Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-03-20
Portion of Plant of R. B. Grover at Brockton
Wrecked by Blowing Up of the
Boiler.
TWO HUNDRED employees ARE CAUGHT
Ruins Take Fire and Many Who Were Manned Persh--En-
tire Establishment and Other Build
ings Burn.

Brockton, Mass, March 2o.-Within
an hour after about 500 employees at
the r. 3. Grover shoe factory began
work today the boiler blew up in the
engine room, wrecking a section of the
building and starting fire which de-
stroyed the ruins and spread to other
buildings nearby
ESTIMATE OF LOSS IMPOSSIBLE.
Owing to the nature of the accident,
the speed with which the flames seized
upon the collapsed section, and the ex-
element, accurate estimate of the loss
Of life is impossible. II is understood
upwards of 200 persons were at work
in the department near the boiler
room.
DWELLING HOUSES BURN.
Several dwelling houses and the
DahIberg block, across the street from
the factory, were also destroyed. The
financial loss is estimated at 5000, ,ooO
Most Of the employees in the main
part of the plant succeeded in escap-
ing, although in a terrible panic. A
number were injured.
FIFTY MISSING.
were unaccounted for, and it was be-
lieVed many of this number might be
dead or injured. The factory, large
four-story wooden structure, was de-
stroyed.
MAY REACH FIFTY.
Brockton, March 2o.-Fire Marshal |
6oyden stated reports made to him up |
to noon indicated the list of dead might |
reach so,
Calls have been sent out for every
person who escaped to indicate the
fact at once. in this way it is hoped
fairly accurate estimate Of the num-
Der Of dead may be obtained.
FIND - BODIES.
Brockton, March 20.-Twenty-five
bodies have been taken from the ruins
up to 1880. Many of them were so
horribly mutiIated and burned as to
make identification almost impossible.
HAVE THIRTY-FIVE BODIES.
5rockton, March 2o.-At 2:3o 35
bodies had been removed from the
ruins. None were identified. The list
of injured numbered upwards of So
An official Of the Grover company ex-
pressed the opinion possibly 100 per
sons will be found to have lost their
lives.
ACCOUNT FOR go.
Brockton, March 2o.-At 3:15 az bod |
les were recovered. and 25o of the 400
employees accounted for.
Mile From city.
Brockton March 20.-The factory
was situated about a mile south of the |
city proper. \ series of alarms sum
moned all the fire apparatus in the
city to the scene. Aid was also sent
from nearby places.
The firemen experienced the great |
est difficulty in battling with the flames
as the factory was Of an extremely in
flammable nature and nearly all the
floors were saturated with oil
Save Employees.
Their attention was chiefly given to
the part of the factory nearest the
boiler house. and in the early stages
OF the fire a number of employees were
eXtricated from the ruins
The flames. however. soon stopped
the rescue work. and the entire plant.
with those who failed to escape, has
been abandoned.
Crowds Gather.
Meanwhile news of the accident had
reached the homes OF the operatives.
and through the streets already near
the burning factory. men and women
were struggling wildly towards the
center TO get news Of relatives. Cries
which sounded above the roar OF the
flames were heard as frantic women
learned there was little hope for any
Many Went Home.
After the explosion many of the en-
ployes went 10 their homes This add
ed 10 the difficulty OF compiling a re
liable list of the missing The Brock