Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1893-11-09
AWFUL EXPLOSION.
A vessel Blown Up by Dynamite
In Spain.
It rlrst takes Fire aud Hundreds Are At-
.ractcd to the Scene Only to Meet n
Fearful Death Destruction
Of Property Great

Fearful Death Destruction
Of Property Great
MADRID. Nov. O. The terrible dls-
aster which has wrecked the port Of
Santandcr and destroyed hundreds OF
lives has sent q thrill Of horror through.
ont Spain. The story of this great dis.
a,ter in brief is as follows
The Cabo Machichaco Spanish
steamship belonging TO Bilbao, caught
ti-e about o'clock Friday afternoon
whsle the steamer was alongside the
qaay discharging part OF her cargo,
which comprised nearly 2.00O tons OF
merchandise Though the main part
Of this cargo was iron ore, there were
a number Of sacks of -four, 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 4s) cases
Of dynamite were contra band, and, TO
the shame Of the shippers Of this con-
trabNnd dynamite, 1t has caused inn
mense loss Of life and vast damage to
property.
The FIRE was first discovered in tho
coal bunkers and is said to have been
due either TO spontaneous combustion
or to some carelessness upon the part
of the engineers or hremen. In any
case flames broke out from the bunkers
at about the hour mentioned, and soon
ragged so iercoly as 10 DC beyond con.
trol Of the ships crew, though the lat
ter promptly took steps TO smother the
fire Finally, seeing the are was spread
ing in the bunkeys, and that the smoke
was driving the crew from below, the
local authorities were notified and the
fire department and detachment OF
the civic guards being sent 20 the scene.
Leading municipal authorities headed
the fremen and guards IN the effort
made to save the steamer. The pro-
vincial governor who was one of the
first 20 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 IL was believed no
more dynamite remained on board, and
a tug which had been hastily sum
moned to the spot was ordered "a 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 decidedly
combustible nature, many of the build
ings consisting of rickety old houses
which few sparks might set on ire.
At about $3.50 p. m. a detonation on
board showed, as IL afterward turned
out, that the boilers had burst, and
soon after there was another terrible
detonation heard. The steamer seemed
to open in half, sending blaze of fire
skyward over which a crown OF smoke
rested for several minutes. Then a re.
port of such awful intensity was heard
that IL shook the earth for miles
around, caused houses TO iotter,
smashed every window pane within
the radius Of rifle shot, filed the air
with a mass of flying iron, burning
wood, blackencd timbers and scorched
beams which soon after fell a death.
dealing hail upon the neighboring
houses, scattering death and destruc.
tion wherever IL crushed downward.
The scene that followed the blowing
up of the steamer Is almost indescriba-
BILE, and the effect Of the explosion OF
the forty-eight cases of dynamite will
hardly be believed. The power of tho
explosion shot tons of iron into the air,
where IL mingled with the burning
fragments of the steamship, tug and
a.
mangled bodies of hundreds of the un.
fortunate people who were hurled up
ward at the same time, and the falling
of this horrible mass can be better i'm
agined than described.
The effect of the explosion upon the
inhabitants of Santander was bewilder-
ing in its intensity. For some TINA
after the disaster the people were pos.
itively stunned with dismay and hor.
ror, and then followed a panic, during
which a hundred people are reported
TO have gone stark mad. while the vast
majority was so paralyzed with fear
and the shock that they were incapable
of moving TO the assistance of the dy.
ing. or OF making any effort 10 extin.
guish the flames which sprang up from
a mass of buildings, and which began
t. spread with the most threatening
rapidity
The quay and promenade close to the
scene OF the explosion presented the
most sickening sight ever witnessed.
Mangled and blackened corpses were
scattered here and there, or were in
heaps in many cases upon the wounded
and dying, whose fearful shrieks OF
agony filled the air aud struck terror
into the hearts of those who, after a
time. summoned sufficient courage tc
venture near the carnage ground.
Over 100 people are said 10 have been
precipitated into the sea by the ex.
plosion, and there, beneath this hail OF
iron and wood. they met death with
the crews of the unfortunate steamer
and tugboat which was about 10 tow
her into the bay. Upon board the tug
were many citizens who were helping
in the rescue. All OF them have disap-
peared forever.
No correct estimate can yet be made
OF the loss of life, some officials claim.
ing that thousands were lost while
others hold the loss of life will not be
over 500 and may be lower.
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Murdered Inv Aruauta