Omaha daily bee., 1919-05-23

There were 106 employees in the
factory when the explosion occurred
at $50 o'clock, only few minutes
after the day force of 400 had left
for home. The dctonation was
heard for 80 miles, and so severe
was the conclusion that persons
were Jared from their chairs many
blocks away.
The explosion is thought to have
been due to mill dust, although the
engineer of the plant believed that
his boiler had exploded, hurting him
from the factory !
Forty in Hospitals.
Of those in the building at the
time five unidentified bodies were
found and taken to morgues; Is
were believed to be buried in the
burning wreckage; 40 severely in
jured were placed in hospitals; rs
were reported safe, and 20 were un-
accounted for, but believed to have
escaped. The manager of the plant
tonight said that no one knew how
many were in the ruins, but csti-
mated the number at Is.
In addition to the employees in
jured at the plant more than so citi-
zens were injured by flying glass
and falling bricks in their homes or
while passing through the streets.
The fire broke out so soon after
the explosion that, it was impossible
for the firemen and volunteer rescu-
ers to search the demolished plant
thoroughly. Many persons were
caught under falling bricks and tim
bers, and some of these were extri-
Gated by firemen or by returned SOL
diers.
Expect Death Toll to Grow.
With the fire raging, cries were
heard coming from the drying room
of the plant, but firemen were un-
able to cut their way in, and it was
believed the death toll would grow.
Several discharged overseas soldiers
aid in the rescue work.
Additional explosions from the Oil
rooms scattered the burning wreck
age and firemen were hard pressed
to prevent the spreading of the
flames to nearby industries.
Men covered with starch were
taken out of the ruins by their COM
rades, and many thrilling rescues
were made. Some of the victims
were stark mad and did not know
what had happened. One workman,
his head covered with his own blood.
insisted that he was not hurt and
that his rescuers should allow him
to go back into the fire where it
was warm.
Water mains were cut by the
force of the explosion, making the
work of the firemen harder because
of the lack of water.
An engineer who was blown out
of the building said he believed his
boiler had exploded.
General Manager Lenders would
advance no theory as to the cause.
Hotel Guests Thrown From Chairs.
Every window in the central part
of the city was broken. Chimneys
caved in on families at the supper
table, and guests in the dining room
of hotels were thrown from their
chairs. A Chicago travelling man,
dining at the Magnus hotel, had his
nose almost cut off by broken
glassware. =
The front of the city hall and
the Y. M. c. A. building were shat
tered. Ticket sellers in moving pic
ture theaters were injured by falling
glass.
The Red Cross established first
aid stations near the wrecked plant
for the injured as they were brought
from the wrecked plant
]. D. Boorman of Chicago was
blown through the window of ho-
tel and suffered cuts and bruises.
Frank Sodoman was taken out of
the plant alive. His legs were
blown off. He begged the crowd to
kill him
c. c. Craft, member of the fire de.
partment, was seriously injured.