Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1898 — TERROR AT A BIG FIRE. [ARTICLE]

TERROR AT A BIG FIRE.

Explosion Follows a Blaze in a Chicago Basement-Many Hurt. Ten minutes after an alarm of fire had been given at the Tosetti restaurant, 104 and 106 Madison street, Chicago, Thursday afternoon, a terrific explosion occurred beneath the sidewalk in front of the burning building. Structures were shaken for a block around and windows were shattered ns by an explosion of dynamite. Scores of men and women were hurled to the ground, and a dozen or more were injured by flying glass. Firemen were scorched in a whirlwind of flame, and tossed in the air like so many leaves in a windstorm, and several policemen were stricken to the earth as if with a club. Wild excitement prevailed for several minutes, and when the ambulances nnd doctors had finished their work of mercy the list of injured was found to number nearly thirty. A drop of blazing oil from an overheated basement engine is said to have caused the fire which threatened with destruction the entire south side of Madison street between Clark and Dearborn streets.’ This started a blaze that could not be controlled nnd culminated in the explosion of a drum of ammonia under the sidewalk, the explosive ignition of a natural gas main and the destruction of the building. The loss exceeds $200,000.