Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-12-30
Explosion of Ammonia in Morris
Plant Causes Many Deaths.
BIG PLANT IS WIPED OUT
Men Flight Against Desperate Odds to
Subdue Conf!agration-Fire Fight
ers Face Death to Rescue Bodies
of Their Comrades-Wcrst
Fire In Years.

Chicago T%hirty-four frcmen. in
Guiding Fire Chief James Koran, were
killed, while engaged in an onslaught
against a tornado of flame that swept
into rubbish the new beef house of
the packing plant Of Morris & Co., at
the Union stock yards.
Scores Of iremen were injured.
The property loss may reach
than 3 5000, 900.
Fire Chief Horan's body was re
covered after repeated efforts to move
the smoldering debris under which he
was buried and removed to the home
of his brother, Daniel J. Koran, Sixty
flrst'street and Prairie
Firemen Were Powerless.
The flames spread so rapidly that
the firemen were powerleSs to save
The plant. The entire stock yards dis
trict vas threatened.
Huge tanks Of tallow stood direct
ly in the path of the flames and threat
ened to explode.
The fire was the most disastrous
that the department has had to con-
tend with since the %Iroquois fire, and
Tie uOiOCduSt a. INC l
street crib.
Buried In Debris.
All the victims were in the base
ment of the new beef plant when an
explosion occurred hat wrecked the
building and buried them beneath tons
of debris. The explosion came with
out warning. The men believed they
had the flames under control and were
preparing to back out of the build
ing when the explosion of what is be-
lieved to AVE been ammonia took
place. A minute later companions
were making a frantic battle to each
the buried sufferers.
Wild excitement followed. Extra
calls for help were sent in. A major
ity Of the fire companies in the city
were rushed to tne scene
The flames, stirred by the strong
wind, spread rapidly, and oon were
beyond control.
Face Death From Explosions.
Explosion after explosion followed
and drove back the firemen. The heat
became so intense that the flames had
to be fought ron a distance Of half a
block.
All the time great danger prevail
ed because of the tallow tanks being
close to the burning structure.
1t was hours after the discovery Of
the fire before the firemen were able
to get near the structure. Then the
body Of Morwerski was found.
News of the fate Of the fremen
spread rapidly throughout the city.
Soon hundreds Of grief-stricken moth
ers, sons and daughters appeared on
the scene. Their grief was pitiable.
Policemen had great difficulty in
keeping them from rushing into the
flames.
Edward Morris, president of the
company. was almost overcome when
he realized hat SO many lives had
been lost.
Waterman Discovers Fire. &
A Waterman VIII o was making his
rounds through the structure. discov-
cred the fire. He saw flames in what
is known as the hide storeroom in the
basement. He at once telephoned an
alarm and fed from the building. The
flames spread rapidly and with the
arrival of the first companies of fire.
men a general alarm was sounded
which brought over Is companies of
firemen to the scene.
The fire broke out at 4 a. m. and a
spectacular battle with the flames en-
sued until at 5 a. M, a terrific explo-
sion OF ammonia in the beef cold
storage section of the building sent
a heavy canopy crashing down on a