The Detroit times., 1914-05-15
WDRKMEN'S LIVES
d SNUFFED OUT WHEN
PLANT BLOWS UP
CONTINUED from Page one,

mfsn were instantly killed one dide a
short time later in Solvay hospital and
six were injured, when ether exploded
I'M the factory OF the Mexican Crude
Rubber company. No. 26 Mackie-st,, AT
I'D o'clock Friday morning.
1wenty-six men are said TO have
bean working in the plant, ram
blIhg, one-story building OF reinforced
cdiicrete construction, about 800 feet
long and 60 feet wide, at the time OF
this explosion. Some Of those who
eskAped were blown bodily through
thk shattered steel window frames
this explosion being so terrific as 10
slhatter window panes in houses for
a radius OF two city blocks. \ sheet
of. fame came simultaneously with
thA explosion, and most OF the work
mtn's lives were snuffed out instant
lyl their bodies being torn, mangied
ard charred in horrible fashion.
Great sections of the four.mCh con
critic, laid on steel mat We're hurled
a distance of 100 feet. Part of the
roof fell. almost in powder, from the
force OF the explosion. and portions
ofAthe building were completely de.
m0iished
Every window in the east side OF
thE Commerce Motor Car Co, about
l50 feet TO the west, was shattered
ann four workmeu there narrowly es-
caped injury from flying glass. An
alafm OF fire was promptly sent from
tie motor car plant, while thousands
ofHitizens rushed TO the scene. Fire
mef Immediately started carrying out
the dead and injured, the latter be.
inn rushed TO Solyay hospital while
tho dead were laid on the ground TO
the east, the torn and Charred bodies
y beng covered with horse blankets
frdbl the FIRE trucks.
HE interior OF. the factory was an
in8rno OF fame only for a few mo
mSnts, as ether used in making mi-
tatIDn leather for auto seats, and wa
tefproof "rubberiZed" auto tops from
canvas flashed, igniting other eXplo
sivf and highly cUmbustiblp chemi-
Seven tanks said 10 contain 'peroN-
oline." exploded one after the other,
and Il is said that several ether tanks
alSp blew up, wrecking the building,
and leaving the interior a tangled
mass of steel tanks, betting and ma.
chinery. with parts Of the walls and
roN blown out and parts standing
inh ct
Eoroner Rothacher took charge OF
thN 10 bodies had them removed TO
the county morgue and later had 20.
lice Commissioner Gillespie throw
police Gordon around the factory. 10
prevent any tampering with the
wIRckage. During the afternoon an
& EXPERT from the Detroit Testing lab
..4lAra iories. one from the building in
spector'5 office. and another from the
boiler inspectors Office, will make "A
thUough investigation OF the eyplo-
sidp.
The attitude OF the officials OF the
company was one of the grim fea-
tukes OF the tragedy While the
bodies OF the dead were lying on the
Rrpund, covered with the blankets
Supt. John Evans refused to tell how
nay men were working I'm the
plHe, how many were dead, or
WHITTIER any were missing lie said
- have absolutely nothing TO say TO
YOU" when asked by a Times report
er Ior some definite information
When one OF the injured men.
WILSON, was approached, the super
ntndent said. Don't talk N they
try 10 ask you questions. tell them
that it is none or their business"
General Manager John G. Tread
wdD was just as curt IN refusing 10
gin any information whatever.
The secretary and treasurer OF
the company. whose name Is said To
bel Nichols. also CURLY refused IN
formation
Mrs. Mccoy. white-haired widow
Of lone OF the victims. rushed 10 IL.
sc4be Immediately after the eNp.o-
sidh. and pleaded for some news OF
heb husband She was nearly craz a
viii grief All OF the time her hus-
bahd's body lay covered with a blan-
kef awaiting Identification At the
pleasure OF the officials who would
+ mol give out any information until
roLoner Rufhacher arr. Yed
Eank Hudson oDe who escaped In
Ip| arrived here only Thursday from
[hIfago aud had just started 10 work
; n he rubber company plant. Friday
morning lie and william ,. Wilson
~ MAS cut about the head. and re