Arizona republican., 1919-05-23
SCORE KILLED WHEN STARCH PLANT BLOWS UP IN CEDAR RAPIDS
Extent of Fatality List Un- known-Cries of Dying Heard - Aid Impossible Because of Scattered Wreckage

GEL AR RAPIDS, Ia, May PA score of persons were killed and nearly a hundred injured tonight by an ex- plosion and fire which wrecked the Douglas starch works and consumed the ruins. The loss was S, 100000 to the Douglas plant. in addition to dam age caused to other property over Q radius of more than a mile
 There were 106 employees in the fac tory when the explosion occurred at 6:30 o'clock only few minutes after the day force of 400 had felt for home. The detonation was heard for 30 miles, and so severe was the concussion that persons were jared from their chairs many blocks away.
 The explosion is thought to have been due to mill dust, although the en- gineer of the plant believed the boiler had exploded.
 Of those in the building at the time, five unidentified bodies were found and taken to morgues; fifteen were be- lieved to be buried in the burning wreckage; forty severely injured were placed in hospitals; twenty six were reported safe and twenty were unac- COunleQ lOI, puI OSiiCNSo NO hSfO SS capped.
 In addition to the employees injured at the plant, more than 50 citizens were injured by flying glass and fall ing bricks in their homes or while | passing through the streets. Fire broke out so soon after the ex- plosion that it was impossible for the 1 firemen and volunteer rescuers to search the demolished plant throughly Many persons were caught under fall | ing bricks and timbers, and some of these were extricated by firemen and citizens assisted by returned soldiers.
 Hear Cries of Dying
 With the fire raging, cries were heard coming from the drying room of the plant, but firemen were unable to cut their way in, and it was believed that the death toll would grow. Several discharged soldiers aided in the rescue work
 Additional explosions from the oil rooms scattered the burning wreckage and firemen were herd pressed to pre- vnt the spreading of the flames to nearby industries.
 l Men covered with starch were taken i from the ruins by their comrades, and many thrilling rescues were made Some of the victims were stark mao and did not know what had happened One workman, his head covered Witf his own blood, insisted that he was not hurt and that his rescuers should allow him to go back into the fire where il was warm.
 Water mains were cut by the force of the explosion, making the work o1 the firemen harder because of the 'lacl of water.
 An engineer who was blown througl the buildings said he believed hi. boiler had exploded. The general man, ager could advance no theory as to tn, cause of the explosion.
 Many chimneys caved in on mann families at the supper tables and guest, in the dining rooms of hotel wer' thrown from their chairs The nose o a man dining at the Magnus hotel wa! I cut almost off by broken glassware.
 The front of the city hall and the r M. C. A. building were shattered. Tick ct sellers in moving pictdre theater were injured by falling glass.
 The Red Cross established first al, stations near the wreck plant for tn injured.
 l. D. Boorman of Chicago was blow, through the window of hotel and sui fered cuts and bruises
 Frank Sodoman was taken out of tn plant alive. His legs were blown of He begged the crowd to kill him.
 c. c. Craft, member of the fire de partment, was seriously injured.