Omaha daily bee., 1889-09-07
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE KILLED
Frightful Explosion in a Powder
Maya zine at Antwerp
STREETS sTREwN WITH DEBRIS.
Fire Breaks Out and adds to the
Horror OF the scene-Sixiy-
Three Miners Meet Death
IN Scotland
The Antwerp Horror.

ICoprigtt 1889 IN JImes Gordon Benrs,t.l
ANTWERP, Sept 6--fNcw York Her
aid Cable-Speca to THE BEE. IA terrible
catastrophe, the consequences of which are
yet incalculable, took place at Antwerp this
afternoon. At quarter past O'Clock n
terrific explosion was heard, even so far as
Ghent. The whole town was shaken and
Immediately afterwards 1t seemed as If rain
of glass was falling over the surrounding
country. There is not whole window in
Antwerp. The magnificent stained glass
windows of the cathedral were also destroyed.
The townspeople were panic struck.
II was first supposed that an earthquake
had taken place, but suddenly the sun, which
was shining brightly, was obscured BY an
impenetrable cloud of dust ringed py
great glare of fire. 1t was near port and
just behind the dry docks that the catas-
trophe took place in the powder magazine
belonging TO Corvilain merchant, who had
recently purchased 4O,000,00O Of old car
tridges, intending to sell the powder.
His work people, overa hundred in number,
more than half of them being women, were
occupied in the task of opening
these cartridges when the explosion
took place. To what it was due
there is very little hope of discovery, for not
one of the Corvlan's employees has yet been
found alive. In fact, not single corpse has
been found yet. 1t was not only in the Cor
vllau factory that lives were lost. large
number of persons were also more or less Sc
verely wounded by glass, and the roofs of
several houses fell in for great distance all
around. The ground was strewn with cart
ridges and debris.
All was not over yet however. A few
minutes after the explosion vast sheet of
fame leaped up into the sky, and it was seen
that petroleum warehouse not
far from the magazine was
on fire. In the broad daylight the blaze of
10000 barrels of petroleum on fire was visi-
bic at distance OF over 800 miles at Brus-
sells.
Then the Marson HydrauliqGe of Ant
werp, which furnishes motive power for all
trains and other machines of the port, sud-
denly gave way and became heap of ruins.
Everywhere in the streets were wounded
persons, Crd at frequent intervals one came
across parts of human frame, such as legs
and arms.
The petroleum mart is still ablaze and rhe
heat is so great that it is impossible to ap
preach within several hundred yards of the
confagraton.
Tho spectacle is terribly superb and there
is nothing in recent history that can be COM
pared to it save the scene which Paris pre-
sented during the last days of the commune
and the great fire in Chicago.
The fire has spread in all directions aud
the city warehouses, in which from twenty
to twenty-five thousand barrels of petroleum
are stored, are on fire, as are many of the
vessels in the docks.
The Scheldt resembles river of fire. The
whole garrison and a large part of the male
population Of the town are aiding the fire.
men, but their efforts are useless.
II is impossible even roughly to estimate
the number of persons killed. but supposi-
ton ranges from two hundred to four hun
dred, while there are certainly thousands
injured.
The latest information is that there are 15C
half burned corpses in the hospital.
The population is in state Of panic, for
though the fire at present is confined to the
neighborhood of the port, it can hardly be
prevented from spreading over the town
were the wind to turn to the north.
With regard to material damages, it is
needless to say that they are enormous
When the Corvilian sought permission tc
erect his cartridge msuufactory the city au
thorties opposed him with might and main
The provencial counsel, however, was less
farseeing, ard accorded the Corvilian the
authorization he asked for.
The fire is still raging. Many soldiers are
dropping from suffocaton.
= 1 have ascertalned that the disaster Is
really the outcome of political pickering be-
tween the town council and the provincial
council. The former is liberal and the latter
clerical. The latter only granted permission
to the Corvehan to locate the powder factory
in such dangerous position to annoy the
town council. This disclosure causes in
tense indignation. Explosions are constantly
occurring and ships are going farther back
in the Scheldt to avoid the flames.
The king has telegraphed an expression
of sorrow and request for hourly iuforma
ton.
The latest estimate is that there are 30t
killed anc 1000 wounded.
At the American docks all the ships hav,
boon saved owing TO the favorable direction
A. ....1