The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-09-07
Dynamite Explosion in Cartridge Factory
Kills 800 People, Injuries 1000 More and
Precipitates Great Connagration.
Thousands of Barrels of Burning Oil and
Continued Crashes of Dynamite.
Prospect of Speedy Settlement Of the London
Strike-French Government and Bou-
langism-SlOw German Railways.


Dynamite Explosion and Fire at Antwerp
Cause Terrible Loss of Life and Property.
ANTWERP. Sept. 6-Dynamite exploded
to-day in ; cartridge factory in the vicinity
of the Bourse, killing many persons and do
ing much damage to property. Portions of
the Bourse were struck by burning frag-
ments and set on fire, causing a panic in
that building, which at the time was
crowded.
The explosion occurred in a workshop
where old cartridges were being taken to
pieces. Men and women were actively at
work breaking them up, and 25,000.0OO had
been partly broken up. The cartridge
factory was situated behind the docks up
on which millions of cartridges were being
loaded. 1t was adjacent to the petroleum
STOKES, and two large Russian warehouses
were set on fire, and the fire at once spread
with remarkable rapidity, until soon s0,-
600 barrels of oil were burning.
Police, gen-darmes and troops assisted
in the work of extinguishing the flames,
while priests and Sisters of Charity looked
after the injured. The city was enveloped
in dense smoke. At p. NJ. the fire was
still raging, and covered two acres. The
flames would shoot up to an immense
height. Amid the roar of the flames there
was q continuous succession of loud re-
ports, supposed to have been the ignition
and explosion of packets of cartridges.
Beyond the Russian tanks there were nu-
merous houses burning. The shipping at
the Africa and America docks was in danger.
Two hours later the fire had been COM
municated to the shipping, and many ves-
sells had been destroyed. At that hour it
was estimated that the number of deaths
would probably reach two hundred, while
about five hundred persons were injured.
1t was Their certain that the loss would be
many million francs. and itwas thought it
would be impossible to extinguish the
flames in less than twenty -four hours.
Owing to the intense heat the fremen were
unable to approach, the flames nearer than
100 yards.
At midnight the latest estimate is that
there are 500 dead and 1000 injured. The
explosions continue. 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 ny draulic
cranes are greatly damaged. The soldiers
of the garrison and large number of citi-
zens are assisting the firemen. Many are
dropping from suffocation. The scenes at
the hospitals are heartrending. King Leo
pold has sent q telegram expressing sympa-
thy and asking for particulars.
The explosion occurred in the Corvileian
cartridge factory. This establishment had
been condemned by the Communal Coun-
Gil, but the Deputation Permanente had al
lowed work to continue, and the people are
much incensed at it. The victims are
mostly factory girls. Windows three miles
distant were shattered by the explosion.
Fifty Miners Perished.