The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1910-03-08
MANY ARE
ONLY MANNED
Victims Hail from Whiting,
East Chicago, Robertsdale,
Roby and Hammond.

An explosion, caused by the instan-
taneous combustion of starch dust
ignited by an over-heated kiln in the
dry starch room Of the American
Maize Products company at Roby,
caused the death of one and possibly
more employees and injured a score
yesterday afternoon at o'clock. In
point of the number injured the ac-
cident is possibly the worst that he's
occurred in the Calumet region. The
cities, Of Hammond, East Chicago,
Soutis Chicago and Whiting furnished
victims. The injured, who are all at
st. Margaret's hospital, are all in a
serious condition, but only three or
four are in imminent danger just
now. ALI of them were burned ex-
ternally and some of them inhaled
smoke and fire.
P. L. Sanger, the superintendent of
the plant, last night estimated the
propery loss at SIS, 1000, all of which
is covered by insurance. Reconstruc-
ton of the two buildings, which are
total wrecks, will begin Immediately
Fire
Follows Explosion.
The two buildings wrecked are the
dry starch room, a building one story
in height and two hundred feet long,
and the dry starch warehouse. Both
of these buildings are connected by an
aerial passageway. which may be seen
as one passes the plant. The explosion
spread from the dry starch room to the
warehouse, by means of this aerial
passage, the destruction being the work
OF but few moments. Fire followed in
the wake of the explosion. adding to
the predfcament of the thirty men who
were employed In the two buildings
Sheet of
Flame Destructive.
The explosion caused a sheet Of
flame to spread throughout the two
buildings, similar to the flame of death
that snuffed out the lives 'of the Iro-
quois theater eaictims in Chicago. The
only differencHVn the two was that the
fheater flame was driven by air draft.
while the flame that swept the build
ing yesterday fed the little particles
of dust which fill the air OF the sta rch
houses. This dust is as combustible
as powder. and there is at all times a
constant danger. any spark of fire
would cause a destructive explosion.
Explosion
Two Years Ago.
Two years ago a similar explosion
occurred, and seven men were badly
injured the explanation given at that
time being that spark of fire had pos
sibly been caused by friction in the
machinery. This is danger that is
prevalent in all -four mills and plants
of this nature, and seemingly cannot
be eliminated entirely, despite all ef-
forts. The American Maize Products
company has accordingly taken the pre-
caution to locate these two buildings
somewhat apart from the main body of
the plant SO that in case of an acct
dent they alone will be destroyed. The
precaution proved to be wise in the ac-
cident yesterday.
Was Work
Of a Second.
The kiln in which the fire originated
Is one Of thirty-three. each being about
siz feet in height and eight feet long
Into these kiilns car loa of starch
placed at a time on little trays and
allowed to dry there. One of these
kilns. 1t is thought. became overheated
and forced open the doors at the ends
giving the flame an opportunity to come
in contact with the combustible dust
1t was the work of a second. The day