The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1903-10-09
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 deafening report, killing several
of the employees, manning many more
and completely wrecking that portion
of the distillery.
The Exploded Cooker.
The cooker is a steel contrivance
about 20 feet in diameter and 80 feet
in length, used in cooking the mashes.
1t is presumed a 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
were also badly damaged. The wreck
age was distributed all over the neigh
borhood. The distillery management
estimates their financial loss at fully
SIS, 900, and it will be some weeks be-
fore the plant can be repaired suf6-
GENTLY to resume operations.
Thousands at the Scene.
Thousands of people quickly gath
cred at the scene to assist in the work
of rescue James McManus, an en-
plove of the cooker room, was first re-
moved from the wreck. He was dead,
having been instantly killed. James
O'Keefe was still alive when removed.
He was badly burned all over his body
by the scaIding steam, and died Few
minutes after his removal to the cot
tage hospital.
Neill Powell. the assistant engineer
of the cooker room, was dead when
taken out George Schaeffer, boy 10
years of age, was alive wnen taken out,
but died on the way to the hospital. He
was scalded all over his body. An un-
known man has been taken to the hos
pital. He is in an unconscious cond1-
ton. and there seems to be no hope OF
his recovery.
Difficulties of the Search.
Owing to the complete wreck, the
search for the bodies is attended with
the utmost difficulty. Several employees
are still missing, and it is feared they
will be taken out dead.
The following is believed to be
complete list of the casualties:
The dead:
James M'Manus, instantly killed In
the cooker room.
Powell Neil assistant engineer IN
the cooker room; taken out dead.
James O'Keefe, badly burned all
over his body; died in the ambulance
on way to Cottage hospital
George Schaeffer, aged Is years;
scalded all over his body; died on way
to the hospital.
The missing:
John Wilson, government storekeep-
err
Guy Brennan, yeast maker.
The injured:
Daniel Cashin; both legs fractu-S,
burned on arm; it, lis thought than
recover. IN good
James Welsh; burned O. He has
: badly; will recover. will he with
George c. George, I'll not forsako
nue.; scalded about that uHe doetb
hands and legs; not "oe'"
Charles Lane, 321
ton street; hands buI'aO mourn lit
Unknown man, calico extend our
badly scalded about the may we all
| SciOuS. meet our
Corning's distillery was a .>>e.'aI-
lively new house, having been erected
two years ago, and had capacity OF
| 5000 bushels per day.