September 25, 1953 - Final Toll of Dead in Blast May Be 11
As published in The Evening News of the Tonawandas:
FINAL TOLL OF DEAD IN BLAST MAY BE 11
Efforts were being made today at the Erie County Morgue to identify two bodies which were recoved from debris of the Lucidol plant.
More gruesome, however, was the task of morgue attendants who were trying to piece together what appear to be parts of several bodies of men killed in Wednesday's tragic explosion.
Seven of the blast victims have been identified. There are four men still unaccounted for. The final death toll is expected to be 11.
While emergency workers continued to probe the Town of Tonawanda plant rubble, the Erie County Medical Examiner's office was trying every known means of identifying the two bodies so badly charred as to be nearly unrecognizable. Parts of bodies in the morgue defied easy identification. \
Last body identified was that of Thomas Williams Jr., 426 High St., Buffalo. The NEWS yesterday was the first Niagara Frontier newspaper to list MR. Wlliams among the missing after Wednesday's disaster.
Known Dead
The known dead include Mr. Williams, and John F. Sick, 130 Amber St., both of Buffalo, Percy Putvin, 2463 William St., Cheektowaga, Louis Busenhner, Werkley Ave., Ralph Webdale, 135 Harrison Rd., Charles Hoy Jr, and Gerald S. Otis, 325 Dushane Dr, all of the Town of Tonawanda.
The known missing are Chester Roman, Emslie St, and Raymond Scofield, 42 Choate Ave, both of Buffalo; Raymond A Strash, Meadowville Rd., Hamburg, and Allan T Holzman, 32 Roxborough Rd., Cheektowaga.
These account for employees of the Lucidol Divisions, Buffalo Electric Co., and Joseph Dabis Inc., reported by their employers as missing after the tragedy.
However today Lucidol workers, Civil Defense workers, Erie County Sheriff's Department men and Town of Tonawanda police and firemen were continuing their on the scene as debris and rubble were being cleared away.
The hospitalized total stood at 37, but American Red Cross workers were encountering reports of scores of others who received home treatment. Today many Sheridan Parkside residents were reported just getting over the shock of the community emergency. Insurance adjusters visiting homes compared the Lucidol cleanup with the Monsanto Chemical Co. blast for the on-the-spot effect, but on a smaller scale. Twelve homes were listed as gutted.
Damage Estimate
Insurance representatives hesitated even to hazard a guess at property damage and potential claims from nearby business establishments, industrial offices and homes outside Sheridan Parkside affected by the explosion. Some indicated the dollar damage figure may be "nearly a million," but addes hastily the figure is a mere guess.
In a special meeting yesterday, the Niagara Frontier Builders Association offered to make temporary repairs without charge to homes affected by the explosion. Supply members of the association will provide the materials while other members volunteered to supervise work and provide labor needed.
William R. Doll, associate president, today invited damaged home victims to telephone Cleveland 1850 for any help they may need.
The American Red Cross calls for assistance today passed the 15 family mark with interviewers visiting others this afternoon, as blast victims in wrecked homes began trickle back to Sheridan Parkside from temporary quarters.
FINAL TOLL OF DEAD IN BLAST MAY BE 11
Efforts were being made today at the Erie County Morgue to identify two bodies which were recoved from debris of the Lucidol plant.
More gruesome, however, was the task of morgue attendants who were trying to piece together what appear to be parts of several bodies of men killed in Wednesday's tragic explosion.
Seven of the blast victims have been identified. There are four men still unaccounted for. The final death toll is expected to be 11.
While emergency workers continued to probe the Town of Tonawanda plant rubble, the Erie County Medical Examiner's office was trying every known means of identifying the two bodies so badly charred as to be nearly unrecognizable. Parts of bodies in the morgue defied easy identification. \
Last body identified was that of Thomas Williams Jr., 426 High St., Buffalo. The NEWS yesterday was the first Niagara Frontier newspaper to list MR. Wlliams among the missing after Wednesday's disaster.
Known Dead
The known dead include Mr. Williams, and John F. Sick, 130 Amber St., both of Buffalo, Percy Putvin, 2463 William St., Cheektowaga, Louis Busenhner, Werkley Ave., Ralph Webdale, 135 Harrison Rd., Charles Hoy Jr, and Gerald S. Otis, 325 Dushane Dr, all of the Town of Tonawanda.
The known missing are Chester Roman, Emslie St, and Raymond Scofield, 42 Choate Ave, both of Buffalo; Raymond A Strash, Meadowville Rd., Hamburg, and Allan T Holzman, 32 Roxborough Rd., Cheektowaga.
These account for employees of the Lucidol Divisions, Buffalo Electric Co., and Joseph Dabis Inc., reported by their employers as missing after the tragedy.
However today Lucidol workers, Civil Defense workers, Erie County Sheriff's Department men and Town of Tonawanda police and firemen were continuing their on the scene as debris and rubble were being cleared away.
The hospitalized total stood at 37, but American Red Cross workers were encountering reports of scores of others who received home treatment. Today many Sheridan Parkside residents were reported just getting over the shock of the community emergency. Insurance adjusters visiting homes compared the Lucidol cleanup with the Monsanto Chemical Co. blast for the on-the-spot effect, but on a smaller scale. Twelve homes were listed as gutted.
Damage Estimate
Insurance representatives hesitated even to hazard a guess at property damage and potential claims from nearby business establishments, industrial offices and homes outside Sheridan Parkside affected by the explosion. Some indicated the dollar damage figure may be "nearly a million," but addes hastily the figure is a mere guess.
In a special meeting yesterday, the Niagara Frontier Builders Association offered to make temporary repairs without charge to homes affected by the explosion. Supply members of the association will provide the materials while other members volunteered to supervise work and provide labor needed.
William R. Doll, associate president, today invited damaged home victims to telephone Cleveland 1850 for any help they may need.
The American Red Cross calls for assistance today passed the 15 family mark with interviewers visiting others this afternoon, as blast victims in wrecked homes began trickle back to Sheridan Parkside from temporary quarters.
I was one of the little children who lived three doors away when the blast occurred. I was watching a train go by, and the next thing I knew, I was picking myself up off the floor. The whole entire front of our house was blown off. We lived in a 2 story 4-plex on Cobb street next to the Lucidol plant. I was 5 years old at the time. There were body parts laying in the yards here and there. I clearly remember seeing someone's arm on the ground. My dad drove around taking people to Kenmore Mercy hospital which was close by. There was wreckage all over. Boards with nails sticking up were all over the street making driving people to the hospital almost impossible. Our house was wrecked. The entire front walls were blasted off. It looked like a life size doll house.
ReplyDeleteI was one of the little children who lived three doors away when the blast occurred. I was watching a train go by, and the next thing I knew, I was picking myself up off the floor. The whole entire front of our house was blown off. We lived in a 2 story 4-plex on Cobb street next to the Lucidol plant. I was 5 years old at the time. There were body parts laying in the yards here and there. I clearly remember seeing someone's arm on the ground. My dad drove around taking people to Kenmore Mercy hospital which was close by. There was wreckage all over. Boards with nails sticking up were all over the street making driving people to the hospital almost impossible. Our house was wrecked. The entire front walls were blasted off. It looked like a life size doll house.
ReplyDeleteDid any of the families whose loved ones were killed receive any financial payment from Lucidol?
ReplyDeleteI’ll have to look into that. That’s a great question.
Delete