The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-09-11
THREE HUNDRED PERISH
A THOUSAND OTHERS MANNED AND
MUTILATED.
A Dynamite Horror at Antwerp-Expiosio
In "a Cartridge Factory bringing Death
and Devastation To Thousands of Peopio~
An Awful Confiagratlon Results.


An Awful Confagratlon Results.
An Antwerp dispatch says: Three hundred
people were killed and about I 900 injured, many
fatally by the explosion OF n large quantity oil
dynamite in the Carvilain factory The Iac-
tory Was located Immediately adjoining several
large petroleum warehouses, in which were
stored $4,000 barrels Of oil. These warehouses
were Get on FIRE, and in less than EN-
hour an ga OF about two acres was in
flames, the loss being estimated at many NH
lions. The factory was located I'm the vicinity
OF the Bourse, which at the time OF the expio-
sion crowded. Burning fragments OF the
factory were hurled against the Bourse, setting
il on fire and creating panic among the mem
bers several Of whom We're injured Many per-
sons in ana near the building were also Dauy
wounded
The scenes Mt 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 lying
shells rendered the work OF the hremen ana SOL
diers extremely perilOus. The communal coun-
ell recently condemned the factory as danger
Gus, but for some unexplained reason IL was
allowed 10 continue operations. The victims
are mostly factory girls. Windows were shat
tered at points three miles away.
In the principal lac spital of the city, where
several hundred OF the more seriously wounded
women and girls were taken, the scenes wit
messed were OF the most horrible description.
Every available surgeon in Antwerp has been NJ
work ever since the wounded began 10 arrive,
nnd many professional men have gone from
neighborng cities and towns. The terrible
ioICe OF the explosive Nnlcn NV
spread devastation was shown by the fact that
many OF the wounded were almost stripped OF
clothing Scores were carried into the hospitals
minus arms or legs, probably 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 10 scenes Of suffering, Were, i'll many
cases, rendered too nervous and excited by the
horrible appearance OF the patients TO perform
their duties satisfactorily.
In the childrens ward OF the hospital row
upon row OF cots is filed with little sufferers
by the terrible calamity, n great number or
them having been hurt while playing in the
streets adjoining tho factory when the eXplo-
sion occurred Besides these many boys and
girls employed in the place, and nearly
every one Of them is now in the hospital. When
the terrible crash came, no one seems TO know
how, those who 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 tho
oil should flow into the water alongside their
vessels. They at once organized gangs OF men
10 aid in moving the shipping beyond danger.
In short time. however the flames in the oil
warehouses became OF such terrifying extent,
and the smoke SO stifingly dense, that the
laborers refused 10 do any more work, and
left the docks in fright. This operated TO
cause 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 10 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 extrayagrnt
sums for help in removing them. 1t was even
found necessary to cali for police aid To prevent
seamen from deserving their vessels when
there no immediate danger from the fire.
While the flames at their height the
city authorities received Information that gangs
of thieves and highWnymen, taking advantages
Of the concentration OF police in the vicinity OF
the great blaze, overrunning the more
distant portions Of the city. A number OF peo-
pie garroted on the streets the robbers
also entering many houses and demanding
money ard Yaluables from the inmates, who
were generally women. Large sums were Sc
cured in some instances. When these facts
We're reported, mounted police were dispatched
10 the infested places, aud i'm n short time had
arrested nearly fifty Of the marauders, recover
ing n great deal OF plumber.
The spectacle was awfully superb and there
is nothing in recent history that can be COM
pared 10 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
directions in the city. Warehouses in which
from 20 900 20 % 600 barrels OF petroleum are
stored were burned, were several OF The
sells in the docks. The oil finally found its way
down the River Scheldt which in short time
looked like n stream of fire.
The whole of the garrison and a large part OF
the male population OF The town aided the fire.
men, but their efforts Were simply useless.
The cartridge factory belonged TO NJ. Carvi-
lain, merchant who had recently purchased
40 600 900 old cartridges, intending 10 sell the
powder His workpeOple more than half OF
them being wonen-were occupied in the task
OF opening these cartridges when the explosion
took place. 20 what il WAS due there is very
little hope OF discovering, for not Of NJ. Car
villain ) employees has rs yet been found alive.
In fact, not single corpse has been found in
tact.
When VI. Carvilain sought permission 20 erect
his cartridge man ufactory the city authorities
opposed him might and main. The provincial
council, however Were less farsecing, and
corded NJ CarVilan the authorization he asked
for The disaster is really the outcome of 20
litical pickering between the town council and
the provincial council. The former is liberal
and the lattt r 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. his disclosure caused in
tense indigt 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 mn immense height, ~. 40 barrels of
petroleum being ON FIRE. AT once the heat from
the enormous blaze intense that the
+ tlremen could not get nearer the flames than
100 yards.
The shock Of the explosion had tho same ef-
feet on the busy city AS would Nh earthquake
In an instant the streets eyeryw here were
swarming with men, women and children, ter
ror- stricken aud anXiously inquiring OF each
other what had happened. As as the Ia
ture Of the disaster became known the author-
ties ordered detachnents of troops To the
scene. and with their aid the thousands
of excited people wore kept at distance from
the wrecked building. The firemen had reached
the place and were about 10 begin the work OF
extngushing the blazing ruins when 10 WAS
discovered that the neighbOring oil warehouses
were fire. Officers nt once passed through
the dense crowd, telling them OF the new and
terrible danger The people were soon removed
TO u safe distance, 10y which time huge flashes
81 fire were lrapiug into the air as barrel after
barrel OF oil exploded and poured out into the
various yards.