment was operated
just as many others of its kind are OPP
Grated throughout the state, there is
every reason for the legislature and
the council to get busy at the earliest
possible date to provide regulations
which will obviate the possibility of
recurrence of the horrible East side
accident.
Deputy State OIL Inspector Ward has
instituted a searching investigation
and the Minneapolis city council has
appointed q committee to look into
the matter. The best theory that can
be advanced at the present time is that
the gases which cannot be prevented
from escaping from the oil tanks per-
they spread to the boiler fires, thus
causing the explosion.
Engineer Craig, who left the plant
five minutes before the explosion, de-
clares that there was no unusual
amount of fumes in the building when
he departed for luncheon. but here
possibility is suggested to those who
are Investigating the disaster which
may have considerable weight in fu-
ture procedure. 1t is that when en-
ployes of an oil plant have become
thoroughly Injured to the gases which
naturally emanate from the tanks and
barrels, they are unable to notice any
increase or decrease in the volume.
It appears that W. H. Davis, preSi-
dent and sole owner of the company,
who was killed, had figured this ques-
ton out for himself, for it has devel-
Oped that so long as a year ago he
had expressed fear of such an acct
dent as cost him and nine Of his en-
plOyeS their lives.
He had a plan Of removing the
tanks to the river bank, two blocks
away, where he thought to bury them
and connect them with the buildings
of the company by pipes. Why he
failed to carry it out will never be
known.
Three May Never Be Found.
Seven of the victims have been re-
moved from the ruins and claimed by
relatives. The bodies of Foreman Da-
cey and John Spotanske and Joseph
LaphOnd, laborers, may never be re-
covered. These three men went down
into the fierces part of the wreck and
flame, and it is believed that they
We're completely incinerated.
There is considered to be little hone
for the recovery of Walter E. Scott
who all but shared the fate of his of
flee companions, and who has been Iy-
ing at the point Of death on cot at
the city hospital.
The ruin is still smoking and smol-
dering, although the paint and oil
which up to yesterday covered both
the debris and the two feet of water
IN the basement, has been burned aWav.
1t is considered unlikely by the search
erS that any strangers met death in
The building, as from the position of
each body recovered it is figured that
each member of the office and shed
force was at his usual post of duty
and no bodies have been found near
those of theirs.
The coroner will hold no inuuests.
Heart-rending scenes are occasional