The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-09-11
THREE HUNDRED KILLED.
A CARTRIDGE FACTORY BLOWN UP.
Terrible Explosion OF Dynamite In n Build
ing Filled With workingmen and
WOmen-Three Hundred Killed
and Over n Thousand Hurt.

ANTWERP, Sept GA terrific explosion of
dynamite occurred to-day in a cartridge factory
in the vicinity of the bourse. The building was
crowded with workmen and women at the
time. and the loss of life was awful, the number
of persons killed being estimated at 200, and the
injured at about five hundred. The building
at once took fire, and the flames added their
. horrors TO the disaster.
The cartridge factory was situated behind
he docks upon which millions of cartridges
ere being loaded. 1t was adjacent to the
petroleum stores and two large Russian petro-
leum warehouses were set on fire and are now
burning. Other stores are endangered. Police
gendarmes and troops assisting in the work
of extinguishing the flames while priests and
sisters of charity are looking after the injured.
The city is enveloped in a dense smoke.
Eighty thousand barrels of oil are burning.
The explosion occurred in a workshop
where old cartridges were being taken to
pieces. Men and women were actively at
work breaking them up, and 25,0O0,000 had
been partly broken up. The fire now covers
two acres The flames shoot up 10 an immense
hight.
Amid the roar of the flames there is a con-
tinuous succession of loud reports supposed
10 be the ignition and explosion of packets of
cartridges. Beyond the Russian tanks and
mobiles sheds there are numerous houses burn
ing. The shipping at the Africa and America
docks is in danger.
The loss will be many million francs. 1t
will be impossible TO extinguish the flames in
less than twenty-four hours. Several vessels
have been burned. Owing to the intense heat
the firemen are unable to approach the flames
nearer than 100 yards.
The explosion occurred in the Corvileian
cartridge factory. This establishment had
been condemned by the common council, but
the deputation permanente had allowed work
to continue. fhe victims are mostly factory
girls. Windows three miles distant were shat
tered by the explosion.
Mdnight-The latest estimate ia that there
are 500 dead and 1,000injured. The explosions
continue. At the American docks all the ships
have been saved owing to the favorable direc-
tion of the wind. The stained windows of the
cathedral are smashed and it is feared that the
steeple will collapse. The whole vicinity is
strewn with debris. The dock sheds and hy-
draulic cranes are greatly damaged
The soldiers of the garrison and large num-
Der of citizens assisting the hremen. Many
are dropping from sufocation.
The scenes at the hospitals are heartrending.
King Leopold has sent telegram expressing
sympathy and asking for particulars. The
people are incensed at the deputation per-
manente for allowing work to continue in the
cartridge factory.
ANTWERP. Sept. S.-The fire which started
in the eartridgs-faotoEy-on Friday has at last
been extinguished. Several more corpses have
been found. and the number of the dead will
certainly reach 200. King Leopold and the
cabinet ministers to-day visited the hospitals
where the sufferers by the fire are being cared
for. The arrest of NJ. Corvillan, the proprie-
tor of the cartridge factory, has been ordered