Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-13
As Result Of Explosion In
Providence Starch Factory.
Three Others Injured and still
Another Man Missing.
Bodies Believed to Be lnclnerated
...Exploslon Causes Fire.

sons are believed to have been killed
by the explosion Of mixer in the
starch factory of c. s. Tanner at South
Water and Silver streets. late this af-
ternoon. Three other persons were in
jured by flying bricks from the walls
Of the building and were removed to
the Rhode Island hospital. Their con-
dition is not regarded as Serious. Tho
building was badly wrecked by the
explosion and fire following the ex-
plosion completed the work of destruc-
ton. The dead: Richard Comes John
Dautt, Tony -, Jack Santos and
Mike Joseph.
All these were employed in the room
where the explosion occurred. Another
man. A. L. G. Chase. aged %. who was
in charge of a chandlery store which
occupied a corner of the building. IS
missing and is supposed to be buried
in the ruins.
Three men who were passing the
building at the time were hit by bricks
and pieces of mortar and also suffered
some burns from quantities of hot
starch which was sprinkled literally
about the neighborhood. These men
are Samuel w. Smith, aged %; Arm
stead Johnson, aged 49, and John
Clark, aged As. They were found iy-
ing in the street at the front of the
building when the firemen reached the
scene. Ambulanoes were called and
he injured men removed to the hos
uital
The starch factory was an old brick
structure of three stories, the lower
floors were used for the storage of
goods. At the corner Of Silver and
South Water streets the Office Of the
concern is located, and adjoining that
in the same building was a branch
store Of the Knickerbocker. Chandlery
Co, of which Mr.. Chase was manager.
Immediately back of the office was
the shipping room and in the rear Of
that was the large room occupied by
the inixer and other apparatus Of the
plant. The exact cause Of the explosion
remains to be determined.
Mr.. Tanner intimated tonight that it
may have been due to d spark from
defective electric wiring igniting the
starch mixer prematurely. In the
room when the explosion occurred wers
the four workmen. Comes. Dautt and
two others known only as Tony and
Mike. 1t is supposed that they were
instantly killed and their bodies sub
seouently incinerated. The explosion
tore away a great hole in the center
of the building and carried away tho
larger part of the roof. Windows In
neighboring buildings were brol.en by
the conclusion and other damage was
caused by the fall of the wall soon
after the fire broke out.
The house Of Hose Co. No. g is i'm
mediately in the rear Of the starch
factory. Only two hosemen. John
Tubity and Fred Sullivan. were in the
building at the time. They were sit
ting in room on the second floor and
when the explosion occurred they ware
thrown to the floor with considerable
violence. Clambering down the pole
they found the big outer door 80 badly
damned by the shaking to which the
building had been subjected that II
could not easily be opened 1t was IL
minutes before the doors we're finally
forced open so that the hose wagon
could be driven to the fire.
G. s Tanner, the owner Of tho build
ing. and several other persons who
were in tho building at the time Of the
explosion had narrow escapes,
The coal wharf of r. A. Smith and
the factory Of Altman & Co. across the
street from the starch factory were
badly damaged by the fall of debris.
The property loss due to the explosion
and fire will probably not exceed $780,
600. Late tonight the firemen and po-
lice were still engaged in a search Of
the ruins for bodies. although on ac-
count of the great heat Of the blazs
it was feared that most Of the bodies
had been reduced to ashes.
The starch factory building was
owned by c. F. Tanner and 1t is said
to have contained a large quantity Of
manufactured starch packed ready for
shipment. All this starch was practi-
cally destroyed. The property was in
sured for part of It's value. -
The condition of Samuel w. Smith.
one Of the injured men, was said at
the Rhode Island hospital late tonight
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