Willmar tribune., 1904-11-23
MANY DIE IN A
Terrific BLAST
BIG GAS PLANT AT SOUTH CHI.
CAGO, ILL, DESTROYED By
AWFUL EXPLOSION.
EIGHT BODIES TAKEN
FROM THE RUINS
at Least Ten More Thought to Have
Been Killed - Intense Heat Pre-
vents Rescue of Victims-Cause Of
the Disaster.

a mighty bombardment a number OF
tanks under tremendous pressure from
charges OF acetylene gas exploded in the
plant OF the Chicago acetylene gas
branch of the Pyle National Electric
Headlight company at South Chicago
FRIDAY, spreading death and destruc-
ton. Forty men we're at work close by
when the blast came. Many of them
were picked up crushed and mangled at
long distances from the scene of the ex-
plosion, where they had been blown by
it's force.
The intense heat, coupled with the
momentary danger of a second ex-
ploslon, that would make the first ap-
pear Insignificant, for hours prevented
the fire and police officials from learn
ing the extent of the havoc to life and
limb concealed by the clouds of smoke
that poured from the veritable inferno
produced by the explosion.
Eight bodies were taken out by noon
and it was said that at least ten more
bodies were in the ruins. 4 number of
others were missing.
Scene of Disaster.
The scene of the explosion is the old
Hyde Park gas plant that passed into
the hands of the combine with the con-
solidation Of the gas interests. Three
immense steel tanks with a capacity OF
millions of feet of gas towering above
a row Of low, scattering buildings are
the characteristic features of the
plant familiar to thousands of South
side suburbaniteS. Fear that the
flames would communicate to the three
big tanks caused families for blocks
around to desert their homes in panic
stricken swarms, apprehensive of an
Inhalation, while the bursting of COM
paratively small tanks shook the
ground and destroyed property blocks
distant and showered flecks of asbestos
and debris over districts more than a
mile distant
Cause Of Explosion.
Through lease the big plant is occu-
pied by the acetylene concern which is
largely engaged in supplying illumina-
ton for railroad coaches. The highly
explosive illuminant is forced into
small retorts ten or twelve feet long
and less than two in diameter, which
when attached under the floor of a car
will supply it for months In order to
make that possible the retorts are
charged to the extreme of $50 atmos-
pheres or pressure of $3.50 pounds to
the square inch.
1t was such tank that caused the
first explosion, spreading death and
destruction on every side. Without
warning of any kind it burst with a
binding flash and roar thatshook the
earth and seemed to lift the building
from its foundations Amid a perfect
hurricane of debris workmen were
blown out of the structure, far into the
street or into the extensive yard about
the building. Before anyone realized
what had happened retort after retort
exploded in such rapid succession that
it was impossible to distinguish the
detonations. There were 19 such re-
| tOrts in the building
Buildings Torn Apart.
The main structure of the gas plant
| and the lesser buildings were torn apart
and the material entering their con-
struction was thrown high in the air
and scattered in every direction. The
impact was SO great that not house for
/ blocks escaped damage. Some will
never be habitable again.
A saloon across the street was we'll
| filled at the time. So far as is known
not an occupant escaped injury and the
barroom was completely wrecked.
Fourteen blocks away man was
! hurled from ladder by he shock and
at Sixty-third street and Stony Island
avenue ashes and asbestos coverings
from the tanks fell in perfect shower.
Flames Prevent Rescue.
A moment after the blast the sky was
lit up with a lurid glare, bringing out in
bold relief the three steel collapsible
storage tanks, that might at any minute
multiply the havoc. Fire apparatus.
police, ambulances and surgeons hur-
| riedly reached the scene Beyond car
| ing for the injured first found there: was
little to be done, for the heat was so in
tense and the danger SO great it was
Impossible for the firemen to get within
q block of the scene.
Story of Survivor.
II was in the building working when
the first explosion occurred" said C. w.
Grant, one of the injured. Il believe
one of the tanks in the row east of US
blew up. The ground trembled and
seemed to heave upward when sudden
ly there was rip and roar and don't
remember what occurred after that un-
| til came to in the street about 100 feet
away. l know there we're about 40 men
in the place and 1 don't believe many
| of them escaped. After left the build
ing it almost completely collapsed. It
was horrible"
Carelessness on the part of an en-
ploye searching for a leak is attributed
by Superintendent Wells as the cause.
'All can see,' said the superintendent,
"is that one of the men went into the
storage rooms, where the eos tanks
which are charged have been stored.
with a lighted torch. OF course, a leak
in one tank would cause an explosion
and the employe would be killed.
The Malay Is allowed four wives, but
he is too wise to take the limit imul-
taneously or to be on with the new be-
fore he is eff with the old; and though
he may divorce and replace without
| much difficulty, the women also have