The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-01-17
Chief and All the Department,
Killed or Seriously
Injured.
HORRIBLY MANGLED BODIES
Headless Trunks and Heaps OF
Detached Flesh at the
Undertakers.

BUTTE, Mon, Jan. 17.--Investigation
but adds to the horrors OF Tuesday
nights terrible accident. The brilliant
glare Of the skies from the flames of the
burning buildings have passed away,
only 20 be succeeded by the leaden gray
of eaaiy morning, thus giving to the aw-
full scene q fitting canopy.
Never did landscape bear more inn
pressiyely the unmistakable record of
the great destroying force of powder
than the gloomy, blood stained wreck
which appeared in the first faint light OF
morning. Nearly all Of the dead bodies
have been recovered, but the mammoth
heaps of debris, the charred remains of
buildings, warped and shattered fire en-
gines, and 1nangled bodies OF dead horses
are still reminders of the
Terrible work OF The Fatefai Night.
2 In addition to the sickening slaughter
of human beings the destruction of
property is great. Where vast sums of
money Were represented in well filed
warehouses, nothing remains but black
ened ruins, and the streets of the city
sparkle and glisten with broken glass.
Butte has more the appearance OF q be-
sieged city in days Of war than that OF .
business center of commerce in time of
peace. The hour for practical work has
arrived and relief meeting has been
called by Mayor Dugan for II o'clock a.
M. The fire was under control at 4
o'clock, and several more bodies were
sighted and taken from the ruins.
Damage to plate glass windows in the
city amounts to several thousand dollars
A number of persons reported killed
have turned up, among them Jnlius
Jacks, George King, Wesley Warden
and Mrs. George Fifer. At 8 a. m. A
bodies had been delivered ct various
undertaking establishments. Some
bodies are reported to have been en-
tirely consumed by the flames.
Supposed to Have Iseen Incendiary.
The fire is supposed to have been of
incendiary origin. as there was no fire,
so far as known, about the place. @
One body taken from the ruins was
identified as Chief Cameron of the fire
department The head, arms and legs
were burned OF. 1t is estimated that
75 to 100 persons are dead, but it is inn
possible to get names on account OF the
mangled condition Of the remains 1t
ii likely some win never be identified.
some Of Tias Details.
The fire was In the Butte Hardware
conlpany's warehouse, in which giant
powder was stored. The fire department
were at work On the fire when the ex-
plosion took place, killing scores Of
people. While efforts were being made
to remove the dead and wounded sec
ond explosion occurred. The entire fire
department was wiped ont, including
the chief and all the horses. Three
policemen were among the killed, who
number at least 70. Plate glass was
broken all over the city and the damage
to property ii enormous. All the am
balances We're rushing to and from the
scene Of the explosion. The relatives Of
the killed are frantic and the city il in
CONSERVATION, The powder in the ware
house was lii violation Of law. 1 1T was
the greatest explosion in the history oi
the West
The Cali Of Death.
At 900 o'clock the fire department
responded to call from Box ~, the
call of death TO nearly the entire de.
partment. The fire was either iii the
Kenyon Council or the Butte Hardwars
eornpany,s warehouse and both con.
tanned powier. There was rumol
that tlaere wis powder in the building
but this was denied and after mo.
nent's hesitation they begun fighting
the fire. AT l0s0s the men had barely
started 10 work when there was an ex
plosion which shock Butte 10 It'll yery
foundation. The powder ii the ware
house blew mp,
ys sprsaaiag Death and HULA
% iii who were near All but three q
$ 8 =