Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-03-07
FEARFUL EXPLOSION.
Gasolene Tanks at West Yard Fly
100 Feet in the Air

Early on saturday Mornibg-A r. X. X.
Merchandise Car Blown to Atoins-For-
tunately But One Man Injured-Raii-
road Men Terrified by the Fearful Flare
of IGnited oil-Afraid to Approach the
Flames.
A terrific explosion occurred in the west
yard at go o'clock Saturday morning, in
which merchandise car belonging to the
Pennsylvania Railroad Co., was blown to
atoms and afterward set on fire and
totally destroyed, William w. Anthony,
clerk in the employ of the company, was
injured. The first explosion was followed
by series OF others and for several min
utes the contents of the car were being
shot out in all directions. Barrels were
thrown loo feet in the air and cans were
sent right through the roof and sides OF
thee just asifthe latter were paper toy.
Mr. Anthony, who was on night duty,
noticed shortly after O'Clock that some
thing vas leaking out of the car. and,
knowing that something was wrong, pro-
ceeded to make an Investigation. lie pro-
cured lamp and with the assistance of
Frank Ceiling another clerk, opened the
door. Mr.. Anthony thrust his lamp i'll
the car and almost instantly q terrified ex-
though not seriously. burned, but Mr..
Ceiling had been standing in such posi-
ton that he did not get hurt at all
Anthonv's injuries were not so bad that
he lost control of himself, and both men
beat hasty retreat. The force Of the first
explosion seemed to be nearly all upward,
and several barrels and tanks of gasolene,
with which the car was loaded. were shot
out through the roof.
The two badly frightened men had
barely gotten a safe distance away when a
second explosion followed the first, and
then u BON bardment began which lasted
for several minutes. All kinds of debris
could be seen flying through the roof and
sides of the car and i'll u short space of
time the car was sad looking wreck and
was burning iiercely, the intlammable ma
teral making savage looking blaze,
which at a distance looked like terrible
contlagration. The wreck was fired by the
fist explosion. and almost instantly spread
from one end of the car to the other.
The city fire department was not called
on, US it would have been of no use.
Fortunately the car was standing alone
and the others near it were drawn safe
distance away by a shifter. The only
other car that was damaged to any extent
was one which was loaded with wheat
consigned to the William Lea & Sons Co.
of this city. 1t was pretty badly scorched
on one end but the contents we're un-
harmed.
Whlle the bombardlng and fre were in
progress the yardmen watched the weird
spectacle at a distance. As far as Is known
none of the burning material that was
scattered by the explosions did any damage.
The debris seemed to fall where it could
burn itself out without communicating
the flames to anything else.
The burned car belonged to the Penn
sylvania Railroad Co., and was No. 75,07S.
1t was loaded with barrels and cans of
gasolene and was consigned from Balti-
more firm TO parties in Norfolk, Va. 1t
had come up from the Maryland division,
and was standing near the yardmaster's
office, about quarter of a mile south of
where the Baltimore & Ohio and Whining.
ton d Northern railroads cross the p, w.
Il b. tracks. 1t was not near enough to
the yardmasters office. however, to
damage that building. The car which
was consigned to the William Lea & Sons
Co., and which was also damaged slightly,
was numbered 65b and belonged to the I.
w. &c b. Co.
The debris continued to burn about half
an hour after the first explosion occurred.
Mr.. Anthony was able to 90 TO his home
after the accident and he was reported to
be resting easy Saturday morning. Had the
force OF the explosion been outward in.
stead of upward both of the men would
| undoubtedly have been killed.