The Meeker herald., 1893-11-11
HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST.
A Vessel Loaded with Dynamite Catches
Fire at the Wharf Mt stntander'
spain, and the Explosion
Causes Frightful

Blscay. on the northwest coast Of Spain, was
the scene of an awful catastrophe A full
statement of the number OF lives lost can
probably never be given, but it is known that
several hundred people were killed.
The Cabo Machichaco, Spanish steamship
belonging TO Bilboa, caught fire at about d
o'clock p m. on the Bird while the steamer
was alongside the quay dlscharsing part Oh
her cargo, which comprised nearly 2ooo tons
Of merchandise. though tile main part oil TINS
cargo was iron ore and a numLer OF Sacks oil
-four, barrels Of wine, many cases OF petroleum
and over 500 cases of dynamite, OF which only
twenty cases were declared on the steamers
manifest. The remaining $50 cases OF dyna-
mite were contraband and, to the shame oil
the shippers OF this contraband Dynamite Ii
has caused immense loss OF life and vast dam
age TO property. This dynamite was con-
] cealed under the iron.
| The fire was first discovered In the coal
[ bankers, and 1t is said TO have been due
either to spontaneous combustion or to some
earelcssness on the part of the engineers or
bremen. Flames broke out from the buniicrs
at about the hour mentioned and soon RACED
so herccly as In he hernnd the control oil the
ships crew, though the latter promptly took
steps to smother the fire. Finally, seeing
the fire was spreading In the bunkcrs, and
that the smoke was driving the crew from
below, the local authorities were notified, the
fire department and n detachment OF the civic
guards being sent to the scene. Leading
municipal authorities headed the fremen and
guards in the effort made to save the steamer
The provincial governor, who was one OF the
iirst to reach the spot, displayed the greatest
activity in directing the operations, and upon
learning that there were twenty cases OF
dynamite on board the fremen were directed
to assist the crew in bringing this quantity OF
explosive matter ashore. This was done in
safety.
II was believed no more dynamite remained
on board, and at 4 30 a tug which had been
hastily summoned to the spot, was ordered to
tow the burning vessel out into the bay In
order that the flames might not communicate
to the wharf and to adjoining property, but
before this could be done an explosion on
board showed, as 1t afterwards turned out,
that the boilers had burst, and soon afterward
there was another terrible detonatlon heard.
The steamer seemed to open in half, sending
a blaze of fire skyward over which crown
of smoke rested for several minutes. A re-
por, Of such awful intensity was heard that 1t
shook the earth for miles around, caused
houses TO tottcr. smashed every window pane
within the radius Of rifle shot, filed the air
with a mass OF flying, burning wood, black
cned tImbers and scorcbed beams which soon
after fell, n death-dcaling hall upon the
neighborlug houses, scattering death and de
structlon wherever 1t crushed downward The
scene following the blowing up OF the steam
or Is almost indescrlbable and the effect OF
the explosion of these $50 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, the iron and wooden quay and the
bodies OF hundreds OF the unfortunate people
who were hurled upward at the same time,
and the falling OF the burning mass can be
The quay and promenade close to The scene
OF the explosion presented the most sIckcning
sight ever witnessed Mangled and blackepcd
corpses were scattered here and there In
heaps, In many cases among the dying and
wounded, from whom frightful shrleks OF
agony filled the air, and struck terror TO the
hearts of those who, after a time. summoned
sufficient courage to venture near the carnage
around. Over a hundred people arc said to
have been preclpitated into the sea by the ex-
ploson, and there, beneath this hail of iron
and wood they met death with the crews Of
the unfortunate steamer and the tugboat
which was about to tow her into the bay.
Aboard the tug were many citizens who were
helping the rescue. All of them have dsap-
peared forever.
1t is stated that when the fire broke out the
captain of the Transatlantic steamer Alfonso
MI. ordered her steam launch to be lowered
and manned by nearly all his officers and
crew, whom he sent to the assistance of the
burning steamer. The steam launch with the
crew of the Alfonso NIL on board arrived
alongside the Cabo Machichaco just moment
before the latter vessel blew up, and consc-
quently they were blown to atoms with the
crew of the dynamite steamer.
Nothing In the shape OF attempting to
quench the flames was done for long time
after the disaster rs the people were too
panic-strlcken to attempt to do anything but
ran about in thousands and abandoned their
homes after the explosion. All the stores
we're closed and the energies of the people
seemed TO be at a standstll for long time
after the disaster and many of them arc still
so Frustrated that their death Is anticipated
as the result Of the fright sustained. A Drrc |
number Of persons are reported to have gene |
stark mad
The cities Of Valladolid, Burgcs, Bilbon and |
Barcelona were quickly aroused by the ap-
peals for assistance and Immediately took |
steps TO do everything possible to assist the |
stricken city. Fire engines, physicians, med.
iclnes and food we're sent from the cities men. |
toned, and nothing was left undone to re-
l,eyc the distress. Large forces of troops |
were also dispatched to Santander, the SOL |
diers rendering most valuable assistance In |
the work of salvage and rescue.
Fifty private houses were burned In adj |
dltion to these losses several important public
buildings and valuable archives were burned.
The material losses chiefly consist of the
great number Of houses burned, and which
are valued at g, 800 900 They were mostly
insured.
The Spanish government sent the minister
of finance 10 dispense all necessary relief to
the sufferers.
Divers, who have explored the bottom of
the bay in various places, found many human