The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-30
ANAPpALLIuGEXPLOSI0D
GIANT POWDER MOWS DOWN
PEOPLE BY THE SCORE.

A Frtghtful catastrophe DurlH% d
Firc In the Railroad Yards at
Butte, Montana-The Scene After
the Accident Looked Like Bat
tlefield-Firemen Decimated.
During a fire in the Montana Central Rsil-
way yards at Butte, Montana, several cars OF
powder caught fire and exploded with tre-
nendous force, killing number OF firemen
and spectators and manning many others.
There were thres separate explosions, the
arst two breaking nearly every window
within radius OF two miles. The fire at
tracted large crowd. and hundreds were
standing near when the first explosion oc.
CURED.
Men and women were moved down like
grass before sickle, but many were stunned
from cars and adjoining buildings was scat
tered high in the air for half a mile away,
many OF the flying articles striking people IN
the crowd.
On the day after the tragedy 1t was GER
lain that no less than sixty. and perhaps as
many RS 100, were killed. At least fifty were
Injured.
About fifty bodies were recovered. Fifty
more were then missing. Many were so
mangled as to battle Identification.
The dead, so far as identified. are: ]. B.
Miller, attorney. Salmon City. Idaho ~. D.
Cameron, Fire Marshal; George Fifer, fire.
man ; Jack Sloan, fireman; William MCGEE,
fireman !; G. E. Tracey, Fred Kremback, j.
J. Enright, J. J. McHale, - Robins, -
Cousauue, Mike Mead, Will Smith. George
Walton. Jack Charles. Charles Guttenburg,
an employe of the Butte Hardware Com
pany; George G. Galbraith, Edward Sloan,
fireman Dave Moss, fireman John Fudge,
volunteer fireman; Alexander w. Milan,
volunteer fireman Charles Bowman. Vo!un'
teer fireman; Samuel Ash. Peter Norling,
James O'Leary. Miles Mcdonald. William
Pierce. Albert Goddard. George Halloway,
Dan Hickey, @. W: English, Charles Ashton,
W. n. Nolan, Paul Hanson. Elmer Green,
George Wilson, Steve de Lougherey.
II was 9.55 o. m. when the Fire Depart
ment was called out to fight fire In the
Butte Hardware Company's warehouse.
There WIS rumor that there was powder
In the buildings. but this was denied when
the fremen reached the scene.
At 10. 05, when the f1remen had barely
started to work. there was terrific explo.
sion. The powder In the warehouse had
blown up Among the killed BY the explo-
sion were three Of the 7aremen. After the
first shock their comrades bravely returned
to the work, while the few spectators, who
had not become panic-strlcken and run away,
assisted In removing the bodies Of the killed
and injured from the proximity ofthe flames.
Ten minutes later came second explo-
sion, almost equal in volume to the first,
spreading death among scores OF citizens.
Parts Of bodies were hurled hundreds OF
feet away. A man near the Northern Pa
cifc water tank narrowly escaped being
struck by the leg and thigh OF human
being.
iieved that very few, II any, were injured by
Tho scene after the explosions rssemblod
a battlefield. The dead were ssrswn every
where, and the cries and groans OF the in-
jured and dying were pitiful to hear. Mutt
Iuted bodies and limbs almost literally COW
erred the space between the Northern paoiae
and the Great Northern depots, o space OF
300 feet. Houses In the Vicinity were
wrscked az II by cyclone.
0na man OF the rescuing corps gathered
twenty-ssyen dead bodies 10 one place. Eight
wore In another. Two and three were In
groups here and there.
Every vehicle in the city was brought into
service 10 carry away the scores OF dead and
the hundreds OF injured. The hospitals were
fIllod. The spare rooms IN the hotels were
taken, and private houses were thrown open
where Il was necessary. ......
After the first explosion many OF the
woundsd wore compelled By their helpless
ness to lie nenr the Boous, and the heat
greatly intensified t,.a'r suSerlngs. They
begged 10 be taken away, but there was no
means OF conveying them from tho soene ut
that time. A hauk.aan drove and attempt.
ed to assist IN the removal, but while IN the
act the second explosion took place aud
killed him and his horses md many OF the
wounded.
The sights In the undertaking establish
monts when morning dawned were heart.
rending. Here was half Of o head with
mutilated trunk below 1T In another place
an armless and lsgess trunk. with the
face disfgured beyond oil possibility
OF recognition. Scarcely any OF the
bodies were recognizable, and TIE
be known. There are twelve dead at the
Butter undertaking rooms, ten at the
Montana and ninsteen nt the sherman.
Eorty.three wounded nre IN tho hospitals
and twensy.eisht Of them are In critical
condition. .,..
! Professor Robins, or Robinson, who Is
also known as "Two Bear was i famous
hunter and friend Of Theodore Roosevelt, Of
New York. He had spent all his life in the
mountains, and was making preparations 70
guide party through q practically unknown
portion Of the Yellowstone Park.
All dags In the city wore placed ut half
mnst. A reliet meeting called by the Mayor
was largely attended, and committees were
appointed for the collection Of money for
the relief OF tho afflicted families.
The people are responding literally,
and sufficient amount to relieve distress
IL already guaranteed.
In addition to the loss OF life. the destruc-
ton Of property II great. The buildings
burned include the warehouse OF the Butte
Hardware Company, Parchen-D Daohuel Drug
Company and the Kenyon -Connsll Mer-
camille Company. the electric light
works, old sohliiE brewing building,
and -four ami feed ware
house. The contents were entirely de-
stroyed. The Northern Pacific freight depot
was wrecked and six cars were burned.
The fire 10 supposed to have been OF in
cendiary origin, as there was no fire, 80 far
a. knows. about the place.