Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1878 — The Minneapolis Explosion—Great Loss of Life and Property. [ARTICLE]

The Minneapolis Explosion—Great Loss of Life and Property.

Minneapolis, Minn.,.May 2. At seven o’clock this evening the city was shaken, as by an earthquake, by a terrific explosion, which was promptly traced to the groups of great flounnginills, jn* what is known as the platform, just above St. Anthony’s Falls, where the entire flouring district of the city is concentrated. The explosion came from the great Washburn Mill, from which a column of flame was seen to shoot up several hundred feet, followed by a crash, which crushed the immense structure like an egg-shell. Other explosions instantly destroyed the Thompson, Hoyt and. Humboldt Mills, and flames immediately burst out, communicating to the galaxy of mills, and other structures down the btpk of the river nearly to the Minneapolis & St Louis Railroad shops. The destruction from the shock of the explosion extended much farther, glass being wrecked for sevr eral squares, and buildings shaken throughout the city, The immediate theory of the explosion is that it took place in gas generated in the patent middlings purifier process. There were many thrilling incidents

and narrow escapes. Daniel Day was blown the whole length of Pettit A Robinson's Mill, out through a rear window, and escaped. One poor fellow, who could not be recognised, had escaped alive from the explosion, and was observed crawling through the darting, hungry flames toward the track of the Minneapolis & St. Louis Road, directly in the rear of the Washburn Mill. He managed to reach the rail, and there evidently became exhausted and fell back into the raging hell behind, where his agonies instantly ended. It now appears that most of i lie day force had gone home, and only the smaller night force remained. The loss to property is enormous, but Lhe confusion is too great for an intelligent estimate at present. A rough calculation places it at 91,500,000, of which 91,000,000 will fall upon the milling interest. The loss throughout the city by the breaking of glass, etc., is 910,000. Five mills and a planing mill were destroyed, beside adjoining property, including eighty-seven out of the 197 runs of stone in the city.. The five flouring mills, which were involved in the disaster, form a group which comprises the heaviest concerns in the State. Chief among them were the two Washburn Mills, the property of ex-Gov. C. G. Washburn, of Wisconsin, of which the one in which the explosion occurred was the largest flouring mill In the country, and the largest but one in the world. It was built in 1870, included forty-one run of stone, and was worth 9200,000. It is now a smoking mass of ruins with its companion on the platform. The destruction is complete, so far as the limits above named, and serious within much wider bounds. The flames are still raging in the ruins, but are under control, and no farther extension is feared. It is now hoped the dead will be confined to fourteen mentioned as in the Washburn Mill.