1898 — Sep 20, grain dust explosion and fire, Union grain elevator, Toledo OH –14-15
–14-15 Blanchard estimated death toll from listing of fatalities placed at the end of this document.
While we have compiled a list of fifteen people reported as fatalities, the latest press report
we have located (10-26-2004) notes fourteen deaths. In that it is conceivable that my list
is inaccurate as to the death of one of the individuals noted there, we choose to show a
range of 14-15.
–14 ToledoBlade.com. “Sunday’s blaze was Toledo’s 3rd most deadly since 1898.” 10-26-2004.
–13 Massillon Evening Item, OH. “Thirteen are Dead.” 9-22-1898, p. 5.
–12 Perrysburg Journal, OH. “Death and Fire Do Destructive Work at the Union Elevator.” 9-24-1898, p.1.
–10 National Fire Protection Association. Report of Important Dust Explosions. 1957, p. 47.
–10 Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “Explosive Dust Causes Awful Accident.” 9-21-1898, p. 1.
Narrative Information
Sep 21: “Toledo, Sept. 21. – Ten men cremated, six more fatally burned and eight seriously injured, is the record of the most disastrous fire that ever occurred in Toledo. The spontaneous combustion of dust in the grain elevator owned by Paddock, Hodge & Company, caused this terrible destruction of life, and none of those who were taken out after the fire started were able to tell any of the details.
The Dead. [We reordered the list alphabetically.]
Samuel Alexander.
John Carr.
Fred Garrett.
Grace Parks [17-year-old daughter of the elevator superintendent, who was visiting].
Harold Parks [son of the elevator superintendent, who was visiting].
[Superintendent William Parks is noted as having died in last paragraph.]
John Smith.
Frank Van Housen.
Bert Wainright.
[Unknown injured work is noted as having died in the last paragraph.]
“….William J. Parks, the superintendent, after being blown through the window of the lower story, was conscious for a moment and said that about 8:30 a terrible explosion occurred on the south side of the elevator and that he knew there were about 20 men at work on the seven floors of the enormous building.
“None of those who are now alive will survive the burns and bruises with which they are covered. Besides those regularly employed at the elevator the three children of Superintendent Pars were visiting him at the time. One of these may recover from his burns, but Grace, a 17-year-old girl, is burned almost beyond recognition, and Harold, the third child, has not been found, being either blown to atoms or cremated.
“At 8:30 the people of East Toledo were startled by a terrible explosion, which caused a panic all over the neighborhood. Houses were shaken as in an earthquake, and windows were shattered for blocks around. Those in the vicinity of the Union elevator soon noticed flames bursting from all sides of the building.
“It was but a few minutes till the fire department of the city began the work of rescue, which was rendered difficult by the terrible heat of the fire. The river cut off escape on one side and there the flames seemed to be less fierce.
“….It was learned that the force of 20 men expected to load 80,000 bushels of grain during the night. Not one of the entire number could be seen in any part of the building, and it was impossible to reach them in any way.
“William Parks was found first. He was 20 feet from the building, frightfully burned and his clothing almost entirely torn off. He had been hurled from his place in the main room through a window and his agonizing cries were most pitiful.
“Another employe, John Carr, was hurled from the fifth floor of the building, and was bleeding and burned with many bones broken. He did not long survive. Fireman David Kemp and Charles Keifer, the engineer, were found at their places in the engine rooms. They were wounded by falling timbers, and their faces were charred to a crisp by the flames.
“The little daughter of William Pars was sitting at the desk in the office at the time of the explosion, and she was hurled out of the door. She walked down the elevation on which the building stands and dropped down, to be carried away unconscious, suffering from wounds from which she cannot recover.
“John Smith was fatally burned. He was literally disemboweled, and was taken to the hospital to die.
“The heat became so intense that 20 cars standing on siding near the burning building were added to the loss. The fire department had a hard struggle to save other elevators and property.
“The bridge across the Maumee river was on fire several times, but outside the loss of the elevator the damage is slight.
