1924 — Aug 28, Explosion, Ammonia Refrigeration Tank, Grocery, Des Moines, IA        —     11    

–11  Des Moines Register. “Keokuk Explosion Among Major Disasters in Iowa.” 11-26-1965, 4.

–11  Sioux City Journal, IA. “Eleventh Victim Des Moines Blast Dies.” 9-5-1924, p. 1.

 

Narrative Information

 

Aug 28: “Des Moines, Aug. 28 (Associated Press). One man was killed and 12 persons were injured, several perhaps fatally, when an ammonia tank exploded in a south side grocery here today. The man killed was Everett Armel, a truck driver for the grocery company. The injured were hurt when they were precipitated to the basement as the explosion ripped out the first floor of the building. Some also suffered from ammonia fumes.

 

“The explosion wrecked the building, which is located at Southwest Ninth street and Army post road. At first it was believed the blast was at Fort Des Moines, nearby, where the citizens military training camp is under way. The student soldiers aided police in the rescue work.

 

“An hour after the blast one little girl still was unaccounted for and a half dozen persons had been taken to hospitals for examination. Several were said to have sustained serious internal injuries. A number of women and children were among those injured.

 

“The ammonia tank was located under a sidewalk in front of the store. The walk was torn out by

the explosion and a man passing the building was hurt by the flying stones. The entire floor crashed to the basement, the fixtures and stock piling upon those who were in the store.

 

“For a time the ammonia fumes prevented rescue work hut police equipped with gas masks were able to begin a search of the debris before the fumes abated.

 

“The store was well filled with customers at the time o£ the explosion. Police said they would be

unable to definitely account for all until a complete search of the basement had been made.

 

“The store was operated by the Vallandingham grocery company.

 

“No one could definitely assign a cause for the explosion.

 

“Among the injured were:

Elza Housman.

  1. E. Vallandingham.

Alberta Graves. 10 years old.

  1. G. Everett, a butcher.

Bill Mayor, a baker.

Loren Grenstead, clerk.

  1. C. Paul, Salesman.

Angelina Shaft, 8 years old.

Lois Williams, 8 years old.

Ben Nohlow.”

(Davenport Democrat, IA. “Blast Blew Up Store at Des Moines.” 8-28-1924, p. 1.)

 

Aug 28: “Des Moines, IA., Aug. 28 (Associated Press) – Angela Schaff, aged 9, was killed and two score others were injured, eight seriously, when an ammonia refrigerating plant in the basement of a south side grocery here exploded this morning, wrecking the building…”  (Bakersfield Morning Echo, CA. “Child Killed in Ammonia Blast.” 8-29-1924, p. 2.)

 

Aug 29: “Des Moines, Aug. 29 (Associated Press) – The fifth victim of yesterday’s ammonia explosion which wrecked a grocery store here died this afternoon. The latest death was that of Betty Atkinson, 5-years-old. The other victims also were young girls. Physicians said several others suffering from chemical pneumonia, caused by the ammonia fumes, might die during the afternoon. That the death toll of the blast might reach nine or ten was a strong probability was admitted by the physicians after other of the more seriously injured had failed this afternoon to respond to treatment.

 

“Mrs. Alma Atkinson, mother of the latest victim of the explosion, collapsed shortly before the little girl’s death and was said to be in a critical condition. She was a sister of Alberta Graves, a 13-year-old girl who died early today, within an hour of the deaths of Romaine Riley, 8, and Arlene Truitt, 13. The other death was that of Angela Schaff, 9, killed in the blast.

 

“Nine of the surviving injured were said to be in a critical state. They included Theodore Heather and P. E. Vallandingham, proprietor of the wrecked store….

 

“Coroner Guy Clift today started an investigation of the cause of the blast, along with city safety engineers. The inquiry was impossible yesterday owing to the presence of ammonia fumes in the debris….

 

“Three of the little girls killed were related and all were playmates. They had been sent by their mothers on errands, or gone to the store to purchase candy.” (Creston Daily Advertiser, IA. “Death List of Grocery Blast Increased to 5.” 8-29-1924, pp. 1 and 6.)

 

Aug 30: “Des Moines, Ia. Aug. 30. (Associated Press) – Louise Williams. 7 years old, died at City hospital this morning, bringing the number of fatalities from Thursday’s ammonia explosion in a Fort Des Moines grocery store to six. All were children. Physicians entertained little hope for the recovery of three other victims of the blast….Four reported as near death at the city hospital are Donald McBride, 8 years old; Dennis Mahlow, 11 years old; Theodore Heather, 24 years old and Prentis E. Vallandingham, proprietor of the store. Physicians stated that inflammation caused in the lungs of the gas victims increased the present danger….” (Waterloo Evening Courier, IA. “Sixth Victim of Ammonia Explosion in Grocery Store at Des Moines Dies.” 8-30-1924, p. 1.)

