Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-03-20

M Brockton, Mass March 20. - Within
an hour after about six hundred en-
ployes at the r. B. Grover shoe fac
tory had begun work today, the boiler
blew up in the engine room, wrecking
q section of the building and starting
fire, which destroyed the ruins and
spread to other buildings near by. Ow-
n ing to the nature OF the accident and
the speed with which the flames seized
upon the collapsed section and the ex-
element an accurate estimate Of the
loss OF life is impossible. 1t is under
stood upwards Of 200 persons were at
work in the departments near the
boiler room.
At 10:3O 1t was learned about fifty
were unaccounted for and 1t was be-
lieved many of this number might be
dead or injured. The factory, large
four story wooden structure, was des-,
troyed.
Several dwelling houses nearby and
the Dahlberg block across the street
from the factory were also destroyed.
The financial loss is estimated at $780,
900.
Most OF the employees in the main
\ part OF the plant succeeded in escap-
ing, altho in a terrible panic. A num-
Der Were injured.
The factory is situated about d mile
south Of the city proper. A series of
alarms summoned all the fire appar-
atus In the city to the scene. Aid was
also sent from nearby places. The,
flremen experienced the greatest diff
Guilty in battling with the flames, as
the factory was of an extremely in
flammable nature, nearly all floors sat
lrated with oil. Their attention chief
4 ~ was given to the part of the fac
tory nearest the boiler house and in
the early stages of the fire a number
OF employees were extricated from the
ruins.
The flames soon, however, stopped
the rescue work and the entire plant
with those who failed to escape, had
to be abandoned. Meanwhile news
OF the accident had reached the homes
OF operatives and thru the crowds all
ready near the burning factory men
and women struggled wildly towards
the center to get news of relatives.
Cries which sounded above the roar Of
the flames were heard as frantic wom-
en- learned there was little hope for
anyone who was caught I'M the building
After the explosion many employees
went to their homes. This added to the
difficulty in compiling a reliable list
of missing.
The Brockton hospital was notified
at once of the disaster and hvrried
preparations were made to receive the
injured. All ambulances, police wag
ons and many street carriages, ply.
sicians and surgeons were hurriedly
sent to the scene.
Twenty-Five bodies had been taken
from the ruins up to 1880. Many Of
them were so terribly mutilated and
burned as to make Identification almost
impossible.
Fifty May be Dead.
Fire Marshal Boyden stated a re-
I,;, <,J
the list of dead might reach fifty.
Calls have been sent out for every
person who escaped to indicate the fact
at once. In this way it is hoped that
q fairly accurate estimate of the num-
ber Of dead may be ascertained.
The dead:
David Rockwell, engineer, died short
" after being arrested.
John Smith.
Stephen Snow.
Missing: ~,
Frank Bell.
Barnabus Lewis.
Nellie Leary. !.
Maurice Fitzpatrick
Mira Berger.
Mrs. Perry.
Injured: a
Andrew Lundell.
Elmer H. Dodge.
Hirrna Pierce.
Ira Buck.
George w. Lawrence.
Alderman George Mork
William McGual,ee.
Joseph Mclaughlin.
o. Reynolds.
William Emerson.
John Turner.