The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-02-26
DYNAMITE BLAST
SHAKES CHICAGO
Thirty Tons Of Explosive
Mysteriously Set off;
One Hurt
TRAIN BARELY ESCAPES
"The Missionary" Crack Pas
senger of Santa Fe, Had
Just Passed Scene

4 CHICAGO. Feb 2j.a-Cblcngo's
'itners quit shaking ana It's hair cot
ilod back on its scalp today As II
was learned that tho explosion that
fluok almost tho entire city and
an area for 90 miles around was
not on outbreak Of bomb throworA'
terrorism. Tho explosion rcspited
when several tons. ~ dynamite In
the stouc crushing plant - the con-
sumers company at McCoOk. south
west - the city, let go.
80 Tons of ~ Exploded.
Although tho blast was one ~ the
most terrific over folt In this ecr-
tio1. 40 far m has been learned.
no ono was killed and only ono was
injured. The property damage VIII
amount to hundreds Of thousands Of
dollars. Officials OF tho consumers
company declared the explosion was
accidental. Stories told by others.
however, gave rise 10 tho possibility
that the blast may have been
touched or Intentionally and p rlgld
Investigation was launched today.
II was announced today that 30
tons Of. dynamite werC stored I'm tho
powder house when the explosion
occurred. The buildings Of tho
quarry were blown 20 bits and
rocks and tlmbors were scattered
over a radius of q mile, Thousands
OF windows were smashed and hum
dreds OF buildings in Chicago and
surrounding territory rocked with
the force OF tho detonntlon.
r. II. Dowd, foreman OF the
quarry. denied that labor troubles
may have been to blame for the
explosion. lie said there had been
no strike AZ tho quarry. lie asserted
the explosion must hnvo been an
accident.
Saw Fuse Burning.
Ludwig Busc, an employe OF the
corn products company at Argo. an
adjoining suburb, told story that
gave rise to belief that the blast
was not accidental. Buse declared
that he saw from the sixth floor
of the building where he was en-
slowly along the ground. After the
fire had crept about go feet. he said,
the explosion took place. Although
he was approximately half mile
away. Buse said the blast hurled
him from the window and shattered
thousands OF panes of glass in the
plant.
The only man injured by the OK
plosion. so far as has been learned,
was alfred Kendall, a crane oper-
ntor. whose arm was broken.
Tragedy Narrowly Aycrtcd.
Had the explosion taken place
few moments earlier, Il undouht-
cdiy would nave resulted in an up-
palllng tragedy. Ten minutes before
the dynamite let go the mission
ary." one OF tho crack passenger
trains of the Santa Fo railroad,
passed within $50 feet OF tho pow
derhouse.
Thousands OF persons IN McCook.
Argo, Lagrange and other suburbs
and thousands more In Chicago were
by the explosion.
some feared that an earthquake had
AIKEN place, others thought bombs
we're being hurled by the wholesale
and many feared that the crack
D. doom" had happened, IL was
more than hour after the detona-
ion was heard before even the po-
Ice knew the cause OF II and thou
sands did lot learn untl this morn
ng what had happened.
a near-pnnic occurred in mo-
ion picture theater at Argo whore
Tho crowd rushed TO the exits as
bits OF plaster and broken glass be-
gan falling. Part OF train on n
aidetrack Mt McCook was blown
from the rails and n switch tower
was shattered by "shrapnel,"
Street lights in summit, two miles
away. were put out; farm houses
miles away were damaged by fall
ing debris. telephone and telegraph
lines were crippled; railway tracks
were blocked by wrcckage; trees
were stripped OF branches and banks
NJ a drainage canal were damaged
In many places.