1953 — Apr 16, Aluminum Dust Explosion and Fire, Haber Metalworking, Chicago, IL– 35

–35 AP. “Fire Jury Hears Final Testimony.” Dixon Evening Telegraph, IL. 5-1-1953, p. 14.
–35 NFPA. “Fires Causing Large Loss of Life.” Handbook of Fire Protection. 1954, p. 36.
–35 National Fire Protection Association. Report of Important Dust Explosions. 1957, p. 57.

Narrative Information

April 16, UP: “Chicago (UP) – An explosion rocked a four-story factory today and police said an unofficial count indicated 14 persons were killed. Four bodies had been recovered, but estimates of the total dead varied. Policemen at the scene estimated the number of dead anywhere from 20 to 26. But the Red Cross and an unofficial police count agreed on 14.

“In addition, two babies perished in an apartment house fire aggravated by the fact that a fire engine stationed across the street had gone to the factory to fight flames that followed the explosion.

“High winds fanned the flames and dense smoke hung over the confused scene.

“Police said about 100 employes were at work in the plant, owned by the Haber Corp., when the blast occurred. Some leaped from windows of upper stories and were injured. At least 24 persons were taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries. Police said 25 workers were believed to have been working on the top floor when the explosion shook the building and the surrounding neighborhood.

“Mrs. Lorraine Spahn, 35, told of panic that gripped employes. She and several others leaped from the third floor. ‘We ran toward the fire escape, but the crowd was too big and some of the women were knocked down,’ she said. She was taken to Augustana Hospital, where she was treated for back and leg injuries.

“Miss Olga Schlacuh, 36, said she was with a group that tried to go down a fire escape. But she said flames began shooting from a second story window and several of the group jumped.” (United Press. “Chicago Explosion Causes 14 Deaths.” Edwardsville Intelligencer, IL. 4-16-1953, p. 1.)

April 17, UP: “Chicago (UP) – More bodies were recovered from an explosion-shattered factory today and fears arose that the final death count might run as high as 33. Firemen had recovered 23 bodies from the flame-swept four-story plant of the Haber Corp. Police in a revised estimate, said 10 other company employes were ‘unaccounted for.’ Five others listed earlier as missing were found at their homes or the homes of relatives.

“An inquest was called for today to determine the cause of the blast and fire which investigators believe may have resulted from a dust explosion in a broken exhaust duct.

“Thirty-five persons were known to be in hospitals, 18 women and 17 men.

“The dead included Harry Brady, 42, vice president of the Haber firm.

“The explosion killed several persons at their work benches. Others fled with clothing aflame and some were injured when they leaped from the third floor to a set-back below.” (United Press. “Fear Final Death Toll of 33 in Chicago Explosion.” Daily Register, Harrisburg, IL. 4-17-1953, p. 6.)

April 18, AP: “Chicago, April 18 (AP)

“Firemen found another body today in the ruins of a fire-swept four-story factory building, increasing to 28 the known dead in one of Chicago’s major fires in recent years. Firemen continued the round-the-clock search for additional bodies. Officials said the final death toll might reach 33. Still unaccounted for are five persons who were in the Haber Corporation plant when it was rocked by an explosion and swept by fire Thursday morning. Eleven bodies were recovered in the ruins Friday.

“Thirty-two of the 37 persons injured in the fire at the factory at 908 West North Avenue, two miles from the Loop, still were hospitalized. Two were reported in critical condition. About 90 persons were in the factory at the time of the explosion and fire….

“Titus Haffa, 60-year-old former alderman and owner of the Haber Corporation, said he plans to remove the remainder of the brick building and construct a children’s playground as a memorial to the victims of the fire.

“Estimates of damage ranged from $175,000 by fire officials to ‘more than $500,000’ by company officials.” (Associated Press. “Fire Toll Reaches 28.” Southern Illinoisan, Carbondale, IL. 4-18-1953, p. 1.)

April 20, AP: “Chicago (AP) – Haber Corporation officials will be subpoenaed for an inquest ‘in minute detail’ into a factory fire Thursday in which at least 34 employes died, Coroner Walter E. McCarron said Sunday. McCarron said investigation showed the building was under repair and had only one fire escape. “Bodies of three men and three women were found near that fire escape on the third floor level Sunday, raising the death toll to 34.

