The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1913-06-26
BLASTS KILL 90
AND INJURIES TO
Fire Follows Explosions In Buff
falo,, N. Y. Plant. at %
VICTIM HURLED 500 FEET
Poilceman's Presence of Mind Saves
Lives Of Many Passengers on
Lehish Valley Train Near
Scene Of Catastrophe.
VICTIM HURLED 500 FEET

fire which destroyed the Hustled
Milling company's big plant at Elk and
Peabody streets Two bodies have
been recovered and the firemen esti-
mate that many more will be found in
the ruins
Every hospital in the city is filled
with the injured The factory en-
ploys more than 200 men and the ex-
plosions caused the walls TO collapse.
Accidents Follow Blast.
A Nickel Plate passenger train was
passing the plant when the first ex-
plosion occurred Although the track
Is $50 feet from the mill, the engineer
and fireman were blown from the cab,
but not killed. Both we're seriously in
tured. .Ff r..te..
An unidentified boy was killed while
crossing railroad bridge close to the
mill. A young man was run down and
killed by an automobile carrying a
physician, which was hurrying TO the
scene OF the explosion. a
One Victim Blown 500 Feet.
One of the men working near the pit
where the explosion occurred was
blown through the roof of the building
and over the railroad trestle 500 feet
away. He was believed to be Michael
King. When picked up by an ambu-
lance surgeon the man was terribly
crushed and died on the way to the
hospital
Intense excitement reigned for
blocks around the factory following
the explosion and 1t has been impos-
sibfe to obtain an accurate account of
the number of dead or injured. II was
necessary to call out the police re-
serves to keep back the crowd of WON
en- and children who rushed to the mill
In search of husbands and fathers en-
ployed there. a-- .-
The explosion was caused by spon-
taneous combustion In a pit where
many tons OF corn were stored. 49,
No Warning Before Blast.
One of the 200 men employed in the
factory where the explosion took place
said that the workmen had no warn
ing. but that the first eign of any dis
turbance was when great tongue of
fame burst from the corn pit, followed
an instant later by a tremendous ex.
plosion. This was succeeded by sew
eral others, just how many the man
was not certain, as he ran from the
building just in time to see the rear
IL
of the workmen.
Alarm after alarm Of fire was turned
in. The first companies of firemen
were able to carry out many of the
dead and dying. The first body brought
out was that of Henry Vetter, fore
man of the factory. He had been in
stantly killed. Fifty other mutilated
men were carried out by the firemen
and police while the flames ragged
through the great factory building.
Thirty May Die Of Injuries.
or the 80 injured already removed,
the physicians estimate 80 will die.
Only the presence of mind of a po-
liceman saved scores of passengers OF
Lehigh Valley train. He was nearby
when the first explosion occurred and
saw the train approaching. He ran
down the tracks and tagged the train.
1t stopped just as another explosion
tore the roofs from the factory build
ing. The windows in the train were
smashed and many passengers cut,
but had the train proceeded another so
yards many would have met death.
II was reported that IA men were
cooped in one room in the plant and
that they had no chance to escape.
They have probably persisted and as
soon as the ruins have cooled suffi-
ciently the search for bodies will be-
gin.
Death List May Go Higher.
1t is estimated that the death list
will range from thirty to forty men.
The plant was totally destroyed by the
fire that followed the explosion with
a loss Of about 81. 100000.
The factory was located in the heart
OF the manufacturing district OF South
Buffalo and many .workmen in other
idSlOllSo ucdiDy were uuFl.
Women threw themselves into the
mob and tried TO reach the ambu,
lances to identify the injured. Forty
Of the injured were carried first to St
Stephens church and then taken away
In ambulances. Three of the injured
In the Emergency hospital died. Henry
Werener was blown so feet by the
force of the explosion. his body being
blown under a box car. Rev. Father
Barrett and Rev. Father Kesne OF st
Stephens church were early on the
scene and In a short time they had
administered the last rites to rs men
who were supposed to be mortally In,
Jured.
The Hustled Milling company plant
occupied large concrete structure
Edwin M. Hustled is president OF the
milling company.
In st. Stephens place the shock OF
the explosion broke many windows. In
Abbott road for q distance OF -four
blocks north OF the Husted mill the
windows we're gsnsrsily shattered