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Whiting, IN Standard Oil Explosion, Apr 1922

Posted August 16th, 2008 by Linda Horton

OIL STILL BLOWS UP; ONE KILLED, THREE INJURED

Ten Others of Standard Company Burn After Explosion

CHICAGO, April 14.---One man was killed and two or three were injured when a Standard Oil Company oil still at Whiting, Ind., exploded early this morning, according to official reports received at the company's offices here. All the victims were employes[sic].

A battery of ten oil stills burned after the explosion. The intense heat from the fire made a thorough investigation impossible for some time.

Hamilton Daily News, Hamilton, OH 14 Apr 1922

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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!

Do we know the name of the

On January 26th, 2009 wayne Gibson (not verified) says:

Do we know the name of the person who died in the explosion? I think it may be my grandfaughter, Hugh Gibson.

Workman Killed

On February 5th, 2009 gendisasters says:

.... The man killed today was believed to be a workman named Fred Simpson, the body burned to a cinder.

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, OH 14 Apr 1922

One Killed, Three Missing

On February 5th, 2009 gendisasters says:

ONE KILLED, THREE MISSING IN INDIANA BLAST

STANDARD OIL PLANT SCENE OF EXPLOSION

TUBE STILL FOR DISTILLATION OF GASOLINE AT WHITING WRECKED BY BLAST TODAY

NEARBY TOWNS ARE ROCKED

Cause is Undetermined - Assistance Rushed from Surrounding Towns - Search Debris

(By International News Service)

WHITING, Ind., April 14. -- One man is known to have been killed, three others were reported missing, two were seriously burned and 19 were injured early today when three pressure stills, used for distilling gasoline exploded in the Standard Oil company plant here.

The damage will approximate $2,500,000, according to Charles H. Bruens, chief of the Standard Oil company police at the plant.

Gauge Tender Found.

The body of Alfred Plant, gauge tender, was found, burned almost beyond recognition.

The cause of the explosion is a mystery.

Fire apparatus from Whiting, Hammond, East Chicago, Indiana Harbor and other towns, together with ambulances, were rushed to the scene. Firemen are searching the debris for the missing.

Other Towns Feel Shock.

The explosions shook buildings in Whiting and were heard in Hammond, East Chicago, Indiana Harbor and South Chicago.

Great pillars of black smoke rose immediately after the blasts. The explosions occurred at 5:30 a.m. and within a few minutes the streets were alive with employees responding to whistle signals.

Company police barred all outsiders from the blast area.

At 10 o'clock Chief of Police Clay Collins of Whiting, said that neither he nor any other public official, as far as he knew, had been communicated with by company officials.

Logansport Pharos Tribune, Logansport, IN 14 Apr 1922

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