“Mr. Paddock, a member of the firm owning the plant, said that there was between 500,000 and 600,000 tons of grain in storage at the time, the most of it being winter wheat. The property and the grain is an entire loss, and will reach $550,000….
“Superintendent William Parks and one of the unknown injured men died of their injuries, making the total number of fatalities 10.” (Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “Explosive Dust Causes Awful Accident. Ten Men Cremated and Six Fatally Burned.” 9-21-1898, p. 1.)
Sep 22: “Toledo, Sept. 22. – Thirteen are dead as a result of the fire and explosion in the Paddock, Hodge & Co. elevator explosion Tuesday night. In addition to those already found and who have since died of injuries, Frank Perchinski [not on Sep 21 list above], Hamilton Parks, son of Superintendent William J, Parks [not on Sep 21 list above], and one unknown, who cannot be identified [there was one unidentified person on the Sep 21 list, though it is not clear if this is that person or yet another unidentified person], are added to the list of fatalities. The exact number of missing is not yet positively known.” (Massillon Evening Item, OH. “Thirteen are Dead.” 9-22-1898, p. 5.)
Sep 24: “At the fire of the Union elevator at East Toledo Tuesday night, at least a dozen lives were sacrificed and many so severely injured that there is no possible chance of recovery. These known to be dead are [we put into alphabetical order]:
Samuel Alexander.
John Carr.
Fred Garrett.
Charles Keifer.
Miss Grace Parks.
Harold Parks.
Frank VanHoesen.
Bert Wainright.
Two Poles whose names could not be learned. [This is ten people.]
“Among the missing is Everett Davenport, thought to be buried in the debris.
“The injured are: Wm. Parks, horribly burned….” (Perrysburg Journal, OH. “Death and Fire Do Destructive Work at the Union Elevator.” 9-24-1898, p.1.)
Blanchard summary of fatalities as noted in various press reports
1. Samuel Alexander.
2. John Carr.
3. Everett Davenport.
4. Fred Garrett.
5. Charles Keifer.
6. Miss Grace Parks [17-year-old daughter of the superintendent, who was visiting].
7. Harold Parks [son of the elevator superintendent, who was visiting].
8. Hamilton Parks [son of Superintendent William J, Parks, who was visiting].
9. [William Parks, plant superintendent, noted as having died in last sentence, 9-21 rpt.]
10. Frank Perchinski
11. John Smith.
12. Frank Van Housen.
13. Bert Wainright.
14. [Unknown injured work is noted as having died in the last paragraph, Sep 21 report.]
15. 2nd of two unidentified “Poles.”
Oct 26, 2004: “A fire and explosion at the Paddock & Hodge Grain Works in East Toledo killed 14 of the 18 workers in the factory on Sept 20, 1898.” (ToledoBlade.com. “Sunday’s blaze was Toledo’s 3rd most deadly since 1898.” 10-26-2004.)
Sources
Find a Grave. “Everett R. Davenport.” 11-27-2012 posting. Accessed 3-12-2023 at: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/101354380/everett-r-davenport
Massillon Evening Item, OH. “Thirteen are Dead.” 9-22-1898, p. 5. Accessed 3-12-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/massillon-item-sep-22-1898-p-5/
National Fire Protection Association. Report of Important Dust Explosions: A Record of Dust Explosions in the United States and Canada Since 1860. Boston: NFPA, 1957.
Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “Explosive Dust Causes Awful Accident. Ten Men Cremated and Six Fatally Burned.” 9-21-1898, p. 1. Accessed 3-11-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/newark-daily-advocate-sep-21-1898-p-1/
Perrysburg Journal, OH. “Death and Fire Do Destructive Work at the Union Elevator.” 9-24-1898, p.1. Accessed 3-12-2023: https://newspaperarchive.com/the-perrysburg-journal-sep-24-1898-p-1/
ToledoBlade.com. “Sunday’s blaze was Toledo’s 3rd most deadly since 1898.” 10-26-2004. Accessed 3-12-2023 at: https://www.toledoblade.com/local/police-fire/2004/10/26/Sunday-s-blaze-was-Toledo-s-3rd-most-deadly-since-1898/stories/200410260030