The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-01-17

Butte, Jan. ia fire occurred in
the Butte Hardware company's ware
house last night in which giant DOW
der was stored. The fire department
were at work on the fire when the ex-
plosion took place, killing a number
or people. While efforts were being
made to remove the dead and woun-
ded a second explosion occurred. The
entire fire department was wiped out,
including the chief and all the horses.
Ihree policemen We're among the
Killed, who number at least seventy
i've. Plate glass was broken all over
the city, and the damage to property
Is enormous. The relatives of the
killed are frantic and the city is in
conservation. The powder in the
warehouse was in violation of law.
1t was the greatest explosion in the
history of the West.
Another Account.
Denver, Jan. ia special to the
Rocky Mountain News from Butte
says: The fire broke out in the Mon
tana Central yards, and soon several
cars loaded with powder caught, fire.
Just as the firemen were closing
around the blazing cars an explosion
occurred, killing number Of tiremen
and spectators and manning many
others. The firemen who had es-
capped Immediately rallied and were
beginning another attack when a sec
ond explosion, more violent than the
first, took place. The people in the
vicinity were moved down as with a
great scythe. and the streets for half
a block around looked like a great
battlefield. Debris was thrown high
IN the air, coming down a half mile
away. Many people on the streets in
the center of the city were thus in
Jured. A few of the remaining fire
men were gathered together and while
attempting to escape to a place of
safety, the third and last explosion oc-
CURED. This, too, killed and injured
many people. There were several
cars of powder and all Of them ex-
ploded. The whole heavens were
lighted up ard the city shook as If
an earthquake was in progress. I'M
mediately after the first explosion the
entire hospital corps and police force
were summoned
Terrific Explosions.
Denver, Jan. ia special to the
l.
started in the Royal Milling com
pany's warehouse and spread to the
Kenyon, Cornell company warehouse,
in which was stored car loads of giant
powder. The first explosion was the
most terrific and killed every fireman
save two belonging to the central sta
ton. One Of these was standing be-
hind the hose horses and the other was
at water hydrant several hundred
feet away. So far between fifty and
sixty mangled bodies have been re-
covered, and more are being picked up
on all sides. 1t is impossible to get
names at present. It is estimated
that about 100 additional persons are
injured, several Of whom died after
being taken to the hospitals The
scene beggars description. Wagons are
still taking dead bodies from the
scene Of the explosion to various un-
dertaking establishments and the
wounded to their homes and hospitals.
The latter are all full. The list of
dead will possibly reach seventy five,
andt he damage to property will be
more than a million dollars. In all
three car loads of powder exploded
one of which was exploded in the
Butte Hardware company's ware
house, which adjoined the Kenyon
Cornell warehouse. Large pieces of
iron were thrown for miles. Several
bodies were hurled a long distance
and picked up in unrecognizeable
masses Of flesh.