Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-09-12
THREE HUNDRED PERISH
A THOUSAND OTHERS MANNED AND
MUTILATED.

A Dynamite Horror at Antwerp Explosion
in Cartridge Factory Bringing Death
and Devastation to Thousands of People
An Awful ConhagratIon Results.
An Antwerp disIa'ch says: Three hundred
people were killed and about 900 injured, many
fatally, by the explosion Of a large quantity OF
dynamite in the Carvilain factory The fac
tory was located Immediately adjoining several
largo petroleum warehouses;, in which were
stored 5000 barrels of oil. These warehouses
were set on fire, and in less than an
hour an area of about two acres was in
flames, the loss being estimated at many mil
lions. Tho factory was located in the vicinity
OF the Bourse, which Mt the time Of the oxplo-
sion was crowded Burning fragments OF the
factory were hurled against the Bourse, setting
IL on fire aud creating panic among the MEM
bers, several Of whom We're injured. Many per-
sons in and near the building were also badly
wounded.
The scenes at the hospitals where the
wounded have been conveyed were heartrending.
The ships at the American docks were saved,
the wind being favorable. The explosions at
the burning cartridge factory and the flying
shells rendered the work of the firemen and SOL
diers extremely perilous. The communal coun-
ell recently condemned the factory as danger
Gus, but for some unexplained reason 1t was
allowed to continue operations. The victims
are mostly factory girls Windows were shat
tered at points three miles away.
In the principal hospital OF the city, where
several hundred of the more seriously wounded
women and girls we're taken, the scenes wit
messed were of the most horrible description.
Every available surgeon in Antwerp has beon at
work ever since the wounded began to arrive,
and many professional men have gone from
neghboring cities and towns. The terrible
force of the explosive which caused such wide-
spread devastation was shown by the fact that
many OF the wounded We're almost stripped OF
clothing. Scores were carried into the hospitals
minus arms or legs probably a majority of the
whole number being either wholly or partially
blinded. Nearly all were covered with blood,
and even the hospital attendants, accustomed
as they are to scenes OF suffering were, in many
cases, rendered too nervous and excited by the
horrible appearance OF the patients to perform
their duties satisfactorily.
In the children's ward of the hospital row
upon row OF cots is filled with little sufferers
by the terrible calamity, great number OF
them having been hurt while playing in tho
streets adjoining tho factory when the explo-
s %efe epSed sd9f fh he place and neaS n
every one OF them is now in the hospital. When
the terrible crash came, no one seems to know
how, those VINO were able fled for their lives,
and in the mad rush many women and children
were knocked down and trampled upon. This
is learned from the survivors
When the oil barrels in the warehouses began
to explode shipowners became alarmed lest the
oil should flow into the water alongside their
vessels. They at once organized gangs OF men
to aid in moving the shipping beyond danger.
In n short time, however, the flames In the oil
warehouses became OF such terrifying extent,
and the smoke so stihingly Dense that the
laborers refused to do any more work, and
left the docks in fright. This operated TO
cause n panic among the sailors, many OF
whom Joined in the laborers fright To this
cause is due the fact that number OF
vessels were burned, the officers and the few
men remaining on board being unable to move
the ships to places OF safety. The vessels lost
were all OF the smaller class. In the case OF
large steamers and sailing vessels the COM
panies offered and paid in advance extravagrnt
sums for help in removing them. It was even
found necessary to cali for police aid to prevent
seamen from deserting their vessels when
there was no immediate danger from the fire.
While the flames were at their height, the
hafff inf
of thieves and highwaymen, taking advantage
Of tho concentration of Polioo in tho vicinity of
the great blaze wera overrunDing the more
distant portions Of the city number of peo-
pie were garroted on the streets the robbers
also entering many houses and demanding
money and valuables from the inmates, who
were generally women. Large sums were
cured in some instances When these facts
were reported, mounted police were dispatched
10 the infested places, aud in n short time had
arrested nearly fifty of the marauders, recover
ing great deal of plumber.
The spectacle was awfully superb and taere
is nothing in recent history that can be COM
pared TO it save the scene which Paris presented
during the last days of the commune and the
great fire in Chicago. The fire spread in all
from 20 900 to 25, 900 barrels Of petroleum are
stored we're burned, as several of the ves-
sells in the docks; The oil finally found its way
down the River Scheldt which in a short time
/ oked like a stream OF fire.
The whole of the garrison and a large part OF
the male population Of the town aided the fire.
The cartridge factory belonged to NJ. Carvi-
lain a merchant who had recently purchased
40 000,0 900 old cartridges, intending to sell the
powder. His workpeople-more than half OF
them being women-were occupied in the task
of opening these cartridges when che explosion
took place. To what it was due there Is very
little hope OF discovering for not one OF NJ Car
a not ess osc OHHa aEs
tact.
Whom NJ Carvilain sought permission to erect
his cartridge manufactory the city authorities
opposed him might and main. The provincial
council, however, were less farseeing, aud az,
corded NJ. Carvilain the authorization he asked
for. The disaster is really the outcome OF po-
litical pickering between the town council aud
the provincial council. The former is liberal
aud the In tor clerical The latter granted per-
mission to NJ. Cnrvilain to locate his powder
factory in such n dangerous place only to annoy
the town council. 1hts disclosure caused In
tense indigr alton.
1t was not until the sun set and darkness fell
on the city that the terrible extent of the fire
began to be fully realized At night the flames
lowered to an immense height, SO, 900 barrels OF
petroleum being ON fire. At once the heat from
the enormous blaze was so intense that the
hremen could not get nearer the flames than
loo yards.
The shock of the explosion had the same ef-
feet on the busy city as would an earthquake.
In instant the streets everywhere were
swarnng with men, women and children, ter
stricken and auXiously inquiring OF each
other what had happened. As soon as the ma
| ture of the disaster became known the authori-
ties ordered detachments OF troops to the
| scene and with their aid the thousands
| OF excited people were kept at distance from
| the wrecked building. The firemen had reached
| the place and were about TO begin the work OF
| extinguishing the blazing ruins when IL was
| discovered that the neighboring oil warehouses
were fire. Officers at once passed through
| the dense crowd, telling them OF the new and
| terrible danger. The people were soon removed
TO a safe distance, by which time huge flashes
Cf fire were leaping into the air as barrel after
barrel OF oil exploded and poured out into the
| various yards.