The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-07-05
8 DEAD,
z SCORE:
INJURED
Record Of 20 Years Without
An Explosion Marred BY
Holiday Event.
(BULLE'rIN.)

ESPECIAL 10 TaE TINES
Fred Harbredht, 543 Forx-thc ave-
nue., West Hammond, one OF the men
Killed in the Standard oil plant blast,
IL survived by his widow, Mrs Carrie
H"rbredht, and four children. walter,
Lester, Beatrice and Carl
Charles Harbeeht II n brother NJ fha
decensed man and Mrs. Paul BuS,~.
Mrs. Joe Walters and Mrs. Charles
NcIkmsn arc sisters
Services will be held from the housz
nt 30 to the German Methodist churab
at p. M. Thursday afternoon
WHITING. Ind. July 81 cIea.
record of twenty years without s,eri-
Gus explosion was broken at the redn-
cry Of the Standard OIL company. IN
Whiting. yesterday morning when
eight men lost their lives and possib,y
two score were injured in a blast
which caused property damage rougS-
iy estimated. at two million dollars
ForR STILLS INVOLVED.
Four stills and TWO batteries were
involved in the IRE which followed
the first explosion Of one Of the pres
sure sttll between and O'Clock
The dead are:
FRED HARBECHT. lls Forsythe ave
nue. West Hammond.
JOSEPH PALYO. 7o2 schrage avenue
Whiting
FRANK STOUT. 1871 Roberts avenue.
Robertsdale
JOE wILDRIC 424 New York avenue
GUST JOHNSON. St Elmo Hotel. south
FRED ENGLE. IoS9s Avenue \. souta
Chicago
Two unidentified.
Bodies OF men instantly killed we're
IA horrible condition. All were burned
% a crisp and arms and legs were
missing.
one OF the unidentified bodies has the
arms and legs blown or burned away.
CAUSE ONLY CoNJECTURED
Cause Of the explosion can be bases
only on conjecture. As is generally
the case in such accidents little vas
left on which TO base an investigation.
The theory i adtane that 4 small
leak from one still allowed the con-
tents 70 become ign.ted and explode
The huge top Of the hrst stil was
blown high IN the air and fell on .
neighhoring still adding fuel TO the
flames and causing burning oil 10
spread over a wide territory Men
caught in this flaming deluge had no
chance TO escape.
IDENTIFICATION DIFFICULT.
One OF the places from which the men
got drinking water was located only
a short distance from the still which
gave way and a number OF men from
various parts of the plant were az tha
fountain and were caught in the ex
plosion. This makes identification d,f-
works can be made 10 find where men
are missing.
Joe Palyo, assistant chief Of the are
department OF the works was on the
scene and although suffering with
burns more serious than he thought.
he helped in lighting the hre Ths
flames were subdued before noon. su.
Palyo had been forced TO seek medica.
aid before that
DIED AT HOSPITAL.
He was able to walk 10 the dressing
station where he was ordered 20 the
PaSsavant hospital. There he died last
night Fred Engle was also able 10
walk to me emergency hospital
The still which blew up was an od
one and. under the rigid Inspection
rules OF the plant, had been ordered
smut down for repairs as soon as the
present run was made
ONLY HAD TWO EXPLOSIONS.
In the thirty years OF its existence
the Standard Oh refinery at Whiting
has had only two explosions The
first one occurred twenty years a=o
and cost the life of one man Yester-
days explosion is the worst Of its kfn1
IN the Calumet region. It brought
greater loss Of life and property dam
age than the Sinclair explosion earl
last year.
The seriously injured were rushed TO
the Passavant hospital al Chicago
Several died on the way and othcrk
lived only a short time after reachinr
il. In the meantime the offices Of the
company were besieged by huudrds az
frantic people who were eager to learn
II relatives were included in the list of
dead and injured.
Because of the confusion little sat
isfactiou could be given these people
until late yesterday although inforna-
ton was given out as soon as avail
able. Identideations were made b..
means Of bits OF clothing. watches or
jewelry which still clung TO the charreJ
bodies
Added help was put on at the en-
ergency hospital To care for the m-,
whose Injuries consisted only Of slight
burns, cuts and bruises. There is no
means Of knowing how many were
treated in this way. but the hospital
attendants believe there must have
been at least forty and possibly nifty
Search IS still being made in tha
ruins Of the four stills for bodies. but
Il any remained II IS feared they were
burned to ashes in the fierce heat
nRHIkIn 0nn IirIn LID