The herald., 1893-11-05
OEATH-DEAL|NG DYNAMITE
A Terrible Catastrophe at
Santander, Spain.
Hundreds OF Lives Lost by an
Explosion and Fire.
Great Damage to Shipping, Wharyes
and Other Property.
The Greater Portion of tho City De-
stIoyed = The Governor of the
Province and Many Other
Notabies Killed.
BY the Associated Press.

MADRID, Nov. 4.-From Boo, village
near Santander, the capital OF the prov
ince of that name, comes q frightful
story of an explosion, fire, havoc and
death. The British steamer Volo, with
a cargo of dynamite. arrived at Santan-
der. The fact OF the explosive
being ON board was not known
to the authorities. Last evening
the vessel took fire. The fire depart
ment hurried to the ecene to prevent
the spread Of the flames to other shisS
piag, to the docks aud the adjoining
houses. The governor of the province,
the chief municipal officers and many
leading citizens were experimenting the
work OF subduing the flames.
Just as the news spread that the yes
sci contained dynamite and the people
started panic-stricken from the scene,
the flames reached the terrible cargo.
With deafening roar it exploded, scat
tering death. fire and destruction on
every side. The wharves. shipping and
neighboring houses were torn to frag-
ments. The whole city was shaken as
Al w AL cdfbuquhhcs hAu WiuuoWb Wclo
shattered in every house for miles
around.
Among the prominent people missing
is the governor OF the province, who was
last seen on the dock fighting the flames
in the front rank. Others supposed to
be dead include several representatives
of the municipal and provincial govern
ments, besides many citizens.
Etra al onea hrOka ont itat tho rr1inn nf
the shattered buildings and spread to
those still standing with great rapidity.
The inha bitants were go dazed by the
shock OF the explosion that they were
unable for a long time to do anything to
stay the spread of the fire. which, as
this dispatch was sent, was eatinksjts
way from house to house, threaten fn1g
this destruction of the entire city.
The explosion threw down all tne
wires, cutting off telegraphic com
mnnication with the city, hence
the first news came from Boo.
Finally communication with the city
was restored. and the adjacent country
and all the villages in the neighborhood
sent fire apparatus to the ecene, and a
strong, combined effort is being made to
save the rest of the city.
All sorts of reports are current as to
the loss of life, ranging from 100 down
to so. The rapid spread of the fire pre-
vented auy systematic attempt at recov-
ering bodies or learning the number OF
the dead
1t ia reported that in addition to the
killed already mentioned the president
of the provincial council, colonel and
chief officers OF the civic guard were eeri-
ousiy wounded. 1t is also said that the
whole city ia likely to be destroyed and
population of over $4,000 rendered
homeless. A dreadful panic prevailed
on ell aides. Engines from many points
have arrived and are making deter
mined stand against the flames.
Private kilograms say over a thousand
people met their death by fire and an
explosion at Santander. In addition,
transatlantic steamer was burned aud
40 of her crew perished.
All those on board or near the dyna-
mite steamer, and all those on board
tugboat alongside her, az well as the Of
fcers and crew of the trans Atlantic
liner Alphonso XII were killed by the
explosion. The body of the civil COVER
nor WAS recovered, as well as the
bodies of d number of other Of
ficsls. Among those reported killed is
Tue MARQUIS IOmuU. ~ IL Rbc6rtalneu
that the dynamite loaded steamer WAS
the Cabo Muchicsco, belonging to Bill
boa, and not a British steamer, as at first
reported.
Every possible assistance has been sent
to Santander, where hundreds of doc
tors are already at work. Troops sent
to the spot are also rendering great SER
vice in blowing up buildines acrose the
pathway of the flames and the districts
still threatened with confagration.
No definite estimate OF the loss OF life
was received up 10 the hour this dis
patch was sent, but there has yet been
no denial of the etatements made in pri-
vate and other dispatches to the effect
that the death list will be figured by
thoueands instead OF by hundreds.
1t is now officially estimated that the
dead will number over 500. The num-
ber of missing and injured is enormous.
Many of the injured are dying, owing to
want of prompt medical assistance.