Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-11-05
BLEW IT INTO ATOMS
ShipIosd Of Dynamite Caught
Fire and Exploded.
WRECkIkG THE SHIP AKDTow
OF sansaader--ship Aifbnso Biown Up
and Crew Kiiied--3oo Persons
Reporsed Dead


from a small village near the city of
Santander. capital Of the province of that
name. and little over 30 mile9 from
this city, announcing a terrific EXPLOSION
Of dynamite which had killed the COVER
nor Of the province and large number
OF people. including several Of the lead
ing citizens and which had also set fire
10 the city and caused immsenss dam
ages on all sides Further particulars
were unobtainable last night owing 10
the fact that all the telegraph wires In
the vicinity had been blown down by
the explosion. but dispatches are now
arriving from the village of Boo. which
bring particulars concerning this really
terrible disaster.
Ship Caught Fire.
The news which reaches here THE
morning is 20 the effect that steam
ship believed 10 be tho steamer VoIo,
British. Of $40 tons. which reached San
tander from Cardiff. caught fire yester-
day evening. 20 the intense alarm Of the
port officials. who feared that the flames
would cause further damage 10 ship
ping. TO the quay near which she was
moored and TO houses In the vicinity.
The officials OF Santander, however,
seem to have been unaware that the
Volo was loaded with dynamite. for
they sent all the fire departments 10 the
scene. the governor Of the province. the
chief municipal officers and many OF the
leading citizens OF the town superintend-
ing the efforts TO subdue the fire on
board Of the Volo
Dydamite Exploded
Suddenly there were cries OF alarm
from those working about the Volo, and
the alarming news spread with rapidity
that the ship was loaded with dynamite
and that the flames were rapidly ap-
preaching the terrible cargo. Before
tho crowd had time TO rush backward
there was dull roar. followed by fear
full burst OF flame and deafening ex-
plosion. which blew the quay into frag-
ments. set fire to a number OF adjacent
houses. and which smashed the windows
In every house for miles around. The
explosion shook the whole city and did
an enormous amount Of damage. Many
citizens were killed. including several
representatives OF the municipal and
provincial government
Governor Blown TO Atoms.
Among those blown to atoms was the
governor Of the province. who was last
seen in the front ranks OF those who
were fighting the fire. The inhabitants
were 90 dazed by the explosion and by
the rapid spread OF the flames from
house to house that for long time
afterwards they appeared to be utterly
unable TO make any attempt TO check
any further spread Of the fire. which. as
these dispatches were sent from the vii.
lage, was still eating house after house
and threatening the destruction Of the
entire city. The town OF Santander Is a
large port in the bay Of Biscsy. and the
terminus OF railroad from Madrid.
Loss Of Life Enormous
There is no doubt that aside from the
money loss entailed. the destruction OF
houses. quays and shipping. II Is one of
the most appalling disasters that has oc-
Cured in Spain or elsewhere in Europe
in recent years. The loss Of life was
simply enormous. Some Of the esti
mates place the number OF killed and
injured atupwards OF thousand. Later,
when the people and officials become
more collected and a systematic inyesti.
k6hOu IoA bU tAdhCs ~ 10 IIODdDtt tlidt
the loss will be found TO be less but il
can be said that il will be very heavy.
The streets In the vicinity of tho quay,
where the explosion occurred. are inn
passible. being filled with all sorts OF
Wreckage from the houses blown down.
The hospitals are filed with the injured
aud the physicians are doing everything
in their power TO alleviate the agony
OF the terribly mutilated persons writh-
ing upon the cots
steamer Alfonso Also DESTROYED.
When the Volo blew up. the Spanish
steamer Alfonso MIL was living aside
Of her. The steamer was completely de-
stroyed. All her officers and forty Of
her crew are missing. and 10 is certain
every one Of them were killed The
force of the explosion may be judged
from the fact that portions Of the Nolo
and the Alfonso XIII. were thrown into
the middle OF the town. carrying death
and destruction with them. IL will be
necessary to send troops here from other
cities 10 aid the officials Great delay is
experienced In getting reports Of the
disaster TO telegraph lines There 10
only one wire working out of the city
aud that is working very slowly. Nearly
all the press dispatches are carried 10
points outside the city
Half the City Destroyed.
Even with outside assistance IL vas
foend impossible 10 check the fiames
and half the .ity has been destroyed by
fire and explosion. The railway station
has been burned. and 50 rapid was the
spread of the flames that the trains
could not be hauled out They. too.
were destroyed. IL Is now estimated that
800 persons we're killed by tho explosion
last night Many are missing. bnt uost
q them are believed % have gone 90 the
houses of friends. az their own homes
were DESTROYED. Among the dead are
the prefect the chief % police and tao
Judges. sixty houses were wrecked
A train. which wss entering the station
when the explssion occurred. vas tred
by flying piece~ q burning wood. The
station hsaran 90 burn a moment later
The station msstef was burned 20 death
and msay passengers we're Eufocated
DOsens q persons living near The bey
fed from their burning houses and IA
teFFor threw themselves into the vateF
The ministers a finance and the inter-
lsw lett Madrid Cor Santabder this
Eessh.