The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-16
WITH AWFUL FORCE.
Terrific Explosion Of GunpOH-
der in Ohio.
Ten Persons Known TO Have Been Killed,
and Many Others Hurt
a Scene Of Wild Confusion al Kings Powder
Mills s. 4 Number Of Build
llgS Burned.
Special Dispatches to THE MORNING CALL

CINCINNATI, July ia terrible explo-
sion occurred late this afternoon at Kings
Powder-mills on the Little Miami Railroad,
twenty-eight miles east of the city. Ten
persons are known to have been killed,
and from thirty to forty injured. Two
empty freight-cars were being rolled onto
the sidetrack, where q car containing 800
kegs of gunpowder was standing. As the
car was struck there was an explosion, and
Immediately after another car containing
500 kegs of powder exploded, making 1900
kegs altogether.
William Frauly, brakeman, was stand
ing on one of the empty cars when the eX-
piosion occurred. No trace of his body has
been found. Five other persons, who are
supposed to have been employees Of the
powder company, were killed. The King
Powder Company and Carters Cart
ridge Works have buildings on each
side of the river. The explosion
occurred on the south side and the
destruction was enormous. There are a
number OF cottages occupied by workmen
in the employ of the powder company situ-
Rted close 10 the track, and these we're
shattered by the explosion and their in
mates injured. Twelve of the fifteen girls
at work in the cartridge factory were Grip
pied by the explosion.
The railway freight-house. belonging to
the Little Miami Railroad, with all its ad-
jacsnt buildings, was set on fire and
totally consumed. The tracks and ties OF
the railroad were torn up and a great hole
pluwed in the ground. Carter's Cartridge
Factory was burned to the ground, and
nothing but mass of black, smoldering
ruins remains on the spot where the build
ing stood.
As soon as the news reached this city
relief train was dispatched to the scene of
the disaster with Superintendent Peters
and a large party of surgeons on board, and
relief was afforded the sufferers as soon as
possible. The work of searching for the
missing and caring for the wounded is
progressing.
The force of the explosion demolished a Il
the wires in the vicinity and it was I'M
possible to get any news from there until
midnight, when a delayed Pan Handle
train arrived. Even then the passengers
could not say much, as everything about
Kings Mills was in too demoralized con-
diti2n when they left to learn much about
the actual state of affairs.
They describe the scene in the vicinity of
the explosion as awful. Fences, trees and
buildings foT hundreds of feet in all direc-
tions from the explosion were wrecked.
Carter's Cartridge Factory was literally
demolished by the explosions, and the COM
bustible contents completed the work of
destruction, About thirty girls are thought
to have been at work at the factory at the
time of the explosion, and most OF them
are thought to be badly hurt. Passengers
who arrived on the train say that ten per
sons were killed, and that it is poss ible
more bodies are IN the debris.
A messenger Of Adams Express Com
papy, who has just arrived from the scene,
says that when he passed Kings Mill Sta
tion at II O'Clock it was bright as day all
around. Every thing cOmbustible was burn
ing and people everywhere for a great dis
tance around were fighting the FIRE.
a conductor of the Little Miami road had
information that there were three families
living in little cottage near the place of
the explosion, and that six hours diigent
search had failed 10 find any trace of them.
He said, furthermore that all was confu-
sion there, and such a thing as ascertaining
the names Of the killed was next to an in
possibility.
An incident related by him was that
eight or ten girls In the cartridge factory
saved themselves from the flames by catch
ing hold of a rope that happened to hang
from the house to the ground and sliding
down. His story is that more than ten
were killed.