New-York tribune., 1921-03-30
Fireworks Kill
8, 1njure 100;
Makers MISSING
Blast That Wrecks Heart of
Chicago's West Side Tene-
ment District Is Laid to
Illicit Explosives Trade
Seek Dealers Among Dead
Company That Stored Mate.
rial Had Been Warned IT
Was Violating Ordinances

CHICAGO, March 29.-Manufacturc
and storage Of fireworks in a manner
prohibited by city ordinances were
blamed tonight by city and police off,
clals for an explosion in the heart of
the West Side tenement district to-dav
which killed at least eight persons. in
jured 100 or more, rendered dozens
temporarily homeless and damaged
buildings blocks away.
Two men were held in jail tonight in
connection with the disaster and two
others, possibly killed in the explosion,
were sought by the police.
The explosion wrecked the ware
house of We'll G. Co., paper dealers.
where dozen. men were working. All
are believed to have been killed.
Tell Of Warning Firm
Next door was the firm of Singer &.
Schafer, dealers in novelty merchan-
disc. Chief of Police Charles Fitzmorris
and Fire Attorney Shirley High, after
completing an investigation. TONIGHT
declared that Singer & Schaffer had
manufactured fireworks in and around
the warehouse in violation of city ordi-
nances and that combustion of these
fireworks was to blame for the disaster.
They declared the firm frequently had
been warned to discontinue the manu-
facture and had been repeatedly
warned that fireworks could not be
stored within the city limits.
There is no question:" said Chief
Fitzmorris, "that this manufacture OF
bootleg fireworks caused this catas-
trophe.'
Max Singer and Edward Schaffer,
nephew and son respectively of the
partners, were rearrested and placed in
jail tonight after they had been ques-
toned and released to-day. The elder
Singer and Schaffer were sought. but
it was believed they probably perished
in the explosion.
Said to Admit Illicit Trade
According to Mr.. High and Chief
Fitzmorris, the two men held in iail
hoth admitted that the firm manufac-
tured fireworks and that it had con-
Quoted an illicit trade in this product.
Dozens of statesmen toured the Cen
trail West taking orders, they were
quoted as saying.
More than ton Of explosives Is be-
lieved to have been consumed in the
explosion.
Only four of the eight persons known
to be dead have been identified to-
night. The other bodies were so badly
mangled as to be unrecognizable.
Tonight many persons whose homes
had been so badly damaged by the ex-
ploson as to be untenantable were
given temporary quarters in the Gar
field schoolhouse, where 1,5O0 children
were attending school at the time of
the blast. The roof of the building
was damaged, but the children ESCAPED.
unhurt.
Dozen Babies Escape Death
A dozen babies being cared for in a
settlement house were slightly injured
by the falling of plaster and the dis
trict near by was thrown into an up
roar Hundreds of persons hearing the
noise and seeing a great circle of
black smoke rising rushed madly for
shelter.
Tonight scores of men worked under
the glare of searchlights in clearing
away the wreckage, while dozens of
nurses and physicians went from house
to house caring for the injured
Fifty policemen formed special
guard around the wreckage and only
the worNers were allowed near it.