Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-11-06

MADRID, November 5.-The terrible
disaster which has wrecked the port Of
Santander and destroyed hundreds Of
lives has sent thrIll Of horror through
out Spain.
Telegraphic communication with the
death and fre-stricken locality have
not vet been reopened, aud the particu-
lars concerning the horrible calamity
reach here in driblsts and by a round
about way, such as dispatches from out
lying towns.
The Associated Press, however, is
enabled to furnish what is regarded in
this capitol as a complete story of the
disaster as far as known. Every piece
of news which reaches Madrid not only
confirms the most sensational reports
received, but picture the disaster in
more vivid colors than hitherto por-
trayed.
THE STORY
OF this great disaster, in brief, as gath
cred for the Associated Press, is as
follows:
The Cabo Machichaco, a Spanish
steamship belonging 90 Bi,bOa, caught
IRE about 3 O'Clock on Friday afternoon
while the steamer was alongside the
quay discharging part Of her cargo,
which comprised nearly 1000 tons OF
different merchandise, though the main
part OF this cargo was iron ore and 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 manifest. The remaining $50
eases OF dynamite were COntraOand, and
TO the shame of the shippers OF this
contraband dynamite it has caused I'M
mense loss of lie aud damage 20 prop
erty.
The fire was az first discovered In the
coal Ouukers and &c is said 30 have been
due either 70 spontaneous combustion
or TO some carelessuess upon the part OF
the engineers or frsmen. In any case,
flames broke out from the bunEerS AZ
about the hour mentioned and soon
RACED so iercely as 90 be beyond con-
troll OF the ships crew, though
the latter promptly took steps
20 smother the ire. Finally,
seeing that the fire was
spreading in the bunkers aud that the
smoke was driving the crew below, the
local authorities were notified, the FIRE
department aud a detachment OF the
civic guard being sent to the scene.
Leading municipal authorities healed
the iremeu aud guards in the effort
made TO save the steamer. The Proyin-
cia, Governor, who was one OF the first
TO reach the spot, displayed the great
est activity In directing the operation,
and upon learning that the ships man
ifest showed that there was
twenty cases Of dynamite ca board, the
fremen were directed to assist the
crew In bringing this quantity OF eX-
plOsive material ashore. This was done
in safety. Ii was believed that no more
dynamite remained on board and tug
which had been hastily summoned 70
the spot was ordered 10 COW :he burn
ing vessel ont into the bay in order
that the flames might not communal
cate 70 the wharf and TO adjoining
property which was of decidedly
combuStiOle nature, manY of the build
Jugs consisting of riCkety old houses
which a few sparks might set on fire.
In the meantime
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
had crowded down TO the quay and
thrOnged the prOmenadeS, continuously
attracted by the fire on the steamer.
The blaze DO the bunkerS soon acted as
a beacon, which guided large numbers Of
the inhabitants towards the waters edge,
anxious TO see this really move. sight.
The news soon spread through the
town that the civic guard aud iremeu
we're engaged 10 a struggle on the quay
with a cOn1agratOn which threatened
10 destroy q large steamship.
The FIRE from tue ships bunEerS
spread quickly aud iguited che petrOle-
um, which formed part Of the cargo,
and which the authorities had for some
reason or other failed 20 remove when
the twenty cases of dynamite were
taken ashore.
AT about 4:30 o. m., a detOnatiOn on
board the steamer showed, as 10 after
ward turned out, that the boilers had
hurst and soon after there was another
terrible det0natiOn heard, the steamer
seemed TO open in half, sending blaze
Of fire skvward over which a crown OF
smoke rested for several minutes, a
report of such awful intensity was
heard that it SHOOK the earth for miles
around caused houses TO tOtter, smashing
every window within the radius Of a
rife shot, filled the air with an i'm
mense mass OF flying iron, burning
wood, blackened timbers and scOrched
beams which soon after fell, 3 death
dealing hail, upon the neighboring
houses scattering death and deStruc-
zion wherever 10 crashed downward.
The scene following the blowing up
of the steamer is almost
BEYOND DESCRIPTION
and the effect OF the explosion OF these
4sO cases Of dynamite viii hsr~ly be
believed. The power of the explosion
shot tons OF iron into the air, where it
mineled'with the burning fragments Of
the steamship. tug and wooden quay,
ee we'll as with the mangled bodies Of
hundreds OF the unfortunate people
/, rho we're hurled upward at the same
lSme. aud the falling Of this horrible
Hr,Sss can be better imagined than
described.
over the adjolning buildings fell q