Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-11-11
HUNDREDS KILLED.
Awful Explosion OF Dynamite In
Spain.
Steamer with Cargo of Dynamite Takes
Fire and Is Blown Up with Terrible
Results Fearful Loss
OF Life.

MADRID, Nov. 8.-The terrible dis.
aster which has wrecked the port OF
Santander and destroyed hundreds OF
lives has sent thrill of horror through
out Spain. The story of this great dis
aster in brief is as follows:
The Cabo Machichaco, Spanish
steamship belonging to Bilbao, caught
fire about o'clock Friday afternoon
while the steamer was alongside tho
quay discharging part of her cargo,
which comprised nearly 1000 tons OF
merchandise. Though the main part
of this cargo was iron ore, there were
a number of sacks of flour, barrels OF
wine, many cases of petroleum and
over 500 cases of dynamite, OF which
only twenty cases were declared on the
steamers list The remaining 4So cases
of dynamite were contraband, and, to
the shame of the shippers of this con-
traband dynamite, it has caused i'm
mense loss of life and vast damage to
property.
The fire was first discovered in the
coal bunkers, and is said to have been
due either to spontaneous combustion
or to some carelessness upon the part
of the engineers or firemen. In any
case flames broke out from the bunkers
Mt about the hour mentioned, and soon
ragged so fiercely as TO be beyond con-
troll of the ships crew, though the lat
ter promptly took steps to smother the
fire. Finally, seeing the fire was spread
ing in the bunkers. and that the smoke
was driving the crew from below, the
local authorities were notified and the
fire department and n detachment OF
the civic guards being sent to the scene.
Leading municipal authorities headed
the firemen and guards in the effort
made to save the steamer. The pro-
vincial governor, who was one OF the
first to reach the spot, displayed the
greatest activity in directing the oper-
ations, and upon learning that the
ships manifest showed that there were
twenty cases of dynamite on board, the
firemen were directed to assist the
crew in bringing this quantity OF ex-
plosive material ashore. This was done
in safety and it was believed no
more dynamite remained on board and
a tug which had been hastily sum-
moned to the spot was ordered to tow
the burning vessel out into the bay in
order that the flames might not COM
municate to the wharf and to adjoin-
ing property, which was OF Il decidedly
combustible nature, many of the build
ings consisting of rickety old houses
which few sparks might set on fire.
Al about $3.50 p m. n defamation on
board showed, as il afterward turned
out, that the boilers had burst, and
soon after there was another terrible
defamation heard. The steamer seemed
to open in half, sending blaze OF fire
skyward over which crown of smoke
rested for several minutes. Then re-
port of ssch awful intensity was heard
that it shook the earth for miles
around, caused houses to totter,
smashed every window pane within
the radius of rifle shot, filed the air
with mass of flying iron, burning
wood, blaclSened timbers and scorched
beams which, soon after rell q death
dealing hail upon, the neigisboring
houses, scattering death and destruc-
ton whereyerit crushed downward.
The scene that followed the blowing
mn of the steamer is,almost indescriba-
BILE, and the effect of the explosion OF
the forty-eieht cases of dynamite will
hardly be believed. The power OF the
EXPLOSION shot tons of iron into the air,
where It mingled with the burning
fragments of the steamship tug and
wooden quay as well as with the
nangled boiies'of hundreds-of the IN
fortunate people who were hurled up
ward at the same time, and the failing
Of this horrible mass can be better I'M
sgined than described.
The effect of tho explosion upon the
inhabitantsof Santander was bewiSaer-
ing in its intensity. For some time
after the disaster the people were pos
itiyely stunned with dismny and hor-
ror. and then followed panic; dcying
which a hnndred people are reported
10 have gone stark mad. while the vast
majority was so paralyzed with fear
and the shock that they were'incapn bic
of moving to the assistance OF the dy-
ing, or Of making any effort to extin-
guish the flames which spzang mp from
a mass Of buildings, and which began
to spread with the most threatening
rapidity.
The quay and promenade close tothe
scene of the explosion presented the
most sickening sight ever witnessed.
Manzled and blackened corpses were
scattered here and there, or were In
heaps in many cases upon the wounded
and dying, whose fearful shrisks OF
agony flied tho air and struck terror
into tho hearts of those who, after a
time, summoned sufficient courage to
venture near the carnage ground.
Over 100 people are said TO have been
precipitated into the sea by the Elk.
.lo.;.n and kha~o hanaafh this hail at