The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-08

OlSaSter.
MADRID, Nov. A most startling
message was received late last night
from a small village near the city of
Santander, capital of the province of
that name and situated a little over two
hundred miles from this city, announc-
ing a terrific explosion of dynamite
which had killed the governor of the
province and a large number Of people,
including several of the leading citi-
zens and which had also set fire to the
city ana caused immense damage on all
sides. The news which reached here this
morning is to the effect that the steam
ship said to be the steamer VoIo,
British, of $40 tons, which reached San
lander from Cardiff, caught fire yes
terday evening. The Omcials of San
lander seem to have been unaware
that the Volo was loaded with dynamite,
for they sent all the fire department to
the scene, the governor Of the province,
the chief municipal officers and many
of the leading citizens Of the town
experimenting the efforts to subdue the
fire on board the Volo.
Suddenly there were cries Of alarm
from these working about the Volo and
the alarming news spread with rapidity
that the ship was loaded with dynamite
and that the flames were rapidly APP
preaching the terrible cargo. Before the
crowd had time to rush backward there
was a dull roar followed by a fearful
burst of flame and deafening explosion
which blew the quay into fragments,
set fire to a number of adjacent houses
and which smashed the windows in
every house for miles around.
Further details received here regard
ing the terrible dynamite explosion at
Santander say that in addition to the
officers reported killed the president of
the provincial council and the colonel
and chief officers of the civic guard of
Santander were seriously wounded by
the explosion. 1t is also announced here
that the whole city is likely to be de-
stroyed and large number of its popu-
lation of over 10000 people will be
rendered homeless. A dreadful panic
prevails upon all sides. the engines have
already arrived from many points and
the most determined efforts are being
made to prevent further destruction of
property.
All those on board the tug boat along
side of her as we'll as the officers and
crew of the transatlantic liner Alphonso
II, were killed by the explosion. The
body of the civil governor who was
directing the operations on the quay,
has been recovered as we'll as the bodies
of a number Of the officials. Among the
reported killed is the Marquis Pombo.
1t has been ascertained that the dyna-
mite-loaded steamer which. caused this
terrible destruction was the Cabo Muchi-
caco. belonging to Bilbao, and not the
British steamer as at first reported.
The authorities of Santander are high
ly censured for allowing the steamer to
bids the discharge Of explosives at the
quay side; on the other hand it is
claimed that the authorities were not
aware of the dangerous nature Of the
steamers cargo or they certainly would
not have been so foolish as to ven
ture on board Of her and to allow thou
sands of people around her while she
was on fire.
Every possible assistance has now
been sent to Santander, where hundreds
Of doctors are already at work.
The queen regent, as soon as she
learned Of the extent Of the disaster at
Santander, expressed a desire to go
there, but the government dissuaded her
and sent the minister of finance to repre-
sent the government and do all in his
power to relieve the sufferers. The
minister. who has property relations in
Santander. started for that place to-
night. He was accompanied by the
senators and members of the chamber of
deputies from the Santander district
1t is now officially estimated that the
dead will number over three hundred.
The number of missing and injured is
enormous. Many of the injured are
dying owing to the want of prompt
medical assistance. Twenty-sseven civic
guards and all the members of the police
force but two were killed. Among the
other victims are the civil governor,
the colonel of a regiment. three naval
officers. the head port pilot and the
Judge fiscal A majority Of the passen-
gers OF train which arrived at the mo-
ment OF the explosion were also killed.
1t appears that the steamer which ex-
pioded carried 500 packages of dynamite.
although the officers declare only twenty,
which were landed at the beginning Of
the fire.