Rocky Ford enterprise., 1893-11-09
HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST.

Fire at tho Wharf at santander,
Spain, and the Explosion
Causes Frightfui
Tragedy.
Santander, o small seaport on the Bay Of
BIscay, on the northwest coast Of Spain, was
the scene of an awful catastrophe. A full
statement of the number OF lives lost can
probably never be given, but 1t is known that
several hundred people were killed.
The Cabo Machichaco, Spanish steamship
belonging to Biboa, caught fire at about
O'Clock p. M on the Ord while the steamer
was alongside the quay discharging part OF
her cargo, which comprised nearly 1900 tons
Of merchandise, though the main part Of this
cargo wns iron orc and numter 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 4S0 cases of dyna-
mite were contraband and, to the shame of
the shippers Of this contraband dynamite, 1t
has caused immense loss of life and vast dam
age to property. This dynamite was con-
cealed under the Iron.
The fire was first discovered In the coal
bunkers, and 1t is said to have been due
either to spontaneous combustion or to some
carclessness on the part of the engineers or
fremen. Flames broke out from the bunkers
Mt about the hour mentioned and soon ragged
SO fercely as to be beyond the control Of the
ships crew, though the latter promptly took
steps to smother the fire. Finally, seeing
the fire was spreading In the bunkers, and
that the smoke was driving the crew from
below, the local authorities wcro notified, the
fire department and detachment Of the civic
guards being sent to the scene. Leading
municipal authorities headed the firemcn 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 there were twenty cases of
dynamite on board, the flremen were directed
to assist the crew in bringing this quantity of
explosive matter ashore. This was done In
safety.
1t was believed no more dynamite remained
on board, and, at 4:30, tug, which had been
hastily summoned to the spot, was ordered to
tow tho burning vessel out into the bay In
order that the flames might not communicate
to the wharf and to adjoining property, but
before this could be done an explosion on
board showed, as 1t afterwards turned out,
that the boilers had burst, and soon aftcrward
there was another terrible detonntion heard.
The steamer seemed to open in half, sending
blaze OF fire skywnrd, over which a crown
| of smoke rested for several minutes A re-
| port of such awful intensity was heard that 1t
| shook the earth for miles around caused
| houses TO tottcr, smashed every window pane
within the radius Of rifle shot, filed the mir
with mass OF flying, burning wood, black
ened timbers and scorched beams which soon
after fell, death-deulIng hail, upon the
Ri donth nd d.
struction wherever 1t crushed downward. The
scene following the blowing up of the steam
| er is almost indescribable, and the effect OF
the explosion of these 4S0 cases Of dynamite
| will hardly be believed. The power Of tho
explosion shot tons Of iron into the air, where
| It mingled with the burning fragments of tho
steamship, the iron and wooden quay and the
| bodies OF hundreds of the unfortunate people
| who were hurled upward Mt 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 blnckcped
corpscs were scattered here and there in
heaps, In many cases among the dying and
wounded, from whom frightful shreks OF
| agony filed the air, and struck terror to the
hearts of those who, after time, summoned
| sufficient courage to venture near the carnage
around. Over hundred people arc said to
have been precipitated into the sea by the ex-
ploslon, md there, beneath this hail Of iron
and wood, they met death with the crews Of
the 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-
peared forever.
1t is stated that when the fire broke out the
captain of tho Transatlantic steamer Alfonso
| XII. 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 Machiohaco just moment
before the latter vessel blew up, and conse-
| quently they werc blown to atoms with the
crow 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 stricken to attempt to do anything, but
ran about in thousands and abandoned their
homes after the explosion. All the stores
were closed and the energies Of tho people
seemed to be at standstlll for long time
after the disaster and mnny Of them are still
so prostrated that their death Is anticipated
number of persons are reported to have gone
stark mad.
The cities Of valladolid, Burgess BIlboa and
Barcelona were quickly aroused by the ap-
peals for assistance and Immediately took
steps TO do everything possible to assist the
stricken city. Fire engines, physicians, med
icines and food were sent from the cities men
toned, and nothing was left undone to re-
heve the distress. Large forces of troops
were also dispatched to Snntander, the SOL
diers rendering most valuable assistance In
the work of salvage and rescue.
Fifty private houses were burned. In ad-
dition to these losses several important public
buildings and valuable archives were burned.
Tho material losses chiefly consist of the
great number of houses burned, and which
nre valued at s., 500, 900. They were mostly
insured.
The Spanish government sent the minister
of finance to dispense all necessary relief to
the sufferers.
Divers, who have explored tho bottom of
the bay In various places, found many human
bodies. According to official kilograms, the
Nyar