St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-07
Frightful Destruction of Life
and Property Wrought by
an Explosion.
Three Hundred Persons Killed
Outright and Thrice That
Number Injured.
Property Valued at Many Mill
ions Of Francs in Smok-
ing Ruins.
Police, Priests and the Popu-
lace Are Still Fighting
the Fire.

ANTWERP, Sept. 6.-Dynamite ex.
ploded to-day in a cartridge factory in
the vicinity of the bourse, killing and
injuring hundreds of persons and doing
much damage to property. Portions Of
the bourse were struck by burning
fragments and set on fire, causing a
panic i'll tt building, which at the
time was crowded. The cartridge fac
tory was situated behind the docks,
upon which millions of cartridges were
being loaded. 1t was adjacent to the
petroleum stores, and two large Russian
petroleum warehouses were set on fire,
and are now burning. Other stores are
endangered. Police, gendarmes and
troops are assisting in the work of ex.
tlngulshlng the flames, while priests
and sisters of charity are looking after
the Injured. The city is envelOped in
dense smoke. The number of killed is
now estimated at 200 and of the injured
at 5O0 people. The damage to property
Will reach many millions.
THE FIRE Is STILL. BURNING
flercely, and the best the firemen hope
for is to extinguish it in twenty-fonI
hours. The heat from the burning
masses of petroleum is intense, and ii
is impossible to approach to within 100
yards. Several vessels have been
burned at their docks, and others were
only saved through the prompt action
OF their officers in towing them out of
danger. The fire is not now spreading.
and it is hoped if the wind does not rise
during the night that the flames can be
confined to their present limits. A
strong wind would, however, set the
entire city in blaze. An explosion
occurred In workshop where large
number of old cartridges were being
taken to pieces. Many men and women
were employed in this shop. and they
were actively engaged in breaking uu
old cartridges. There were fully 25..
000,00O of these in and about the pre-.
misses, part of them already broken
up. The
FLAMES COVER TWO ACRES
OF ground and rise to an immense height.
Amid the fierce roar of the flames are
heard from time to time the loud reports
OF explosions, to which there seems to
be no end. These explosions are sup
posed to be of packages of cartridges
stored in the buildings, which seem ia
remain intact until the hot tongues Of
flame are actually upon them. The
shipping at the African docks and the
American docks is in imminent danger,
and all the facilities for removing the
vessels from the immediate vicinity of
the cOntiagration are being pressed into
service.
The explosion occurred in the Cor
vileian cartridge factory. This estab.
lishment had been condemned by the
communal council. but the deputation
permanente had allowed work to con-
tinue. The victims are mostly factory
girls. Windows three miles distant
were shattered by the explosion.
THREE HUNDRED DEAD.
ANTWERP, Sept. 6.-Midnight-The
latest estimate is that there are 800 dead
and 1000 injured. The explosions con-
tinue. At the American docks
all the ships have been saved
owing to the favorable direction
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 hydraulic
cranes are greatly damaged. The SOL
diers of the garrison and large num-
ber of citizens are assisting the firemen.
Many are dropping from suffocation.
The scenes at the hospitals are heart
rending. King Leopold has sent tele-
gram expressing sympathy and asking
for particulars. The people are in
censed at the Deputation Permanente
for allowing work to continue in the
cartridge factory.