 

Sep 1: “Des Moines, Sept. 1 (Associated Press) – The Des Moines grocery store explosion death toll today mounted to nine when P. E. Vallandingham, proprietor at the store, died at 8 o’clock this morning. Two others were reported near death. They are Donald McBride, 8 years old, and Theodore Heather, 24…

 

“Dennis Mahlow, 11 years old, eighth victim of the ammonia blast disaster…died at the city hospital early this morning. Mrs. E. M. Dockum, the seventy victims of the explosion died yesterday….” (Iowa City Press-Citizen, IA. “Ninth Victim of Blast Dies.” 9-1-1924, p. 1.)

 

Sep 2: “Des Moines, Ia., Sept 2. – Donald McBride, 8 years old, tenth victim of an ammonia tank blast…last Thursday…died at the city hospital last night as a result of injuries received in the explosion and the effects of ammonia fumes. The condition of Theodore Heather, 24 years old, last of the seven patients who have been at the city hospital, was reported grave this morning….”  (Burlington Gazette, IA. “10th Victim Dies of Hurts Received in Ammonia Blast.” 9-2-1924, p. 1.)

 

Sep 4: “….The gas tank which is believed to have exploded because of a faulty safety cock was under the front of the store. The explosion lifted the front of the grocery floor into the air, making escape impossible. The wreckage of ceiling and flooring then dropped into the basement, burying some of the victims under hundreds of pounds of debris.” (State Center Enterprise, IA. “Grandson of Mahlows Dies as Result of Explosion.” 9-4-1924, p. 1.)

 

Sep 4: “Des Moines, Ia., Sept. 4,. – Theodore Heather, 27, injured in the ammonia tank explosion which wrecked the Valandingham grocery near Fort Des Moines a week ago, died in a local hospital late today. Heather was the 11th person to succumb to injuries sustained in the blast.” (Sioux City Journal, IA. “Eleventh Victim Des Moines Blast Dies.” 9-5-1924, p. 1.)

 

Sep 6: “Des Moines, Sept. 6. — Nine witnesses were examined last night at the opening of the coroner’s inquest into the ammonia refrigerating tank explosion which cost the lives of eleven persons here recently. Th e witnesses testified as to the operation of the machines and repairs made previously to the explosion amid examined fragments found at the investigation following the blast. The coroner did not reveal the results of the experts investigation. The hearing will be continued next week.” (Creston Daily Advertiser, IA. “Examine Witnesses of Ammonia Explosion.” 9-6-1924, p. 1.)

Sources

 

Bakersfield Morning Echo, CA. “Child Killed in Ammonia Blast.” 8-29-1924, p. 2. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=185801004&sterm=ammonia+explosion

 

Burlington Gazette, IA. “10th Victim Dies of Hurts Received in Ammonia Blast.” 9-2-1924, p. 1.

Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=238405548&sterm=

 

Creston Daily Advertiser, IA. “Death List of Grocery Blast Increased to 5.” 8-29-1924, pp. 1 and 6. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=238691360

 

Creston Daily Advertiser, IA. “Examine Witnesses of Ammonia Explosion.” 9-6-1924, p. 1. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=248517257&sterm=explosion

 

Davenport Democrat, IA. “Blast Blew Up Store at Des Moines.” 8-28-1924, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=31256558&sterm=explosion+des+moines

 

Des Moines Register, IA. “Keokuk Explosion Among Major Disasters in Iowa.” 11-26-1965, p. 4. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=116169964&sterm=keokuk

 

Iowa City Press-Citizen, IA. “Ninth Victim of Blast Dies.” 9-1-1924, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=10607464&sterm=explosion+des+moines

 

Sioux City Journal, IA. “Eleventh Victim Des Moines Blast Dies.” 9-5-1924, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=125859020&sterm=explosion

 

State Center Enterprise, IA. “Grandson of Mahlows Dies as Result of Explosion.” 9-4-1924, p. 1. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=165424723&sterm=explosion

 

Waterloo Evening Courier, IA. “Sixth Victim of Ammonia Explosion in Grocery Store at Des Moines Dies.” 8-30-1924, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=93287689&sterm=explosion+des+moines