The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-20
SHOOK EARTH'S FOUNDATIONS.
A TERRIFFIC EXPLOSION OF row.
DER AND DYNAMITE.


Fire in IA Lumber Mil Ignites the
Mobile city Magazine-GIass BroI<-
en-, Chimneys Thrown Down and
the Air Filled with Missiles For
Many MiIeS-Cottagers Warned to-
Flee For Their Lives-The List O6
CasualRtIes Promises Large.
Mobile, Ala, Jan. 19-About 2 o'clock
this afternoon the planning mill of the
Dixie Mill Company located about five
miles above the city, on Mobile river,
caught fire and was totally consumed.
There being no appliances sufficient to-
cope with the flames. the fire spread to-
the dry kiln and it was also consumed
with a large quantity of lumber, both ON
the kilns and in the yards. The saw mill
was saved The plant was valued az
about $4,000, and was insured for about
$4,000.
During the progress of the fire this
afternoon the sparks set fire to the city
magazine, which is located across the
Louisville and Nashville railroad track
from the mill plant, and about 5 o'clock
residents of this city were startled by a
tremendous explosion, which broke glass
in many houses in the northern part OF
the city, and as far out as the convenr
in Summerville, about nine miles from
the scene of the explosion.
Men at work on the tower Of the convent
were almost shaken off, and in some parts
of the city chimneys were shaken down.
AT the time of the explosion there were
5000 pounds of powder and 800 pounds of
dynamite stored in the magazine, The air
in the vicinity was filled with flying bricks
and a number of cottages were blown to
pieces by the terrific explosion, which was
distinctly heard at Spring Hill, seven
miles west of the city and at least ten or
twelve miles from the explosion.
The lateness of the hour at which the
explosion occurred, and the inaccessibility
of the place after nightfall, make it impos-
sible tonight to verify all the reports as
to the casualties to human life.
MIR. Gwin, booSkeeper of the Dixie Mill
Company, was slightly hurt by flying
bricks, and Bob knight, colored, Is report
ed to have been seriously injured in the
same manner. The injuries to these two
men are the only ones reported that have
been verified, but there are reports to the
effect that two negroes were blown to
| engaged in taking goods to a place of
| safety from a store about a block from
| the magazine at the time when the explo-
sion occurred, were more or less danger
ously injured.
There are two smaller magazines near
the large one which exploded which are
said to be well filled with explosives, but
in an interview tonight John H. Moore,
keeper of the magazines, said that he did
not apprehend any further danger.
1t is said that when the sparks first set
fire to the large magazine that the blaze
that followed was seen by some man, who
Immediately ran about giving the alarm,
and warned the people living in the cot
tages near by to flee for their lives. 10
is said that the act of this man, whose
name could not be learned, saved a num-
Der of lives.
Every telegraph wire going north out
of the city was blown down and all busi-
ness for points north had TO go by way OF
New Orleans The Louisville and Nash
vile track was obstructed by the fres
and all trains arriving since o'clock
have been delayed.