The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-17
BUTTE IN MOURNING
And the Flags Are Placed at
Half Mast.
First Reports We're Not Exag-
gerated.
OVER SIXTY DEAD.
The Injured Number More Than
One Hundred.
OVER SIXTY DEAD.

BUTTE, Mont. Jan. lit is now
estimated that the number killed by
Tuesday nights terrible explosion of
giant powder is sixty Nearly fifty
are already known to have been
killed.
The city is in mourning and all
flags are at half mast The relief
meeting called by the mayor was
largely attended and committees APP
poin ted for the collection of money
for the relief of the distracted fami-
lies. The people are responding lib
orally sand a sufficient amount to re-
lieve distress is already guaranteed.
A number OF the bodies are mangled
beyond all recognition and never will
be identified.
Inquiries are coming from all parts
of the United States inquiring about
relatives and friends who reside in
the city and who were supposed to
have been here at the time of the ex-
plosion. 1t is admitted by all that
this is by far the most disastrous sur
face explosion that has occurred any
where in the country during recent
years.
The remains of fifty persons are at
the mOrgue and a mum Der more are
missing. Over 100 are injured, many
OF them fatally. Every hospital in
the city is crowded The city appears
to be stunned and no one seems able
to fully realize the extent of the ca
lamity, A majority of the dead are
so frightfully mangled that identifca-
ton is impossible.
Heads, arms, legs, and other parts
of bodies were picked up all about the
scene of the explosion for radius of
five blocks. The scene was one of
utter and absolute destruction. The
houses in the vicinity were as thor
oughly wrecked as if cyclone had
passed through them. Many of the
killed contained no marks or bruises,
having been killed by the conclusion.
Many were seriously injured by flying
bricks, stones and other debris, at
distance of several blocks from
the explosion. The conclusion was
felt for miles and many of
the largest buildings rocked like
cradle. 1t was reported by some of
the rescuing corps that several human
ghouls, while pretending to assist
the work, went through the clothing
of the dead and injured and robbed
them. Only three hremen present at
the scene of the fire escaped being
killed. Chief Cameron was blown to
atoms, and the only thing left of
him was belt attached to a charred
portion of his body.
Fireman Dave McGee gave the fol
lowing version of the appalling ex-
plosiOn:
after reaching the fire. we laid
1900 feet of hose, and Flannery staid
at the hydrant. l drove up to the
building with the hose, and then
drove back from it about 200 feet and
stopped A moment later the first
explosion occurred in the building,
and the flames burst through the roof,
but no one was hurt by this explo-
sion. The boys then went back to the
building again, thinking the danger
was all over Jack Sloan came over
to the W agon and got an. axe, and
| started in to cut an opening into the
building. My brother William got in
the back of the wagon and advised
! me to drive further away for fear of
another explosion l told him there
! was no danger, and got down to
blanket the horses.
Just as pulled the blankets down
! from the seat and spread one of them
out to throw it over the horse, the
second explosion came. 1 did not see
anything, and only remem Der hear
ing the awful roar and being knocked
down. When l recovered a moment
later I found the wagon partly on top
of me with the tongue across my
breast and the of horse was lying
right on top of me. The blankets had
caught fire. Pieces of wood were
burning all around me, and l was
nome ntarily choked aud bewildered.
1 struggled to get loose, but l was
unable to free myself People were
screaming all around me and
| crying for help, and could
hardly make my voice heard. After
awhile a man came along and
begged him for Gods sake to help me
out. With his assistance / managed
to get out from under the weight that
was pinning me down and struggled
to my feet. 1 limped along, but was
getting along slowly, when a couple
of men came along and carried me
into the Garrison house, and from
there l was brought home. The last
saw of Jack Sloane he was pound
ing away at the door, and when I saw
Cameron last he was taking the kinks
out of the hose between the wagon
and the burning aiding. All of the
other boys were close behind Sloane,
and thev were certainly all killed"