The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-11
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT,
Results Of a Powder Explosion at the
Old City Of Palma.
BODIES BLOWN TO ATOMS.

Eighty Women AMI Men Were Employed
in Empty1ng Cartridges Outside the
Wall of the Chief Town OF Majorca---
One Ignited and Scores Pcrished---
Thlrty-Seven Women Killed.
A terrible accident resulting in sad loss
Of life occurred at Palma, chief city OF the
island of Majorca, 130 miles sorth Of BARGE
Iona. Spain. Eighty persons, most OF whom
were women, were employed in emptylng o!d
cartridges outside the walls OF the town
when one of the cartridges exploded in
some unknown manner. A large quantity of
powder that had been taken out Of cartridges
was lying about over considerable area.
and this was ignited by the discharge OF the
cartridge.
A tremendous explosion followed which
shattered the masonry Of the town walls,
which ars extremely thick, and did consider
able damage to houses. number OF people
were killed. but 1t was some hours before the
exact loss Of life was ascertained.
The bodies Of seventeen dead were found
Immediately. and many more were killed.
their bodies being blown to atoms. Forty
persons were seriously wounded, and some
Of them fatally. Many OF the dead and
wounded were found at considerable dis
tances from the scene OF the accident, having
been hurled bodily through the air by the
force of the explosion. Some OF the dead
were terribly burned and mangled, 80 much
80 in a number Of cases that identification
will be extremely difficult, II not impossible.
An official inquiry into the cause OF the dis
aster will be held.
A later despatch from Palma says that the
loss of life through the explosion was Tar
greater than was announced In the first re-
ports of the accident. It is now known that
thirty-seven women and fourteen men were
instantly killed. Thirty-fve women and
five men were seriously injured, and OF this
number twenty have since died.
This tragedy occurred on the largest ISL
and of the Balearlc group, In the Mediter-
ranean, off the coast of Spain, and belonging
to that kingdom. Palma is one Of the most
thriving towns In the kingdom, and its pros
perity Is largely due to the rather exception
ally fertile soil of the island and its very line
climate. Perpetual spring reigns In Majorea,
and it, and the other little islands OF the
group have about 250, 600 inhabitants.
The centre OF all that is most attractive In
the islands Is Palma, which Is the capital OF
the whole island province Of Baleares. 1t
has about $4,000 people, is entirely sur
rounded by walls, and is fortified by thtr-
teen bastions. The beautiful harbor Is so
spacious that It would beft a continental
port Of the first class. A mole 1900 feet long
is lined OH both sides with drydocks, and
here many Of the vessels Of Spain are built.
The city contains many elegant public and
private buildings, not few Of them OF
great age. The Gothic Cathedral. which
was begun in the thirteenth century and
was nearly 400 years in building, is one OF
the most conspicuous structures. The Ex-
change dates from the fifteenth century, and
In the Church of st. Francis Is the tomb OF
Raimon Lull, tho famous poet and phtloso-
pher of the thirteenth century, who was
born In Palma, and was one Of the most
prolific writer's that ever lived.
The caves of the Balearlc Islands are a
great natural curiosity and, together with
the antiquities found on the group, attract
a considerable number of tourists. Palma
is a noted educational centre, and has also
large manufactures of silks, woolens, iewelry,
soap, brandy, and glass. -