Fatal Pekin Starch Explosion and What Caused It
Full Account of the Disaster at Corn Products Plant, Including Report by Fire Marshal Gamber on Joint Investigation—Fires of the Week
A DUST explosion has again taken a terrible toll of human life and destroyed hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property. This time the explosion was that of starch dust, which, judging from its results seems to have been, equally as potent in its effects as that of grain dust. The disaster occurred on January 3 at 3.30 o’clock in the morning at the plant of the Corn Products Company, at Pekin, Ill. With only very little warning the dry starch house, three stories and basement, constructed of brick, was torn apart along with a neighboring structure and a third structure was partly destroyed. Building No. 27, the starch house, and building No. 33, where the starch powder was stored, were completely wiped out by the blast, and building No. 9, an older structure, in which the fire originated, was also partly destroyed. The resulting fire added to the horror of the disaster, causing the death of many, whom the explosion had badly injured and who were trapped in the ruins.
If you are a current subscriber,login hereto access this content.
If you would like to become a subscriber, please visit ushere.
