1938 — April 4, Grain Dust Explosion, nine-story grain elevator, New Orleans, LA — 6

–6 Associated Press. “6th Blast Victim Dies.” Monroe News-Star, LA. 4-13-1938, p. 1.
–6 NFPA. Report of Important Dust Explosions. 1957, p. 50.

Narrative Information

April 5: “New Orleans, April 5. – (AP) – Five men, horribly burned in yesterday’s grain dust blast that rocked the nine-story concrete public grain elevator on the river front here, were dead today. Seventeen others remained in the hospital suffering from burns, shock and other injuries. The fifth man, who died today, was Henry Jornes [unclear], 48. One or two other men among the three score persons trapped in the big structure by the sudden explosion were given little if any chance to survive.

“The death-dealing agent was a white hot sheet of flame generated by the thunderous blast that swept the length of the tower. Miraculously, many of the men escaped serious injury from the force of the explosion but few of those on the upper floors of the tower evaded the searing gush of fire.

“The explosion occurred at 2:55 p.m. Within seven hours third degree burns had taken the lives of:
Andrew Reich, 45-year-old conveyor belt operator.
Arthur E. DeFraites, 50, federal grain inspector.
Joseph L. Helwick, 67, New Orleans board of trade inspector.
George Herrle, 60, grain spout operator.

“Physicians held little hope for Adolph Vorbusch, who was hurled 50 feet through an open window to the top of an 85-foot grain bin. He suffered a broken back and second degree burns of the body.

“The cause of the explosion had not been officially determined but Assistant Elevator Superintendent Y. W. Cahall said it undoubtedly was due to spontaneous combustion. John McKay, general manager of the dock board which operated the elevator, said ‘definite knowledge of the cause of the explosion cannot be determined at this time.’ He announced that an investigation would get under way immediately….

“The elevator, built at a cost of $4,000,000 and boasting a dust-collection system that made it one of the cleanest grain elevators in the world, suffered comparatively little damage. Windows were broken, some sheet metal ripped away, machinery twisted, wiring uprooted and conveyor belts burned.

“McKay said the plant, which had about 1,500,000 bushels of grain, mostly corn, on had when the explosion occurred, would resume operation by the end of the week.” (Associated Press. “Fifth Victim of Blast at Orleans Dies.” Monroe News-Star, LA. 4-5-1938, p. 1.)

April 13, AP: “New Orleans, April 13. – (AP) – William Miller, 58, millwright, died today, the sixth fatal victim of the grain dust explosion of April 4 in the public grain elevator here. His death resulted from burns. About a score of others were injured in the blast which was officially laid to a spark from a burned out motor.” (Associated Press. “6th Blast Victim Dies.” Monroe News-Star, LA. 4-13-1938, p. 1.)
Sources

Associated Press. “Fifth Victim of Blast at Orleans Dies.” Monroe News-Star, LA. 4-5-1938, p. 1. Accessed 3-12-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/monroe-news-star-apr-05-1938-p-1/

Associated Press. “6th Blast Victim Dies.” Monroe News-Star, LA. 4-13-1938, p. 1. Accessed 3-13-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/monroe-news-star-apr-13-1938-p-2/

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.