Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-12-21
BLOWN TO ATOMS :!
atal Explosion at the du POnt
Powder Works.
SHOCK FELT FOR MILES
Edward Gallagher, a Workman, Blown
.A Into Fragments.
oAUSED BY A NAIL IN THE ROLL
About $500 Pounds of Pow
Wy der Exploded at Once.
GRINDING MILL TOTALLY DESTROYED
SHOCK FELT FOR MILES
'AUSED BY A NAIL IN THE ROLL
About $500 Pounds of Pow
Y der Exploded at Once.
GRlNDING MILL TOTALLY DESTROYED

Fefy Little Property Damage Aside From
uiiis-- Gallagher, Who Was Working in
y the MIL Mt the Time, Blown TO Pieces
y r. Fragments of His Body Gathered in
ID Bucket--How the Shock Was Felt in
fsThis City and Elsewhere.
At 9.54 o'clock, Tuesday morning, q
terrific explosion startled the people of
Wilmington and the surrounding couu-
try. There was u roaring sound, ac-
rompanied by an impact that shook
huildings TO their foundations and
.ieated at least 10 seconds. 1t was un-
usual in its distinctness and severe
f,fce.
Instinctively, every one thought of
.ihe du Pont powder works, and glance
IA that direction Immediately showed
The great mass of dense gray smoke,
shre indication that the explosion had
incurred there. Slowly the mass Of
smoke, looking like huge balloon,
moved to the northeastward, and not
Until 1t was fairly over Wilmington did
Its compact proportions begin to give
way to the effects of the atmosphere and
Slowly dissolve. Soon it dissipated and
was lost to view.
a The explosion almost created panic
In Wilmington, the shock was so unusu-
\ ally heavy People rushed into the
strcet in terror, but were soon assured
when they found that their houses were
DOT in ruins, while sight Of the cloud
pf smoke speedily informed them of the
cause Of the commolion.
FELT IN CHESTER.
.4I4s1 1I'ba alan eb0nk Tho on,rtr
for miles around, and in Z few minutes
eyery suburban telephone was seeking
~ WILMINGTON connection, in an effort
X 40 obtain particulars.
5. Even Chester, IA miles distant, felt
2.tle effects of the shock perceptihly.
lIouses were shaken with considerable
.fprco, and much excitement prevailed
2 {pr awhile, for fear that the shock was
"a due toia boiler explosion in some of the
alBrge industrial Establishments. Tele-
phone inquiries to Wilmington in
formed them of the real slate Of affairs.
IN A HAGLEY YARD GRINDING MILL.
The explosion occurred in one of the
grinding mills in the Hagley yard, re-
sulting in the instant death of Edward
Gallagher, who was blown to atoms.
The mill was totally destroyed by the
accident and the grinding machinery
was torn and twisted and broken in
fragments. The mill was located along
the Brandywine and almost in the
middle of the Hagley yard. The press
room is about 80 yards away and just
above on the west side of the stream is
one Of the rolling mills.
The explosion shattered the walls Of
the building and they came tumbling
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walls came tumhling down on the ruins
Tho west wal! was left almost intact
4but the room was DESTROYED and the
2building rendered useless.
QUICKLY AT WORK.
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M ON THE GROUND.
A representative OF The GAZETTE
Went to the scene of the explosion imme-
diately after the accident occurred and
went to the destroyed building. Eugene
dp Pont, president of the firm OF L. |.
du Pon., deNemours & Co., together
With Charles |. du Pont and Alfred
du Pont, members of the firm, were the
sole persons standing about the ruined
ppilding. They We're much distressed
~ lhe accident, ana thelr sorrow over
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