Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-01-17
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
Terrible Scenes Witnessed whss. the Ex-
oios.onl rooS Pls.R


/ pios4Unl roo& PIs~R
BUTTE, MONT, January TO- Last
| night the fire department responded TO
q call from box 72--the call Of death TO
nearly the entire department The fire
was In the Butte Hard ware Company's
warehouse, which contained powder.
The men had barely started to work
when there was an explosion, which
shook Butte TO its very foundation.
The powder in the warehouse blew up,
spreading death aud rain to all who
were near. All but three Of the hremen
were killed. There were heroes among
the spectators, however, and while
some ran in terror, others began pull
ing the mutilated bodies OF the tiremen
and injured from the proximity OF the
flames. From all over the city people
began moving toward the fire and the
crowd greatly increased.
A second explosion, almost equal In
volume to the first, heightened the ter
ror all over the city aud spread death
and desolation among scores OF citizens.
Parts OF bodies were hurled hundreds OF
feet away. A man near the Northern
Pacific water tank was struck by the leg
and thigh OF human being, driven by
the force OF dynamite from the fearful
scene.
Five minutes later third explosion
came, but it was mild and very ie"
were injured by 1t.
The scene after the explosion resem-
blej a field OF battle. The dead were
strewn everywhere and the cries and
groans OF the Injured and dying present,
ed a scene unspeakably unearthly. Blood
and brains were scattered about. Here
were legs and arms; there pieces oil
flesh, until the sight was slckenlng.
Between the Northern Pacific and the
Great Northern depOts, a space oi 5OO
feet, the ground was covered with parts
OF human beings and with the dead ana
injured. The scene was one OF utter
aud desolate destruction. Houses IN
the vicinity were badly wrecked as II
cyclone had struck them.
One Of the rescuing corps gathered -
dead bodies In one place. Eight were
ia another. Two and three were 10
groups here and there. The rescuer1
pulled some Of the bodies ont still qul'-
ering, the remnants OF the human De-
ings still groaning, while legs and arms
had been torn off. Shapeless truuA'
quivered and died 10 the arms oI the
living. The hospitals were filed. Inc
spare rooms In the hotels were taken
and private houses were thrown open
where IL was necessary.
Chief Cameron directed the "crh on
the building, and while some OF the ute'
men hauled. a line OF hose along, the
Others started to tear of the iron cover
ings OF the building, 30 tney couiu se'
az the flames.
Just as they had succeeded 10 tearing
off part OF the covering tue nrst ca
plosiop came. A binding sheet oI
flame forced the roof from It's iasten'
ings and shot hundred feet Into tus
air. This was followed by secohu VI
deadly silence and then came the a"lul
roar. carving with il annlhlatloh W
those who closely surrouoded tue uo@'A
trap and destruction 90 every nAAo'
The sights In the undertaking So
lishments this morning are sohe'H'u,
awful. All are crowded with heap'
human flesh. Here was ha'i q uoa1
and a mutilated trunk beIo" ~ lh So
other place an armless ana IeS'e's -, ~, 80
with the face disfgured beyond OIL p'''
sibiity Of recognition. Is
Bodies were thrown hundreds o. yeiu
10 all directions. Some were .1'V ~,
against houses and crushed to puIp.
while flying derbs knocked 'Io 80,
from others where they STOOD Ono ~.
was said 60 have been seen l5 u5'ne
through the air ata heqh: OF 200 or
300 yards, aud pieces OF V0u''' "'''
lying around eyeryw here -. ,bs
Many hours after the eAp'o.,o" .,
Ere was still burning. anu 'ne sve
the consuming bodies was ssFfipls'