Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1880 — The Explosion at Frankfort, Iad.—Ten Men Killed. [ARTICLE]

The Explosion at Frankfort, Iad.—Ten Men Killed.

A special to the Chicago Inter-Ocean gives the following account of the terrible effects of the boiler explosion at Frankfort, Ind., on the 11th: Just before seven o'clock this morninw the city of Frankfort wu shaken to the foundations by a tremendous explosion. In a few moments It became known that the magni flee nt flaxseed mill of Rosenthal A- Co., in the suburbs of the place, had been literally blown to atoms, nothing save a pile of blackened rubbish remaining of what wns a half an hour before one of the finest buildings and leading industries of Frankfort. Ten of the workmen, were In the fated building at the time the explosion took place. Not one remained to tell the tale. Every man had been killed, and tbe mangled and sickening fragments of their re mill ns were found strewn around among the rubbish and blown in every direction from the mill, some at least a tli Ird of a mile away. The names of the men killed were: Mike Shields, Patrick Leahey, John Rogers, Soott Williams, Joseph Miller, Ell Helmick, Joseph Elkeu berry. Thomas Croxton, John H artshield, Monroe Webb. Four regular hands were absent, and the time-keeper, Walter Stowman, arriving three minutes late, wu thereby saved from utter destruction. The foot that no one of all those who were tn the mill survived renders it difficult to arrive at the cause of the explosion. It is supposed that at tbe time the hands were assembled, as was their custom, at the north end of the boiler, where they could sit and warm themselves until the whistle blew to begin work. The boiler and engine were not new, having been in a mill which was burned ab:>ut a year ago at Peru, but were considered perfectly safe. Tbe mill was new, built of brick and frame, and was a bandsoino and substantial structure. The shattered ruins took Are directly after the explosion, and have burned all dav. rendering the removal of the bodiej y» r Z4fflJ£uA.. l ft»lte9 fa toltara and osatl atteNHMn,