Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-05-23
one after another the few remaining
buildings fell amid the ruins.
Panic In City.

one after another the few remaining
buildings fell amid the ruins.
Panic In City.
The explosion caused "a panic in the
city, Hundreds Of windows were blown
out.S The big stores with the most glass
were the hardest hit and some Of them
were almost denuded Of glass, expos
ing the stock OF goAds to the weather.
The sidewalks were Uttered with brok-
en- glass and much of the glass was
blown far into the streets SO that auto
mobiles could not traverse for fear OF
puncturing tires. In some buildings
the glass was blown outward. while
In others II was reversed. the rooms
being filed with fragments of glass.
Some buildings were rocked as if
by an earthquake. but fortunately.
none were blown down by the terrific
conclusion OF the air.
Cedar Rapids looked for few hours
like French city that had been shelled
by the Germans.
1t was fortunate thing that most
Of the big buildings were vacated at
the time. II 1t had all happened an
hour earlier, whilc the stores were
filled with shoppers the loss of life
down town>would have been large, or
at least the persons injured would
have been many more. for few had
gashes cut in their heads by pieces OF
glass.
The explosion occurred ! about a
quarter of seven o'clock. 1t brought
everyone out into the streets in a mo-
ment. Men and women were rushing
md M q
flying almost literally from all drec-
tions.
Pedestrians Are Injured.
Scores Of people. on the streets and
about the works were injured by fly
ing wreckage and broken glass.
Every window in the central part Of
the city was blown out. Chimneys
caved in On families at the supper
table. Guests in the dining rooms of
hotels were thrown from their seats, a
Chicago travelling man in the Magnus
hotel having his nose cut almost off by
broken glassware.
]. d. Boorman, of Chicago, was
blown thru, the window Of his hotel
and suffered cuts and bruises.
Frank Sodoma, an employe, was
taken out of the plant alive. His legs
were blown off. He begged the crowd
to kill him.
Water Mains Are Cut.
The front OF the city hall and the
Y. NJ. c.. A. building were shattered.
Ticket sellers in picture theaters were
injured by falling glass. All water
mains were cut by the force Of the ex-
plosion and it was impossible to fight
the flames.
The Red Cross. established first aid
stations near the wrecked plant and
did all that was possible for the in-'
jured as they were brought out.
C. G. Crast, member of the fire de-
partmsnt was seriously injured by
falling timbefs as he aided in carrying
'ost IL Ad3nfed.
Practically every available menu
ber OF the police and fire departments.
augmented by scores of returned over,
seas soldiers, and civilians. helped in
the work of succor of the injured.
General Manager. Lenders of the
plant arrived minutes after the ex-
plosion from a nearby hotel. He could
advance no theory as to the cause Of
the explosion.
Origin a Mystery.
1t was said that q boiler explosion
had been responsible Another theory
was spontaneous combustion.
Later, it was said, it might have
been caused because the vacuum was
not turned on the. starch driers. which
caused the dust to accumulate. An
other theory was that somebody had
dropped a spark from pipe or cigar
All water mains in the neighborhood
were cut by the force of the explosion.
handicapping the flremen. The flames
spread rapidly and it was feared
would get out of control unless water
could be secured in some manner.
Wives Weep At Horror.
The weeping wives and. mothers OF
the dead and dying began to appear
at the gates OF theSwtecked plants.
Their lamentations lent sorrowful
note to the grewsome aspect of the
destruction which had been wrought
The town was placed under a guard
of students, police and soldiers. There
has been no looting.
N