The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-11-06
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iCoDyrghtsd 1923 by The associated Pres'j
MADRID, Nov. 5.-The terrible disas.
ter which has wrecked the port OF
santander and destroyed hundreds Of
lives. has sent thrill OF horror
throughout Spain.
Toegraphic communication with the
death and fre.stricken locality have not
vet been reopened, and the particulars
concerning the horrible calamity reach
here in driblets and by a roundabout
way, such as dispatches from outlying
towns.
The Associated Press, however, is
enabled to furnish what is regarded in
this capital as complete story OF the
disaster, SO fat as known, Every piece
OF news which reaches Madrid not only
confirms the most sensational reports
received, but pictures the disaster in
more vivid colors than hitherto por-
irayed.
Inc story Of this great disaster in
briei, as gathered for the Associated
prcss, is as follows:
The Cabo Machichaco, Spanish
steamship belonging to Bilboa, caught
fire 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 aud a
number OF sacks OF -four, barrels Of
wine, many cases ofpetrofeumand over
500 cases OF dynamite OF which only
twenty cases were declared on the
steamers manifest. The remaining 4SO
cases OF dynamite we're Contraband and
TO the shame of the shippers OF this
contraband dynamite it has caused I'M
mense loss OF life and damage to prop.
erty.
THE FIRE DISCOVERED.
The fire was at first discovered in the
coal bunkers and is said to have
been due either to spontaneous combus-
tion or to some carelessness upon the
pUrt OF the engineers or tiremen. In
any case, flames broke out from the
bunkers at about the hour mentioned
aud soon ragged so tiercely as to be be-
yond control OF the ships crew, though
the latter promptly took steps to
smother the fire. Finally. seeing that
the fire was spreading in the bunkers
and that the smoke was driving the
crew from below, the local authorities
were notified, the fire department and Il
detachment OF the civic guard being
sent to the scene. Leading municipal
authorities headed the firemen
and guards in the effort made
to save the steamer. The provincial
governor, who was one Of the first to
reach the spot, displayed the greatest
activity in directing the operations,
and upon learning that the ships man
iest showed that there were twenty
cases Of dynamite on board, the iiremen
were directed to assist the crew in
bringing this quantity OF explosive ma
terinl ashore. This was done in safety.
it wns believed that no more dynamite
remained on board, and tug which
had been hastily summoned to the
spot was ordered to tow the burning
vessel out into tho bay, in order that
the flames might not communicate to
the wha.i and to adjoining property,
which was OF decidedly combustible
nature, many OF the buildings consist
ing OF ricliety old houses which few
sparks might set on fire.
THOUSANDS OF UNsusPECTING PEOPLE.
In the meantime thousands of people
had crowded down to the quay and
thronged the prOmenades continuously,
attracted by the fire on tho steamer.
The blaze in the bunkers soon acted as
beacon which guided large numbers
Of the inhabitants toward the waters
edge, anxious to see this really novel
sight. The news soon spread the town
that the civic guard and firemen were
engaged in a struggle on the quay with
q conhagration which threatened to
destroy large steamship.
Tho fire from the ships bunkers
spread quickly and iGnited the petro-
loum which formed part OF the cargo,
aud which the authorities had Tor some
reason or other failed to remove when
hetwenty cases OF dynamite we're taken
ashore.
At about 4:30 p. III. Sslotonation on
board the steamer showed, as il alter
wards turned out, that the boilers had
burst; and soon alter there was another
terrible detonation heard, the steamer
seemed to open in hall, sending blaze
oi fire skyward. over which crown Of
smoke rested for several minutes. 4
report OF such awful intensity was
heard that it shook the earte for miles
around, caused houses to tottet,
sma he'd Windows within the radius OF
Il rifle shot, filed the air with an I'M
mGnso mas1 OF flying iron, burning
wood, blAckened timbers and storched