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HEAVY LOSS FOR MESSRS. STALKER
[Welland Tribune, 18 March 1904]
At least five persons were killed and a score of other employees were injured by an explosion of toy pistol caps which completely demolished the 2-storey brick manufacturing plant of the Chicago Toy Novelty company st Western avenue and West 18th street of that city early Tuesday morning. The wrecked building caught fire after the explosion, and the bodies of the dead were badly burned. The building was occupied by three firms, employing nearly 100 persons.
The proprietors of the toy company were Messrs. John, David, Geroge Stalker, sons of George Stalker of Welland, and two Drs. Mason of Niagara Falls. George Stalker was temporarily managing the business. One of the workmen was wheeling a truck loaded with fifty gross of the dynamite caps, and the foreman in putting a case of the guns on top of it, dropped the case, exploding the truck load of dynamite, several smaller explosions following. The building was completely wrecked, and the fire added to the terror of the scene. All the killed were employees of the toy company, and the injured were all badly crushed and burned.
The company had no permit, so far as can be learned, for the manufacture or storing of explosives, and this may affect the insurance. Messrs. Stalker had about $3000 invested in the business.
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