Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1903-10-10
CATASTROPHE At PEORIA
Fatal Explosion of a Cooker In the
Corning Distilling Co.'s Plant
-Four Persons Killed, Several Injured and
the Establishment Put Out OF
business For = Time.

Peoria, ILL.,, Oct. Am awful catas-
trophe occurred at the plant Of the
Corning Distilling Co, in the extreme
south end of the city, at nine o'clock
Saturday morning, when one Of the
cookers in the main building exploded
with a deafening report killing several
of the employees, manning many more
and completely wrecking that portion
Of the distillery.
The Exploded Cooker.
The cooker is steel contrivanee
about 20 feet In diameter and 80 feet
In length, used in cooking the mashes.
| 1t is presumed vacuum was formed,
and when the steam was turned on TO
cook the days mash the explosion fol-
lowed. The cooker was hurled through
the north wall of the fOur-story struc-
ture, a distance of $50 feet. The entire
north wall of the distillery was blown
down, and the south and east walls
we're also badly damaged. The wreck
age was distributed all over the neigh
borhood. The distillery management
estimates their financial loss at fully
$4,000, and it will be some weeks be-
fore the plant can be repaired suth'
GENTLY to resume operations.
Thousands at the Scene
Thousands of people quickly gath
cred at the scene to assist in the WorF
of rescue. James McManus, an EN-
ploye of the cooker room, was first re
moved from the wreck. He was dead
having been instantly killed. jane
O'Keefe was still alive when removed
: He was badly burned all over his bod,
by the scaldlng steam, and died a feV
minutes after his removal to the COT
tags hospital.
Neill Powell. the assistant enginee
Of the cooker room, was dead whe
taken out. George Schaeffer, a boy l
: years of age, was alive wnen taken oul
:. but died on the way to the hospital II
was scalded all over his body. An un
known man has been taken to the hos
8 pital. He is in an unconscious cono
tion. and there seems to be no hope
his recovery.
n DiNicultieS of the search
g Owing 10 the complete wreck, tn
n search for the bodies is attended wit
g the utmost difficulty. Several employ'
3, are still missing, and 1t is feared the
IS will be taken out dead.
h, The following is believed to be
ID complete list of the casualties;
81 The dead.
al lanes MManus, instantly killed
re the cooker room.
s. Powell Neil assistant engineer
IN the cooker ROOM taken out dead.
rs James O'Keefe, badly burned
t. over his body; died in the ambulan
on way to Cottage hospital.
at George Schsetfer, aged Is year
ed scalded all over his body; died on Wi
lis to the hospital.
ly The missing:
John Wilson, government storekee
Ut er
re Guy Brennan, yeast maker
oH The injured.
re Daniel Cashin; both legs fracture
or burned on arm; it is thought he W
aS recover.
lot James Welsh; burned on body, \
Oh badly; will recover.
George c. George, us Warner a'
elk nue.; scalded about the head, IA
ms hands and legs; not serious.
er- Charles Lane, 3217 South Washir
cir ton street hands burned; not serio
ley Unknown man, called THE Dagc
~ badly scalded about the head; uncc
'na scious,
lth Corning's distillery was compaI
'rk lively new house, having been erect
on two years ago, and had a capacity
lEe / q nOD bngba1u MOI. iay