The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-12
ANTWERP IN FLAMES,
A Terrible Dynamite Explosion in the OLD
Belgian City Twenty-six-C Cartridge Fac
tory Destroyed and Petroleum Ware
Houses Set on Fire.

ANTWERP, September 6.-Dynamite
exploded to-day in cartridge factory
in the vicinity OF the Bourse, killing
several PERSONS and doing much dam
age to property. Portions of the Bourse
were struck by burning fragments and
set on fire, causing Il panic III that
building which was crowded.
1t is now known that one hundred
and twenty-siN persons were Killed.
The cartridge factory was situated be-
hind the decks upon which millions
of cartridges were being loaded. 1t was
adjacent to the petro!eufaazSsore ana
two large Russian petroleunaT7:NsssSasrre-
houses were set on fire and are nov
burning. Other stores are endangered.
The police, gendarmes and troops are
assisting in the work Of eNtinguishlng
the flames, while priests and Sisters of
Charity are looking after the injured.
The city is enveloped III dense smoke.
FURTHER DETAILS.
ANTWERP, September 6-7 p. NJ
The explosion occurred in a workshop
where old cartridges were being taken
to pieces. Men and women were active
" at work breaking them up and twen-
ty-five million had been partly broken.
The fire is still ragingand now covers
two acres. The flames shoot up to an
immense height. Amidst the roar of
the flames there is a continuous success
sion ofloud reports, supposed to be from
the ignition and explosion of packets OF
cartridges. Beyond the Russian tanks
and Nobel's sheds there are numerous
houses burning. The shipping at Africa
and America docks is in danger.
LATER.-The number of deaths will
probably reach two hundred. About
five hundred persons were injured. The
loss will be many million francs. 1t Will
be impossible TO eXtinguish the flames
in less than twenty-four hours. Several
vessels have been burned. Owing to the
intense heat the firemen are unable to
approach the flames nearer than one
hundred yards. :,
The explosion occurred in the Corvil-
ian Cartridge Factory. This establish
ment was condemned by the Commu-
nial Council, but the Deputation Per-
mamente had allowed the work to con-
tinue. The victims are mostly factory
girls. Windows three miles away were
Shattered 10y the explosion.
MIDSIGHT.-The latest estimate is
that there are three hundred dead ana
one thousand injured. Explosions cor
tinue at the American docks. All 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 EXPLOSION HEARD FIFTY NJ. LES.
ANTWERP, September THE fire is
still raging, all efforts of the tlrelnen,
assisted by the military and populance,
to quell it having so far proved unavail-
ing. The docks and shipping are un-
fsuched by the flames, as the direction
u the wind has been towards the town
continuously. a judicial inquiry into
the origin of the explosion has been Or
dered.
It is now estimated that the number
of deaths by yesterdays disaster did
not exceed one hundred and sixty.
Two hundred and fifty persons were
seriously and three hundred slightly
injured. The tiremen and troops work
ed through the night on hourly shifts.
MANY of them succumbed to the heat
and smoke and had to be conveyed to
hospitals insensible on stretchers.
All the workers have blackeRsssa
and bear evidences Of -tGfe.N of thcLs
effects of tie dense smoke whisI clog
ged their efforts. The work is now
confined to keeping the fire from
spreading beyond the sheds and fac
tories within tie dry dock. The wind
still coHsfnaes favorable. Six million
litresof petroluem are in flames. The
SoiI, it is expected, will continue to burn
at least till Monday.
At the moment of the explosion
many workmen jumped into theScheldt
in their fright and were drowned. A
number OF sailors and customs officers
were killed on board the ships by hy-
ing bullets and the ships were riddled
by missiles. It is estimated that 1000
tons of cartridges exploded. The noise
was heard fifty miles away. The
smoke which filled the air was greater
in volume than that Of great battle.
Human heads and other parts OF
bodies were found half a mile away
from the scene. One hundred and
thirty whole corpses lie in the morgues,
and charred heaps of human remains
represent an unknown number of dead.
Tie first officer of the Red Star Line
steamer Zealand was terribly wounded
on board his ship. :,
The noise of the explosion of barrels
of oil and falling Of ruins exactly re-
cop,hlaS tho corpSS Of a hattie. Those
who have been deprived Of homes by
the fire are encamped on the river
banks. The waterworks, which cost
sSO,OOO, are three parts DESTROYED. The
King and Queen have telegraphed,
expressing sympathy with the suffer:
ers. Subscriptions have been opened
for the relief of those rendered destitute
by the diSaSter