1920 – Feb 26, aluminum plant dust explosion (female workers killed), Manitowoc, WI– 6

–6 Manitowoc Herald-News, WI. “Sixth Victim of Disaster is Freed by Death.” 3-8-1920, p. 1.
–6 National Fire Protection Association. Report of Important Dust Explosions. 1957, p. 54.

Narrative Information

Feb 26: “Just before going to press we learn that a gas explosion occurred in the buffeting department of the Aluminum Goods plat at 10 o’clock this morning and scores of girls were burned, some of them quite seriously. It is reported that seventeen girls were taken to the hospital and that one of them, Addie Holtz, died shortly after being removed there. She was 30 years of age and had been employed by the company seven years. Three or four more girls are so seriously injured from the explosion and fire that their recovery is doubtful. About sixty girls were employed on the floor where the explosion in the blower occurred….” (Manitowoc Pilot, WI. “Explosion at A. G. Plant.” 2-26-1920, p. 1.)

Feb 27: “With the death of four more girl victims of yesterday’s Aluminum plant explosion and fire the toll was brought up to five today, while two more are in critical condition. Following the death of Addie Holtz yesterday afternoon, four other victims of burns in the fire, succumbed last evening and during the night, the dead being:

Addie Holtz, 30 years old…
Frances Budycz, 23 years old…
Pauline Komorowski, 21 years old…
Josephine Schleisleder, 19 years old…
Esther Rusch, 20 years old…

“All five of the girls were so severely burned that death was but a matter of hours and came as relief from the agonizing suffering.

“Miss Komorowski was the second victim of the accident to give up her life, passing away shortly after 6 last night and the deaths of the Budyez, Schleisleder and Rusch girls followed soon afterward. Death was a mercy to the unfortunate girls, all of whom suffered burns to the body, face and hands, four of the girls having the flesh burned from their bodies while the fifth had her lungs so badly affected that nothing could be done for her. The girls, had there been a chance of recovery, would have been scarred for life by the terrible burns and would undoubtedly have preferred death rather than to have faced the future maimed and scarred as they would have been.

“Four of the five girls had been employed at the plant of the Aluminum Goods Co., for years, Miss Rusch being the only one who had been with the company for a period of less than four to seven years. The Rusch girl…had been employed at the factory only eight weeks….

“Anna Schade, a forewoman at the aluminum factory, who was blown completely across the room to the door of the fire escape by the explosion yesterday and who rolled from the fire escape to plunge to the ground twenty feet below, her fall broken by landing on the roof of a shed, today told of her experience in an interview with a Herald-News representative. She is in the Holy Family hospital where she will recover. ‘When the explosion of the fan came I was blown across the room almost to the fire escape door,’ she said. ‘I could not use my legs and crawled out on the fire escape. I felt that some other girl had hold of me but did not look to see who it was. When I got out on the fire escape I became frightened that I would be trampled on by the girls rushing from the room and rolled over the edge to the ground. ‘I did not know how badly I had been hurt but knew that my clothes were afire. Just exactly what happened after that I do not know.’….” (Manitowoc Herald-News, WI. “Fifth Blast Victim Is Dead.” 2-27-1920, p. 1.)

Feb 28: “No further deaths occurred today among victims of the Aluminum Goods plant fire, although the condition of three of the five injured girls at the hospital continues to be extremely grave and little hope is entertained for the recovery of two of the number….

“Officers of the Aluminum Goods Manufacturing Company have left nothing undone in caring for the patients and giving the injured girls every chance for life. When the force of nurses was brought here from Milwaukee to assist the hospital force, it was found that every ounce of unguentin in the city had been exhausted and a telegraphic order was sent to Milwaukee for 300 pounds and the request brought fifty pounds, all that could be obtained in Milwaukee, was forwarded an is being used.

“The girls whose condition is today reported critical are Emily Becker, Frances Rystickan and Blanche Komorowski. Lillian Spinker, another of the injured girls, is reported to show marked improvement and it is believed by physicians will survive.

“Rebuilding of that part of the factory plant in which the satin finishing department was located, as result of the explosion, may be necessary because of the damage to the walls which were forced out two to five inches on both sides of the room, in which the explosion occurred. Officials of the Goods Company today said that it was expected that the walls would be torn out and unless some new plan was adopted relative to construction of an addition, the walls would be replaced.

“The force of the explosion was so great that the steel window frames were bulged out and the heavy brick walls forced to give. The walls are not dangerous, it is said, but the company is not taking chances and will rebuild the structure. Supt. Vits said that no action had been taken as yet and that none was contemplated until later. ‘The walls will be taken out and replaced, however, and the company will assure itself that the structure is safe,’ said Mr. Vits.” (Manitowoc Herald-News, WI. “3 Blast Victims Hover Between Life and Death.” 2-28-1920, p.1.)

March 1: “Above, left to right [reference to photos] – Esther Rusch, Lillian Spinker, Josephine Schlieisleder, Frances Budycz. Below – Addie Holtz, Frances Rystikan. Miss Rystikan and Miss Spinker were severely burned and are still in the hospital. It is believed Miss Spinker will recover while Miss Rystikan’s condition is still critical. The others pictured above, with Pauline Komorowski, died of their injuries.” (Manitowoc Herald-News, WI. “Victims of Explosion at Aluminum Goods Company’s Plant.” 3-1-1920, p. 1.)

March 8: “A sixth victim of the explosion and fire at the plant of the Aluminum Goods plant on Feb 26, found release from agonizing suffering which she had endured, yesterday, when death came to her release. Emily Becker passing away at the hospital at 2:30 Sunday afternoon. Death was a mercy to the suffering girl as there was no hope for her recovery and each day but added to the agony and suffering which she experienced. Miss Becker was one of the most severely burned of the victims, her entire body being affected, the most severe burns being to legs and an arm and it was at one time thought that as a last resort in hope of saving the girl that amputation of a leg and arm might be undertaken. Her condition from the time of the accident had failed to show improvement, however, and it was realized that the hope of amputation was a forlorn one and it was not attempted….Miss Becker…would have been nineteen years of age on July 23. She…had been employed at the Aluminum Goods Co. for four and one-half years….

“With the death of Miss Becker, the toll of life in the accident now totals six. One other girl, a patient at the hospital, is still in a critical condition, though hopes are entertained for her recovery. Three others are reported out of danger. A number of girls who suffered slight burns have recovered and most of them have returned to work.” (Manitowoc Herald-News, WI. “Sixth Victim of Disaster is Freed by Death.” 3-8-1920, p. 1.)

Sources

Manitowoc Herald-News, WI. “3 Blast Victims Hover Between Life and Death.” 2-28-1920, p.1. Accessed 3-13-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/manitowoc-herald-news-feb-28-1920-p-1/

Manitowoc Herald-News, WI. “Fifth Blast Victim Is Dead.” 2-27-1920, p. 1. Accessed 3-13-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/manitowoc-herald-news-feb-27-1920-p-1/

Manitowoc Herald-News, WI. “Sixth Victim of Disaster is Freed by Death.” 3-8-1920, p. 1. Accessed 3-13-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/manitowoc-herald-news-mar-08-1920-p-1/

Manitowoc Herald-News, WI. “Victims of Explosion at Aluminum Goods Company’s Plant.” 3-1-1920, p. 1. Accessed 3-13-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/manitowoc-herald-news-mar-01-1920-p-1/

Manitowoc Pilot, WI. “Explosion at A. G. Plant.” 2-26-1920, p. 1. Accessed 3-13-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/manitowoc-pilot-feb-26-1920-p-1/

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.