Waukegan, IL Corn Products Plant Blast, Nov 1912

BLAST PROBE IS ON.

LAKE COUNTY, ILL., CORONER BEGINS INQUIRY INTO CORN PRODUCTS FIRE AT WAUKEGAN.

FOUR BODIES STILL MISSING.

TOTAL DEATH LIST NOW IS FOURTEEN -- INJURED ARE IN SERIIOUS CONDITION, AND ONE IS EXPECTED TO DIE -- RESCUERS SEARCH RUINS ALL NIGHT.

Waukegan, Ill., Nov. 27. -- Through investigation of the explosion which wrecked the starch house of the Corn Products Refining company at Waukegan, Ill., resulting in the death of eleven known persons, the supposed killing of four others and the injury of twenty-five men, women and children, was ordered by Coroner TAYLOR of Lake county.
Three workmen, injured in the explosion, died in the hospital. Seven more were said to be near death.
After the coroner's jury viewed the scene of the disaster the inquest was adjourned until after the funerals of the victims.
The coroner arrived at Waukegan on an early train and the inquiry started immediately.
The death of FRANK HIGHLAND, one of the foremen who was injured, is expected.
The injured were reported in such serious condition that the hospital authorities sent a call to Milwaukee for additional doctors and nurses to care for them.
Officials of the company also ordered an investigation.

The Known Dead.
JOHN ADAMS.
PETER DOGELA.
JOSEPH JOBOWSKY, about 22 years old.
FRANK STANLEY, married, 38 years old; leaves wife and fifteen-month-old child.
JOSEPH SELENC, 22 years old; leaves three sisters.
MARTIN SLATER, assistant superintendent of plant; died at hospital.
CHARLES TOMALES, died at hospital.
The missing:
MICHAEL BUNCH.
MARTIN MATACHUK.
LOUIS MONDAY.
JOSEPH PERODSKI.
The injured:
FRANK BRODERICK.
T. CHECENESKI.
JOHN DEBASICISIS.
JOHN GAROLIUA.
ROBERT GRAHAM.
M. GORMAN, SR.
M. GORMAN, JR.
FRANK GOBLITZ.
JOSEPH GODONIUS.
F. GROBELCH.
MATTHEW HYLAND.
MICHAEL JIN.
J. KALOMSKI.
WILLIS KOHLER.
JOHN METACHUK.
MICHAEL MONORICK.
A. OBLICK.
S. PODERSKI.
JOSEPH SAM.
CHARLES STUMBRUS.
J. SHEYREKI.
JOSEPH SIMONECK.
HARRY VEACH.
TONY WETOSKY.

Search All Night For Bodies.
Throughout the night rescuers worked with the aid of lanterns among the ruins in search of the bodies believed to be buried beneath the tons of brick, stone and timber. Wealthy and prominent citizens of Waukegan aided the police and firemen in the work, but when daylight arrived no additional victims had been found. At least four bodies, however, are believed to be in the ruins.
"The accident began with fire," said CHARLES EBERT, superintendent of the Corn Products company. "The first flash of flame set fire to the powdered starch in the air and the powder exploded with all the force of dynamite. I have been through several disasters of the same sort. They all start that way. They are unavoidable."
The bodies of two men were catapulted out of windows sixty feet to a nearby cemetery. Several of the dead had been pinned down by wreckage and were roasted to death in the fire. One victim was pushing a wheelbarrow fifty feet away. The explosion lifted a wall and flung it upon him.

The Marshfield Times Wisconsin 1912-12-18
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!