Chicago, IL Building Explosion, May 1895

AN EXPLOSION.

Thirteen Persons Terribly Burned in a Fire at Chicago.

THE VICTIMS DYING

Several Injured Fatally---A Scene of Wild Excitement.

CHICAGO, May 11.---By an explosion of gas at 1:15 o'clock this morning, in the building, 10 Sherman street, thirteen persons were terribly burned, some of them fatally. The lower floor of the building was occupied by August Meischall as a saloon, and the two upper floors as a boarding house. Meischall jumped out of a window on the third floor and received injuries that will probably result fatally. Mrs. Meischall and her two children were badly burned. The following were injured:

Joseph Dennier, a boarder, burned internally and cannot recover. Unconscious when taken from the building. Taken to the county hospital.

Edward Cwinn, terribly burned about head and chest; taken to the county hospital; cannot recover.

August Meischall, proprietor of the boarding house; jumped from third floor, badly burned and both legs broken. Taken to St. Luke's hospital, and cannot recover.

Mrs. Mary Meischall, wife of August Meischall, cut about head and face. Removed to St. Luke's hospital.

Lena Meischall, 8-months-old babe of Mr. and Mrs. Meischall, burned and bruised above the face; taken to St. Luke's hospital.

Mary Meischall, 2-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Meischall, slightly burned about the hands; taken with mother to St. Luke's hospital.

John Norman, cut about face; injuries not serious.

Pierre Rougue, a boarder, cut and bruised about face and inhaled gas; taken to county hospital.

Alex St. Sune, terribly from head to feet, and will die; at county hospital.

Unidentified man at county hospital, will die.

The concussion shook the building from its foundation, and was heard several blocks away.

Pinkerton Watchman John Rie was standing at Jackson street and Fifth avenue when he was startled by the explosion. He ran to Sherman street, and just as he turned the corner at Jackson he saw flames leaping out of Meischall's saloon. Rie ran to the engine house at Van Buren street and Fifth avenue, and gave the alarm. Marshal Musham, who was first to reach the scene, saw Meischall at the window in the third story preparing to jump.

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