The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1893-11-10
HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST.
A vcsse, Loadea with Dynamite Catches
Faro Mt the Wharf ns Ssntander,
spain. uni the Explosion
Causes Frightful
10

vcsse, Loadea with Dynamite Catches
F'rc Mt the Wharf nt Santander,
spain, uni the Explosion
Causes Frightful
Tragedy.
snntandcr, small seaport on tho Bay Of
Blscay, on tho northwest coast OF Spain, was
the scene Of an awful catastrophe. A full
statement OF tho number Of lives lost can
probably never be given but II Ia known that
several hundred people were killed.
The Cubo Mnchlchnco, u Spanish steamship
belonging to BIlbon, caught nre at about 3
O'clock |. m. on The Bird while the steamer
was alongside tho quay discharging part OF
her cargo which comprised nearly 1000 tons
OF merchandise, though the main part Of this
cargo was iron orc and number of ssclsN az
i'onr, barrels OF Wine many cases cf petroleum
and over 800 cases Of dynamite, Of which only
twenty cases wcec declared on tho steamers
manlfcs'. Tito remaining $50 cases of dyna-
mite were coniraband and, 10 tho shame OF
the shippers OF this contrabaud dynamite, 4:
has caused immense loss Of life and vast dam
age TO property. This dynamite waa con.
cealcd under tho Iron.
The lire was first discovered IN the coal
bunkcrs, and It Is said to have been due
either TO spontaneous combustion or to some
oarclcssncss on tho part OF the engineers or
ilrcmcn. Flames broke out from the buukers
at about tho hour mentioned and soon ragged
so ilcrccly ms to be beyond tho control OF tho
ship. crew. though the latter promptly tool,
stcpa 10 smother the IRE, Finally, seeing
The fire was spreading In the bunkcrs, aud
that the smoke was driving the crew from
ts>t N.,sl al
fire department and detachment Of the civic
guards being sent to the scene, Lending
municipal authorities headed the iiremcn and
guards in the effort mAlc to save tho steamer.
The provincial governor, who was one OF the
first to reach tho spot, displayed the greatest
activity In directing the operations, aud upon
learning that there were twenty eases OF
dynamite on board. tie 0rc,ncn were directed
to assist the crew In bringing this quantity OF
explosive matter ashore. This was done In
safety.
], was believed no moro dynamite remained
on board, and, at 1880, a tug, which had been
hastily summoned TO the spot, was ordered to
tow the burning vessel out into the bay In
order that tho flames Nigh, not communicate
10 the whnrf and to adjoining property, but
be.c'N thtN tVhiu DC uOut an explosion on
boGrd showed, as It afterwards turned out,
That the boilers had burst, and soon afterward
there was another terrible defamation heard.
The steamer seemed TO open In half, sending
blaze of fire skyward. over which crown
OF smoke rested for several minutes. re-
port OF such awful intensity wus heard that IL
shook the earth for miles around, caused
houses TO totter, smashed every window pane
within the radius OF rife shot, filled the air
with mass OF flying, burning wood, black
encd timhcrs and scorched beams which soon
after fell, death-dcaiing hail. upon the
nelghhoring houses, scattering death and de-
struction wherever II crushed downward The
scene fol!owIug the blowing up OF the steam.
er IA almost iniescrlbablc, and the eilcc, OF
the explosion OF these $50 cases Of dynsmiic
will hardly be believed. The power of the
explosion shot tons Of Iron iuto the nir. where
1t mingled with the burning fragments OF the
steamship, the iron and wooden quay and the
bodies OF hundreds Of the unfortunate people
Who were hurled upward at the same time,
and the falling OF the burning mass can be
better imagined than described.
The quay and promenade close TO the scene
OF the explosion presented the most sickening
sight ever witnessed. Manglcd and blnckcpcd
corpses were scattered here and there in
heaps, In many eases among the dying and
wounded, from whom frlghtful shrlcks Of
agony filled the air, and struck terror to the
hearts Of those who, after time, summoned
sufficient courage 10 venture near the carnage
around. Over hundred people are said to
have been prccipItAtcd Into the sea by the cx-
y
and wood, they met death with the crews Of
sho unfortunate steamer and the tugboat
which was about TO tow her into the bay.
Aboard the tug were many citizens who were
helping the rescue. All OF them have disap-
pearcd forever.
II Is stated that when the fire broke out the
captain Of the Transatlantic steamer Alfonso
MI. ordered her steam launch to be lowered
and manned by nearly all his officers and
crew, whom he sent To the assistance Of the
burning steamer. The steam launch with the
crew Of the Alfonso XII. on board arrived
alongside the Cabo Maehiehaco just moment
before the latter vessel blew up, and consc-
gu n,ly they were blown TO atoms with the
crew of the dynamite steamer.
Nothing In the shape OF attempting TO
quench the flames was done for long time
after the disaster, as the people were too
panic-siriekcn To attempt to do anything, but
ran about ia thousands and abandoned their
homes after the explosion. All the stores
were closed and the energies OF the people
seemed TO be nj a standsiill for long time
after the disaster and many OF Their, ARE still
80 Frustrated that their death Ia anticipated
rs the result OF the fright sustained. A large
number Of persons are reported to have gene
t,ark mad
The elite. OF Nnllndolii Burgess. Bilbo, and
barcelona were quickly aroused BY the ap-
prals for assistance and Immediately took
steps TO do everything possible TO a.sift the
stricken city. Fire cngines, physicians, med.
ielnes and food were sent from the cities men.
toned, and nothing was left undone 70 re.
licye the distress. Large forces OF troops
were also dispatched To saniandcr, the sol.
oilers rendering most valuable assistance In
the work Of salvage and rescue.
Fifty private houses were burned. In Ad.
diiion To ihc'e losses several important public
building. and valuable archives were burned.
Tho material Losses chiefly consist Of the
great number Of houses burned, and which
ARE valued at g., 10000 They were m..ty
insured.
Divers, who have explored the bolton, Of
the bay In various places, found many hp mas
bodies. According to Official kilograms tho
latest accounting shows NO persons scrr
killed and 40 injured. One hundred nsd
tscniy.n,c bodies have boon identified Asd
buried.
Refused Ons.iiaif Million.
:, cnieAoo. Nov. 6.-Ths makers Of Ns.ro.
l'nc, the guaranteed tobacco habit euro, late.
ly refused q syndicate offer Of one half million
lar their business. No.To.i ,nc 1. an absolute