Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-17
RANSOM AND VEST.
Ihe North CarOlinian Reasons With The
kiSs0ufiaD.
POSTMASrERS IN DISTRESS.
They visit Washington to See About Tha
Order Touching Carriers-Federai
Capital Gossip.

BUTTE. MONT. January 16-When the
smoke caused by successive explosions OK
giant-powder at the hardware store
houses here last night had cleared away
the sight which presented itself TO sur
vivOrs was sickening In the extreme.
The ground for a block around the scene
was strewn with quivering flesh OF dis
memberej men and horses, pinned down
By fragments Of fre-englnes and bufn-
ing brands from the demolished ware
houses. The warehouses were literally
blown TO pieces. and hole 20 feet deep
is excavated In the ground by the iorce
Of the explosion. 1t Is feared some bodies
were thrown Into this chasm by the ioree
Of the explosion, and that tney nave
been cremated.
Owing TO the nature OF the IRE anu us
dangerous locality the entire FIRE force
was called on; to prevent spread OF the
flames TO adjoining buildings. Three po'
ncemen had been detailed 10 Keep lhe
crowd back. and they were also kiIlei'
Many of the spectators were instantly
killed. and several were hurled BACK some
distance from the scene of the IRE anu
rendered unconscious by the force OF 'he
shock. ard numerous persons living III
distant parts Of the city nave l"s' .ne
power Of hearing ami speech from 'h1
explosions,
DEATH-LIST LONG.
The list Of the dead VIII probably
roach seventy-ave. and the damage done
IN nrorer;y will be more than si'"V'"'
In an three carloads Of powder eA-
poded. .,,-,hro,
Al o'clock this morning forty-'hIV,
dead bodies had been found ana retnO'S'
to the morcue, many Of them so sho0h
ircly burned and mutilated rs 10 Do
totaIIv unrecoenlzable. 4 small boy
name not known, about 10 years OF hse'
was found dead in the street ploch
and half from the scene oi the eN-
ploslons. one woman was kiileu III q
house half a block away by an a''sl
thrown through the roof human ho'u9'
legs. and arms were scattered lor SsN
raI blocks from the scene of the greatest
~ tho tbrec ,xploslons. il Il believed
that complete list OF the ueau '"'''''
be secured tor several days.
Tn. rrst explosion vas caused by nltro'
rlvcorine stored in the private warehouse
of the Kenyon -Conaell Commercial 'oih'
many. which WIS burned; the second cam
nom a carload of powder on the fdh'
road track; and the third from tn ware
hoi,se of the Butte Hardware Company,
which adioins that Of the Kenyon-Conneii
Company.
KNOWN DEAD. A.
AZ 10 O'Clock this forenoon the KNOW
number OF dead was forty-seYen. Inns
list Will. undoubtedly. be increased when
the debris Of the explosion Is remover
a. Il is Almost certain that bodies are
hidden in the ruins. or the dead thus raj
recovered twenty-six have been ldehu
fled. either wholly or partially. In some
eases the identification has been Dy ar
ticles of clothing or 1ewelry, the ooui.
being defaced and blackered so as u'
render personal identification lhposSipie
Ii is not impossible that In some cdS''
mistakes have been made. but in genera
there is little doubt as 10 the lleh'!'S
Of the bodies Some Of the bodies OF
nortions of bodies will never be idenu'
fed because Of the friGhtful managing
they have undergone. Headlcss trunks
without vesiiSe Of clothing adhefinS L
them. dismembered limbs. and pieces oi
flesh are IN some cases all tEat i l'lt
The dead are now distributed among
the various undertaking establishments
but some time to-day or Tomorrow al
VIII I've collected in one place. so thai
Identification may be facilitated.
No arrangements have been made fo'
the funeral. but il will be a public affair
and union services we'll De he'd by th'
clcrgyincn Of all denominations. The
families Of the firemen and policemen wh'
died In the performance Of their duty
Will be- taken care Of 10y the city. Public
subscriptions Will be started for the relie
Of others.
POPULAR EXPECTATION.
There Is the greatest popular indiena-
ton oyer the storage Of nitro-elycerine,
giant-powler. and rack-a-rock IN the
heart Of the city. which is responsible for
last nichts horror. An investigation VIII
be instituted - discover who l. responsible
and II IL is found that any public officials
are 10 blame for the violation Of the
city orlineuces they will find this climate
too warm for them. on the other hand,
II the mercantile firms who owned The
cX losiv"s are found 10 have violated the
law deliberately. they Will suffer finan-
cialiv and otherwise. The people are
thoroughly aroused over the catastrophe,
and VIII make some one answer for II.
From al that can bc learned. the tOttl
quantity Of explosive matter that went
UP in the three explosions was nearly
thirty tons-enough 10 wipe out the state
OF Rhode Island. There were twenty tons
Of giant-pOwder alone that went up IN
one blast