The record-union., 1895-01-16
Terrible Results of Fire in a
Warehouse at Butte, Mont.
AT LEAST SEVENTY-FIVE LIVES
BELIEVED TO BE LOST
Explosions of Giant Powder Occur
During the Progress of the Flames,
Wiping Out the Entire Fire De-
partment, Including the Chief and
All the Horses-rhree Policemen
Also Numbered Among the Dead.
Special to the RECoRp-UN1oN.

BUTTE (Mon.), Jan. ia fire occurred
in the Butte Hardware Company ware
house tonight, in which giant powder
was stored. The fire department was at
work on the fire when the explosion took
place, killing large number.
While efforts were being made to re-
move the dead and wounded a second ex-
plosion occurred.
The entire fire department was wiped
out, including the Chief and all the
horses. Three policemen were among
the killed, who numbered at least sew
enty-fve.
Plate-giass was broken all over the city
and the damage TO property is enormous.
1t is impossible to get details at present.
All the ambulances are rushing to and
from the scene of the explosion. The
relatives of the killed are frantic and the
city is in CONSERVATION.
The powder in the warehouse was in
violation of the law. 1t was the greatest
explosion in the history of the West.
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
DENVER, Jan. 16, A. MA special to
the Republican from Butte says: The
fire started in the Royal Milling Com
kenyon Cornell warehouse, in which
were stored several carloads of giant
powder The hrst explosion was the
most terrific, and killed every fireman
save two belonging to the Central Fire
Station. One Of these was standing be-
hind the hose-cart horses and the other
was at water hydrant several hundred
feet away. So far between fifty and sixty
mangled bodies have been recovered,
and more are being picked up on all
sides. 1t is impossible to get names to-
night. 1t is estimated that about 100 ad-
ditional persons were injured, several of
whom died after being taken to the hos
pitfalls.
The scene beggars description at this
hour. 12:l0 y. NJ. Wagons are still taking
dead bodies from the scene of the explo-
sion to various undertaking establish
ments, and the wounded to their homes
and hospitals. The latter are all full.
The list of dead viii probably reach
Beventy-fve, and the damage to properly
Will be more than Sl,000,000
IN all three carloads Of powder e1-
ploded, one of which was stored in the
Butte Hardware Company's warehouse,
which adjoined the kenyonC Cornell
warehouse. Large pieces Of iron were
thrown miles. Several bodies were
hurled long distance and picked up in
unrecognizable masses of flesh.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
DENVER, Jan. 16.-A special to the
Rocky Mountain NelCS from Butte says:
y fire broke out in the Montana Central
yards last night and soon several cars
loaded with powder caught fire. Just as
the fremen were closing in around the
blazing cars an explosion took place,
killing a number of firemen and spectat-
Ors and manning many others. The fire.
men who had escaped Immediately rail-
lied and were beginning another attack,
when a second explosion, more violent
than the first, took place. The people in
the vicinity were thrown down as with
a great scythe and the streets for half
block around looked like a great battle
field. Debris was thrown high in the
air, coming down half a mile away.
Many people on the streets in the center
of the city were thus injured.
The few remaining tiremen were gath
ering themselves together aud attempted
to escape to place of safety, when the
third and last explosion occurred. This,
too, killed and injured many people.
There were several cars OF the powder,
and all OF them exploded. The whole
heavens were lighted up, and the city
shook as If an earthquake was in pro-
gress.
Immediately after the first explosion
the entire hospital corps and police force
were summoned, and many of the at
taches of these departments are among
those killed and injured in the subse-
quent explosions.
Fifteen dead bodies have already been
gathered together, and there doubtless
are great many more in parts OF the
yard that no one dares to approach.
Every house for blocks around is
turned into an impromptu hospital.
Every member of the fire department has
either been killed or wounded.