Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-11-22
AN AWFUL BLAST
KILLS MANY men
EXPLOSION IN GAS PLANT AT
SOUTH CHICAGO, ILL.
MEN CAUGHT IN DEATH TRAP
Eight Bodies Are Recovered-Ten or
More Missing and Probably
Dead-Cause of the
Disaster.

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 were 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
its force.
The intense heat, coupled with the
momentary danger Of a second ex-
plosion, that would make the first APP
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. A 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 capacity of
millions of feet of gas towering above
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 fecks of asbestos
and debris over districts more than q
mile distant.
Cause Of Explosion.
Through lease the big plant Is occu-
pied by the Acetylene concern which IL
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 door of car
Will supply 1t for montha In order to
make that possible the retorts are
charged to the extreme of $50 atmos-
pheres OF pressure Of $3.50 pounds to
the square inch.
It was such tank that caused the
first explosion. spreading death and
destruction on every side. Without
warning of any kind 1t burst with q
binding flash and roar that shook the
earth and seemed to lift the building
from its foundations. Amid q perfect
hurricane Of debris workmen were
blown out Of the structure, far into the
street OF 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
decorations. There were 10 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 a house Tor
blocks escaped damage. Some win
never be habitable again.
Story Of Survivor.
X was in the building working when
! the first explosion occurred" said G. w.
/! Grant, one of the injured. 81 believe
| one Of the tanks in the row east ct III
! blew up. The ground trembled and
/, seemed to heave upward when sudden.
! ~ there was a rip and roar and don't
! remember what occurred after that un.
/ til came to in the street about 100 feet
| away. I know there were about 40 men
! in the place and don't believe many
Of them escaped. After I left the build
ing It almost completely collapsed. II
was horrible"
CareleHness on the part Of an en-
| ploye searching Tor leak Is attributed
by Superintendent Wells as the cause.
can can see" said the superintendent
els that one Of the men went into thu
storage rooms, where the gas tanks
which are charged have been stored
with lighted torch. OF course, a leai
in one tank would cause an explosion
and the employe would be killed" All;
The Vote in Colorado. y
| Denver, Col, Nov. 19.-The omtia,
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