Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-07
THE FIRE STILL RAGING.
All Efforts Of the People Of Antwerp
to Quench IL Unavafling.

ANTWERP, Sept. THE fire 10 still raging,
all efforts Of the fremen, assisted by
the military and populace TO quel IL, having
30 far proved unayailing. The docks and ship
ping are untouched by the flames, as the direc-
ton Of the wind has been towards the town
continuously. A judicial inquiry into the ORR
gin Of the explosion has been ordered
A SHOWER OF GLASS.
The New York Herdlds Antwerp special says
that Immediately after the explosion yesterday
it seemed as though q rain Of glass was falling
over the surrounding country. There is not
whole window in Antwerp.
The catastrophe took place in q powder mag
azine belonging 70 NJ Corvilain, q merchant
who had recently purchased forty millions Of
old cartridges, intending to sell the powder.
His work people, over one hundred in number,
more than half Of them being women,
were occupied in the task Of opening these
cartridges when the explosion took place. To
what it was due there Is very little hope Of dis
covering for not one Of NJ. Corvilain's employees
has as yet been found alive. In fact, not Q
single corpse has been found intact
1t was not only in the Corvilain factory that
lives were lost. large number of. persons
were also more or less severely wounded by
pieces Of glass, and the roofs Of several houses
fell in For a great distance all around the
ground was strewn with cartridges and debris
Of all kinds. A few minutes after the explosion
VAST SHEET OF FLAME
leaped up into the sky and il was seen that Q
petroleum ware house not far from the powder
magazine was on FIRE. Even in broad daylight
the blaze of 40, 600 barrels Of petroleum on fire
was visible at distance Of over thirty miles ~
Brussels.
Then the Maison hydraulique Of Antwerp,
which furnishes the motive power for all the
cranes and other machines Of the port, sud-
denly gave way and became heap of ruins.
Everywhere IN the streets were wounded
persons, and at frequent intervals one came
across parts Of the human frame, such as legs
and arms.
The spectacle is terribly superb, and there il
nothing in recent history that can be compared
TO IT save the scene which Paris presented dur
ing the last days of the commune and the great
fire in Chicago.
The fire has spread in all directions in the
city. Ware houses in which from O.O0O to
25,000 barrels Of petroleum are stored are on
IRE, as are many of the vessels in the dockA
The scheidt resembles q river Of fire.
THE NUMBER OF DEATHS LEssESrD.
Noon-It is now estimated that the number
of deaths by yesterdays disaster will not ex-
ceed l6o. Two hundred and fifty persons we're
seriously and 800 slightly injured
The firemen and troops worked through the
entire night on hourly shifts. Many Of them
succumbed to the heat and smoke and had 70
be conveyed to the hospitals insen-
slble on stretchers. All the workers
have blackened faces and bear evidence Of the
sickening effects Of the dense smoke which
clogged their efforts. Work is now
entirely confined to keeping the fre
from spreading beyond the sheds and factories
within the dry dock. The wind still continues
favorable. Six million hters Of petroleum are
in flames.
Losses Of Property and Life Appalling.
NEW YORK. Sept. THE following cable
gram was received at the Maritime exchange
at IL o'clock this morning from Antwerp.
The losses Of property and life by
the fire in the oil district resulting
from the explosion Of dynamite yes-
terday are appalling. The petroleum stores
are all destroyed The sheds used in storing
the oil have been consumed The hydraulio
pumps and all the buildings in the district have
been DESTROYED. Oil tank after oil tank has
exploded and all are in ruins.
Latest reports show that in the oil districts
alone 200, not more, have either lost their
lives or are SO fearfully injured that they can
not recover. Two hectares or about Eve acres
Of land are now burning and will all 20 up in
smoke. The steam pumps are Of no avail and
the fremen are helpless.