The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-22
ANOTHER BIG EXPLOSION.
Sad Sequel to the Recent
Disaster at Santander.
SEVERAL woRkINGmEN KILLED.
Details OF the Dynamite Explosion In
November Last and the Cause for the
Present Disastrous Accident-Thc
City In a stete0pf Terror.

SAxTANDER. March 22.-Anothery fatal
accident occurred here yesterday, caused
by an explosion of dynamite. Ever since
the awful disaster that occurred in this
city on the night OF Nov. 3 last. when the
Spanish steamer Cabo Machichaco was
blown up by the explosion Of part OF the
large consignment of dynamite aboard OF
her, the wrecked hull OF the vessel has
been living at the bottom Of the bay. .
1t was discovered by divers, who went
down in search of tho bodies OF some OF
those who were killed at that time, that
. considerable quantity OF dynamite was
still in .he wreck. This was considered
to be menace to shipping, and the au-
thorities determined to have it removed.
While a number Of men were engaged in
the work OF taking the dynamite out OF
the hulk. yesterday, the explosion oc-
curred, and several of the workingmen
were killed
The Disaster a. November.
The loss of life occasioned by the disas-
ter last November has never been ac-
curately ascertained.
IL is known, however, that the list OF
the dead, missing and wounded numbered
fully 1000 The Cabo Machichaco was
lying alongside a wharf discharging a
part of her cargo. which consisted OF gen.
eral merchandise, including iron ore,
-four, wine and petroleum i'm cases While
this work was going on the steamer
caught fire and the blaze attracted large
crowds to the water front to watch the
spe ctacle Of the burning vessel.
Officers aud men from vessels lying
near the Cabo Machichaco went to the as
sistance OF the firemen who had been
hastily summoned Suddenly there was
q deafening roar. and the steamer disap-
peared. The slaughter among the spec
tators was frightful Houses along the
water front were either completely de-
stroyed by the shock OF the explosion or
else so badly damaged AS not to be fit for
occupancy.
Vast quantities of burning oil were
thrown far up into the city, and at one
time IL appeared as though the whole
place would be destroyed. Fortunately,
however, n change in the wind prevented
this, but not until enormous money dam
age had been done
Awful Results.
A hundred small vessels sunk in the
harbor. and number CT others, including
the merchant steamer Alfonso XIII,
caught fire from the rain Of flaming oil
and burned flercely. Forty Of the crew Of
che Alfonso Ill lost their lives.
Mangled and blackened corpses were
scattered along the quay, and the scene
was one that defied description. Among
the dead was Don Manuel Somoza de La
Pena, the provincial governor, and num-
ber of other officials.
Just rs the steamer blew up railway
train arrived at station, considerable
distance from the scene of the explosion.
This train was completely wrecked, set
fire to and most OF its passengers were
burned to death.
The people were rendered helpless by
the terrible calamity that had befallen
them, and il was necessary for the gov
ernment to assume for time the direc-
tion Of affairs in the city The place has
not yet entirely recovered from the effects
of the disaster.
It was learned subsequently that,
though the Cabo Machichaco had 20 cases
of dynamite on her manifest, she had
about 4S0 more cases OF the explosive
stored under her other cargo.