The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-01-17
Probably Seventy-fve People
Killed in the Discharges.
WORK OF IDENTIFICATION.
Headless Trunks Without Vestige
OF Clothing. Forty Seven Vic
Tins Known. Thirty Tons
Of Explosives. Great
Indignation.
BY Southern Associated Press.

cars OF powder caught fire aud ex.
ploded with tremendous force, kill.
aug "a number Of tiremen and specta-
eors, and manning many others.
There were three separate ex-
plosions, the first two breaking
nearly every window within radius
OF two miles. The fire attracted
large crowd, and hundreds were
standing near when the first ex-
plosion occurred. Men aud women
we're moved down like grass before
q sickle and many others were
stunned. The ground was etrewn
like battle field with dead and in
jured
When the spectators tried to rem
der help they were met by second
explosion like raking fire from nn
army. The second was soon fol.
lowed by the third, and tho heavens
were lighted with flame. Tho re.
ports were heard and the shocks felt
for miles. After the third explosion
the hospital CORPS aud the police
began tho work of picking up the
deud and caring for Tic wounded.
n one place fifteen dead bodies
we're piled up together, and mauv
OF ,hem we're mnnEled to snch an
extent that they were not Identified
in the excitement. Every house IN
the vicinity WAS turned INTO IA hos.
pital. The scene after the explosion
Tas beyond all description. Men
and women wrung their hands and
cried III agony.
When the smoke cleared away.
the sight whicn presented itself TO
the survivors wac sickeuing III the
extreme. The ground Tor block
around the scene of the accident
was strewn with the quivcriug Ties h
OF tue dismembered msn and horses
plnued down hy fragments of the
lire engines and burning brands
from the demolished warehonsr,
The warehouse was literally blown
60 pieces, aud hole seventy feet
deep oxcnvated in the ground by the
force OF the exploeion. 1t Is feared
that some bodies were thrown into
this chasm hy the force of the ex
plosion, and that they have been
cremuted.
Owing to the nature of the fire
and lts dangerous locality the eu
lire lire force was called ont to pre-
vent the spread of the flames to nd
Joining buildings. Three policemen
had been detailed 10 keep the crowd
buck aud they were also killed.
Many OF the spectators were IN
stantly killed ana several hurled
back some distance from the scene
OF the fire and rendered Unconscious
by the force of the shock.
Numerous persons living in dis
tant parts of the city have lost the
power OF hearing aud speech from
Ihe force of the shock. The list of
the dead will probably reach
seventy five, and tho damage doue
60 property will be more than 81.
oUO, 900. In all three carloads of
powder exploded.
All OF the apparatus of the fire de.
Partnont was destroyed Gud everv
horse killed. The powder was stored
Githin the city limits in violation of
fhe law aud the Indignation 10 in
tense.
At 10 o'clock this morning the
known number OF dead was forty.
eoveu. This namber will undoun;.
fdiy he Increased whom tho debris Is
Semoyed, ns 1t is almost certain that
pSet'co no ulUtcu III INC runs oil tho
demolished warehouse. Oi the deAd
thus far recovered, twenty six have
been identified either wholly or par.
tiully.
In some cases tho Identification
mas been hS articles of clothing or
3eweiry. tho bodies being deinccd
and blackenod 50 as to render per
eonal identification impossiuic.
bone Of the bodies, or portions OF
them, will never be identified be
cause OF tho friRhtiul mangling they
nave undergone. tieudIess trunks.
without vestigo Of clothing adher
ing 10 them, ,dismembered limbs and
p'eces OF flesh are. lii aome cases. all
that is left.
The dead are now distributed
among the various undertaking es-
taoIlshments, but aomo time to- dav
or to morrow all will be collected in
one place so that Identification may
he facilitated. The families of the
nremen and policemen who died in
the performance of their duty. viii
pH taken care of by the city, PUB.
nc snbscr ptlons will be started for
she relief of Others,
An investigation Will be institnted
10 u'ScoVcr who is respousihle. and
II 1t is found thnt any pnbiic otlicsIs
ere 10 blame for Tho violation of tne
oily ordinances they VIII find tbi.
climate too warm for than, a., a.,