The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1893-11-10
CONTRABAND DYNAMITE.
It Causes Terrible Calamity at a
Spanish Port.
Attempt of Citizens to Save q Burning YES
sci Attended with Great Loss Of
Lfe-Hundreds Blown
to Eternity.
Awful Explosion.

MADRID, Nov. 6.-The terrible dis
aster which has wrecked the port of
Santander and destroyed hundreds of
lives has sent thrill of horror through
put Spain. The story of this great dis
aster in brief is as follows:
The Cabo Machichaco, a Spanish
steamship belonging to Bilbao, caught
fire about 3 o'clock Friday afternoon
while the steamer was alongside the
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 -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 $50 cases
of dynamite were contraband, and, to
the shame OF the shippers of this con-
traband dynamite, it has caused inn
mense loss of life and vast damage to
property.
The fire was first discovered in the
coal bunLers, and is said to have been
due either to spontaneous combustion
Dr. to some carelessness upon the part
Of the engineers or fremen. In any
case flames broke out from the bunkers
at about the hour mentioned, and soon
ragged SO tiercely as to De 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 a 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 pro-
first to reach the spot, displayed the
greatest activity in directing the oper-
atoms. and upon learning that the
ships manifest showed that there were
twenty cases of dynamite on board, the
6remen 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 RENAME on board, and
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 decidedly
combustible nature, many of the build
ings consisting of rickety old houses
which few sparks might set on fire.
At about 4:30 D. N. a detonation on
board showed, as it 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 Il crown of smoke
rested for several minutes Then re-
port of such awful intensity was heard
that it shook the earth for miles
around. caused houses to totter.
every window pane within
the radius of d rife shot, filed the air
with mass of flying iron, burning
wood. blackened timbers and scorched
beams which soon after fell a death
dealing hail upon the neigh boring
houses. scattering death and destruc-
ton wherever it crushed downward
The scene that followed the blowing
up of the steamer is almost indescriba-
bic. and the effect of the explosion of
the fo-ty-eight cases of dynamite will
hardly De believed The power OF the
explosion shot tons of iron into the air,
where it mingled with the burning
fragment, of the stea mship, tug and
wooden quay as well as with the
mangled bodies of hundreds of the I'M
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
inha bitants of Santander was bewilder-
ing in its intensity. For some time
after the disaster the people were pos
itively stunned with dismay and hor-
ror. and then followed a panic, during
which hundred people are reported
to have gone stark mad while the vast
was so paralyzed with fear
and the shock that they were incapa bic !
of moving TO the assistance of the dy- |
ing, or of making any effort to extin-
guish the flames which sprang up from
a mass of buildings, and which began
to 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
here and there, or were in
heaps in many cases upon the wounded |
and dying. whose fearful shrieks of !
agony filled the air and struck terror /!
into the hearts of those who. after a
time. summoned sufficient courage to |
venture near the carnage ground.
Over 100 people are said to have been |
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 to 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 theloss of life, some officials claim |
ing that thousands were lost. while !
others hold the loss of life will not be |
over 500 and NAV be lower.