Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-09-07
AWFUL DISASTER.
Three Hundred Killed by an
Explosion, Mostly Girls.
ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE WOUNDED.

blown to Pieces aud the Working Girls
Meet - ,IsrribIe Fate-Firs Follows the
Explosion aud Destroys Property by the
MiIIions-Ihe Flames stin Raging at
Last Report-Finy Men Lost In n Pit
Borror-Other Casualties.
ANTWERP, Sept IA frightful disaster
occurred In this city yesterday, which has
put the city in mourning aud caused a
great loss OF property A large cartridge
factory was situated close to the docks, and
in the vicinity of the bourse, and also close
to the warehouses in which petroleum is
stored Many work people were employed
in the factory yesterday, when suddenly an
explosion of dynamite took place, killing at
least 300 people and wounding 500 others.
To add to the destruction the debris took
fire, threatening the bourse, which was
ablaze several times, and spreading
TO the petroleum warehouses and
shipping. At this writing the fire is
still raging fiercely and the best the firemen
hope for is to extinguish it in twenty -four
hours The heat from the burning masses
OF petroleum was intense and it was impos-
pible TO approach To within 100 yards.
Several vessel have been burned at their
docks and others were only saved through
the promptest action of their officers in tow
ing them out of danger. The fire is not
now spreading and it is hoped, il the wind
does not rise during tue night, that the
flames can be confined to their present
limits A strong west wind would, however,
set the entire city in blaza
Tho Oil Warehouses on Fire.
As soon as the nature of the disaster be-
came known the authorities ordered detach-
ments of troops to the scene, and with their
aid the thousands OF excited people were
kept ut q distance from the wrecked build
ing. The firemen had reached the place and
were about To begin the work of extinguish-
ing the blazing ruins when IL was discovered
that the neighboring oil warehouses were on
fire Officers at once passed through the
dense crowd telling them of the new and
terrible danger The people were soon re-
moved to a safe distance, by which time
huge flashes of fire were leaping into the air
as barrel after barrel OF oil exploded and
poured out into the various yards.
The Firemen Forced Back.
In less than half an hour the ~, 900 barr els
OF oil was liberated and, gathered into huge
pools here and there, was sending high into
the air great volumes OF flame As the blaze
gathered headway the smoke, which was of
the most sitting and offensive description,
spread all over the city, and the firemen and
troops who were compelled to remain near
the burning masses were overcome with
nausea in many cases. The air become so
black eventually that the soldiers and fire
men we're Withdrawn some distance, 1t being
evident that no efforts ON their part could
check the progress of the terrible confiagra-
ton. Before this action was taken, how
ever, many Of the troops and firemen had
been carried away to the hospital, having
been injured either by flying pieces OF blaz-
ing wood or overcome by the heat. The fire.
men were then directed to confine their at
tention to property in the immediate vicin-
ity of the great blaze. This they are still
doing.
Panic In the Streets.
When the people living in the neighbor-
hood realized what terrible disaster had
befallen the city a panic overlook them
Nearly all are OF the poorer class and some
of them began moving their household goods
into the street This example was followed
by Others, and in a short time the streets in
the neighborhood were blocked up, Interior
ing with the movement OF troops and fire.
men. The panic was brought to an end by
the city officials, many OF whom personally
helped the affrighted people to get their
goods back into their homes
Origin of the Disaster
The explosion occurred in a workshop
where a large number of old cartridges were
being taken to pieces Many men and
women were employed in the shop and they
were actively engaged in breaking up the oil
cartridges There were fully -, 000, O0U Of
these in and about the premises, part Of
them already broken up. The flames cover
two acres of ground and rise to an immense
height
Explosions still Going On.
Amid the fierce roar of the flames
are heard from time the loud reports
from explosions, to which there seems to be
no end. The explosions are supposed to be
OF packages OF cartridges stored in the build
ings, which seem to remain intact until the
hot tongues of flame are actually upon them.
The shipping at the African docks and at
the American docks is in imminent danger,
and all the facilities for removing the YES
sells from the immediate vicinity OF the con-
fiagration are being pressed into service.
Fully 800 People Dead.
LATER AT an early hour this morning
the fire was still raging with undminishsd
fury and the military were assisting the fire.
n'en !" preventing the spread of the con-
migration. 1t ~ now certain that fully 31D
people have perished aud no less than !, thou
sand are injured. Tire scenes at the hospitals
where the wounded have been conveyed are
henrtrending The ships at the American
docks were saved, the wind being favorable
A Regular Bombardnent.
The explosions mt the cartridge factory
still continue at frequent intervals, and the
flying shells render the work of the firemen
and soldiers extremely perlous The factory
was known as the Carvileian factory. The
communal council recently condemned the
factory as dangerous, but for some unex-
planned reason 1t was allowed to continue
operations. The victims are mostly factory
girls. Windows were shattered ut points
three miles away.
The loss in property cannot be stated yet,