The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-01-23
The Butte Castrophe.
Acres StreWn With Dismem-
bered Human Limos.

BUTTE. Mont. Jau l7.-When the
smoke caused by the successive explo-
sions of giant powder at the hardware
warehouse last night had cleared away
the sight which presented itself to the
survivors was sickening in the extreme.
The ground for a block around the
scene of the accident was strewn with
quiveriog flesh of the dismembered
men and horses, pinned down by frag-
ments Of fire engines and burning
brands from the demolished warehouse.
The warehouse was literally blown to
pieces and a hole seventy-6ve feet deep
was excavated in the ground BY the
force of the explosion. 1t is feared
that some bodies we're thrown into this
cbasm by the force of the explosion and
and that they have been cremated.
Owing to the nature of the fire aud
its dangerous locality, the entire fire
force we're called out to prevent the
spread of the flames to the adjoining
buildings Three policemen had been
detailed to keep the crowd back and
they were also killed Many of the
spectators were instantly killed and
several we're hurled back for some dis
tapce frcm the scene of the fire, and
we're rendered unconscious by the force
of the shock. Numerous persons liv-
ing in distant parts of the city have
lost the power of speech from force the
shock. The list Of the dead will pro-
babIy reach IS and the damage done
to property will be more than $1,0O0,-
900. In all, three car loads Of powder
exploded.
At 2 o'clock this morning forty-thrce
dead dies had been found and re-
moved to the morgue. Many of them
were shockiogly burned aud SO mutt
lated as to be totally unrecognlzable.
A small boy, whose name is DOT
known, about ten yeers of age. was
found Gead in the street a block and
a half away from the scene of the ex-
pIosion. One woman was killed IN
house balf a blocks away by an anvil
thrown through the roof. Human
heads, legs and arms were scattered for
several blocks from the scene of the
greatest of three explosion. 1t is be-
lievcd that the complete list Of the
dead cannot be secured for several
days.
The first explosion was caused BY
nito glyceriDe stored in the private
warehouse of the KenyouConnel Com
mercial Co.. which was burned. The
second came from car load of powder
on the railroad track and the third from
the warehouse of the Butte Hardware
Company, which adjoined that of the
Kenyon Council Gem pauy.
At ten O'Clock this torenoou the
known number OF the dead was forty
seven. This list will undou btedly be
increased when the debris Of the explo-
sion is removed. as it is almost certain
tba, bodies lie hidden 10 toe ruins Of
,de demolished warehouse OF the
dead thus far recovered, tweoty-slx
have been identified either wholly or
partially. In some cases the identlfi-
cation has been by articles of clothing
or jewelry, the bodies being defaced
and blackened so as to render personal
Identification impossible. 1t is not im-
possible that in some cases mistakes
have been made, but. 10 general, there
is little doubt as to the identity of the
bodies. Some of the bodies o: portions
of bodies. will never be identified, be-
cause OF the frigbtful mangling they
have undergone Headless trunks
without vestige Of clothing adhering
to them, disuen bered limbs and pieces
of flesh are in some cases all that is
left. The dead are now distributed
among the various undertaking estab-
lishments, but some time today or to-
morrow all will be collected in one
place 30 that Identification may be facil-
itated. No arrangements have been
made for the funeral. but it will be
public affair aud union services will be
held by the clergymen Of all denomina.
tions. The families of the 6remen and
policemen who died in the performance
of their duty, will be taken care Of by
the city. Public subscriptions will be
started for the relief Of others