The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-10-08
WIPED OUT BY POWDER
Total Destruction Of a Town In
Delaware.
TEN PEOPLE MEET DEATH
Scenes of Desolation Where a
Powder Mill Exploded-Houses
Wrecked a Mile
Away.

AWAY
WILMINGTON, Del. Oct. 7.-Several
startling explosions in quick succession
some counted five, others seven-at $3.50
p. m, announced To Wilmington disas-
rer at the Dupont powder works on the
Brandywine. A rush was made for the
telephones but nothing could be learned
beyond vague reports of damage. An
Associated press representative fastened
to the scene and has wired that the whole
section of the works known as the Upper
Yard" is a complete wreck, and that at
least six lives have been lost.
One Of the magazines went of first and
the rolling and drying mills near by were
set OFF by the conclusions which followed
in rapid succession. There were at least
seven distinct successive explosions.
Every dwelling in the neighborhood is
reported wrecked or unroofed, and more
or less damaged. Advices from West
chester state that the explosions were dis
tinctly heard in that section.
A messenger has just brought in the
following dispatch, whicL shows the
worst has not yet been learned OF the
powder miil explosion:
"1en killed, 20 wounded Rockland complete
wreck; none of It's houses left standing
Rockland is village on the Brandywine
fully mile above the scene of the ex-
plosiou. IL comprises the large paper mill
owned by the Jessup & Moore company
and about 80 dwellings in which chiefly
reside the mill employees. Its population
is about two hundred. Evidence of the
destruction at that distance leads TO the
belief here that the number OF killed and
wounded has not yet been fully ascer-
tained.
The Dupont powder mills extend along
the Brandywine, chiefly on the west bank
and close TO the water, for about two
miles. They are divided into Upper, Hag-
ley and Lower yards. The former Is
three miles and the later five miles from
Wilmington. The report of the damage
done at Rcckland proves incorrect, as Ia
locality, the name of Rockland being err
roneously used for the buildings clustered
around what is known locally as the Up
per yard.
There are some 30 houses inhabited by
| employees of the powder mills clustered
here, and these were all wrecked. The
damage 10 property cannot be thoroughly
estimated tonight.
The force of the concussion even broke
windows in some parts of Wilmington,
four of five miles away.
The following is a partial list of the
killed;
MARTrs DoLAS.
| JAMES DoLAN.
WILLIAM McGARvY.
JoHN MARTYGAN.
WILLIAM DENNIsoN.
JOHN DIETZ.
THOMAS HURLIRE.
JOHN HURLIKE.
| PATRICK DoUGHERTY.
JOHN NEwRLL.
WILLIAM GREEN.
RCsE poUGHERTy.
| Several others are missing.
The more seriously injured, as far a,
learned, are:
DANIEL HARKINs.
WILLIAM LOGAN.
ANNIE DoLAN.
MARIE DoLAN.
JAMES WARD.
HUGH FERRY.
JoHN McDoUGALL.
Mrs. WILLIAM Mcdowell and he
2-year-old daughter.
| LYDIA ANDERSON.
The Office Of the Dupont company is
complete wreck and the six mills are il
ruins.
Several members Of the Dupont firm
were injured by the falling walls an,
broken glass, but none of them seriously
The dead were all employees Of the com
pany and were in and about the mills tina
exploded. Several workmen are missin,
and are believed 10 have been blown 4
atoms.
The first explosion occurred in one O
the packing mills where workman
named Grau was receiving a can OF hex
agonal powder to be shipped for the us
OF the United States government. In SOM
way spark was communicated to the cal
and IL blew up. Instantly the packing mil
exploded and the other mills in the uppe
yards, seven or eight la number, followe'
at intervals of less than one second.
All these except one were "rollinI
mills" in which ingredients Of gun pow
ber are pulverized by vertical rollers O
stone turning slowly around center post
and Immediately after the explosion th,
large building known as the refinery, 10
Gated near the center OF the village. tool
fire. IL was a matter OF life and death 4
the whole population that the fire shoul,
be extinguished before IL communicate,
with the powder building.
The Dupont fire brigade succeeded il
extinguishing the flames. Had the roo
fallen in it is doubtful il any man, womal
or child In the vicinity would have escape,
death or serious injury. About fifty fam
lilies are rendered homeless by the disas ter
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. The shock q
the explosion at Wilmington this after
noon was plainly felt in many sections q
this city. The shock was also felt at Mil
vile, n. j., Chester. Pa. and other point
from 10 20 IS miles distant.
Growth Of Our Country.