“Twenty-eight of the 37 persons injured in the explosion and fire are still in the hospital, four on the critical list….” (Associated Press. “Haber Corp. Officials Face Inquest on Fire That Took 34 Lives.” Freeport Journal-Standard, IL. 4-20-1953, p. 1.)

May 1, AP: “Chicago (AP) – A jury investigating the Haber Corporation fire which killed 35 persons April 16, heard final testimony Thursday and will reconvene next Tuesday to begin deliberating.

“Arvid M. Tienson, chief supervising engineer of the Illinois Department of Labor’s factory inspection division, told the jury Thursday that there was enough aluminum dust present in the plant’s grinding machine exhaust system to cause an explosion, and that the factory’s exhaust system must have been clogged in some way.

“Fire Chief Frank Thielman, of the Third Battalion, testified that the building fire escape had been moved from the front wall to a side wall but was not a legal means of exit since it did not reach to the ground. He also said one of the two stairways in the building was unusable because it was being repaired.

“Construction work was underway at the Haber plant at the time of the fire for which, earlier witnesses testified, permits were not obtained by either the construction company or the Haber Corporation.” (Associated Press. “Fire Jury Hears Final Testimony.” Dixon Evening Telegraph, IL. 5-1-1953, p. 14.)

May 6, AP: “Chicago (AP) – A coroner’s jury ruled Tuesday the deaths of 35 persons in the Haber corporation fire April 16 were accidental, but said the owners of the factory and two other firms were negligent and urged a stricter building permit law. The jurors were unanimous in reporting negligence by Haber, and by Ragnar Benson, Inc., and Wipf Welding Co. which were remodeling the factory at 908 North av. At the time of the explosion and fire. They disagreed on degree of negligence. The jury, hand-picked by Coroner Walter McCarron, recommended that it be made a felony to start a ‘building operation involving public safety or health’ without a city permit. The jurors said the owner, architect and contractor should be jointly responsible for obtaining the permits.

“Also recommended were special electrical controls for exhaust systems so that failure of the system would shut off machines such as buffers, grinders or polishers which might produce explosive or otherwise hazardous dust.

“The explosion and fire which trapped many Haber employes in the upper floors was accentuated by aluminum dust, the jury reported. The company machines and polishes aluminum casting for cooking utensils.” (Associated Press. “Call Deaths of 35 Workers Accidental.” Dixon Evening Telegraph, IL. 5-6-1953, p. 3.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Call Deaths of 35 Workers Accidental.” Dixon Evening Telegraph, IL. 5-6-1953, p. 3. Accessed 3-14-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/dixon-evening-telegraph-may-06-1953-p-3/

Associated Press. “Fire Jury Hears Final Testimony.” Dixon Evening Telegraph, IL. 5-1-1953, p. 14. Accessed 3-14-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/dixon-evening-telegraph-may-01-1953-p-14/

Associated Press. “Fire Toll Reaches 28.” Southern Illinoisan, Carbondale, IL. 4-18-1953, p. 1. Accessed 3-14-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/southern-illinoisan-apr-18-1953-p-1/

Associated Press. “Haber Corp. Officials Face Inquest on Fire That Took 34 Lives.” Freeport Journal-Standard, IL. 4-20-1953, p. 1. Accessed 3-14-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/freeport-journal-standard-apr-20-1953-p-1/

National Fire Protection Association. “Fires Causing Large Loss of Life.” Handbook of Fire Protection (11th Ed.). Boston, MA: NFPA, 1954, pp. 33-36.

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.

United Press. “Chicago Explosion Causes 14 Deaths.” Edwardsville Intelligencer, IL. 4-16-1953, p. 1. Accessed 3-14-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/edwardsville-intelligencer-apr-16-1953-p-1/

United Press. “Fear Final Death Toll of 33 in Chicago Explosion.” Daily Register, Harrisburg, IL. 4-17-1953, p. 6. Accessed 3-14-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/harrisburg-daily-register-apr-17-1953-p-12/