The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-05
THREE HUNDRED PEOPLE KILLED
A Dynamite Laden ship ENpIodes ut the
Wharf In Snntnpdcr.

Wharf In Snutnpdcr.
SASTAHDEr, Spain. Nov. A terrible ex.
plosion occurred hero last night The shr
Volo. with cargo OF dynamite. was lying ct a
quay. In some way she caught fire. A large
crowd soon gathered. and tho police. who were
unaware OF the dangerous character OF the
ships cargo made no attempt to drive them
away. The Governor OF the province person.
ally directed the efforts OF the flremen to OK.
tinguish tho flames.
Suddenly there was terrific explosion that
shook tho city to it's foundations. Every house
around the quay was wrecked. 1t is estimated
late tonight that 800 persons were killed.
Many more are missing. but most of them are
believed 10 have gone to the houses OF friends
after their own homes were destroyed Among
the dead arc tho Project, tho Chief OF Police,
and two Judges Sixty houses were wreck ed.
A train which was entering the station
when tho explosion occurred was fired by tho
flying pieces OF burning wood. The station
began to burn a moment later. The station
master was burned to death and many pas
senGers were sufTocated. Dozens OF persons
living near the bay fed from their burning
houses. and In terror flung themselves into
the water.
Yhe Ministers Of Finance and tho Interior
left Madrid for Santander this afternoon.
the PHYSICIANS are doing everything in their
power to alleviate suffering.
At the time the Noio blew UP. the Spanish
steamer Alfonso NIL was lying alongside Of
her. The steamer was completely destroyed
All her officers and forty of her crew arc
missing and It Is certain that every one OF
them was killed.
The force OF tho explosion may be Judged
from the fact that portions OF the Volo and Al
fonso NIL were thrown into the middle OF tho
town. carrying death and destruction with
them. 1t will be necessaryto send troops here
from other cities to aid the officials.
There is great delay in putting reports Of the
doaster on tho telegraph lines. There Is only
one wire working out OF the city, and that
but slowly. Nearly all tho press des-
patches are carried to points outside the city.
Even with outside assistance Il was found
impossible to check the flames and half the
city has been destroyed by fire ana explosion.
The railway station has leen burned. and SO
rapid was the spread OF the flames that the
trains could not be hauled out They. too.
were destroyed.
MADRID. Nov. "A Government credit has
been granted to help the sufferers from the
Santander disaster despatch received from
Santander at 9 O'clock this ovcni1. said that
200 persons were believed to have been killed.
and $50 persons were being treated in hos
pitfalls and private houses for injuries
despatch received from Santanier at II
O'Clock says that many local officials were on
tho quay with the Governor when the OK
plosion occurred. Behind them stood thou
sands Of spectators who had been attracted By
the iamos which shot up above the masts and
redeemed the sky. The explosion lifted the
whole structure OF the quay into tho air
Firebrands and fragments Of wood and iron
fell like hail on the houses 300 yards from the
water front Many persons were thrown into
the sea and drowned. The crews OF the ship
and the tugboat alongside her were blown to
pieces. Not one whole body Of a member Of
either crew has been found
Troops were sent early this morning from
Santona. sixteen miles from Santander. to pull
down the buildings rendered unsafe by the
explosion and to help put out tho fires which
were necessarily starting in different quarters
OF the water front. At one time 1t was feared
that the whole city woud be burned
The Governors body was recovered to- nj ght
The Marquis OF pombo Is missing. and Is be-
lieved to be among the Killed The Queen
Regent is deeply affected by the disaster. and
makes freuuent inquiries for the last news
from Santander.
Santander Is fine port In Spain. on the Bay
has unusually fine public buildings Tor place
OF its size. 1t is a busy and thriving town. and
h az derived much Of it's importance from it,
trade with the West Indies and South Am erica.