The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-29
EXPLOSION At HAVANA
PERSONS, MOSTLY
BOYS AND GIRLS, MANGLED.
Victims Were Implying Cartridges-
Powder UnIawfuIIy Stored in the
City-Caused by a Cigarette.

HAVANA, Nov. 2S.-There was a serious
explosion this morning on the Avenue In
fanta between the Santa Clara and Reina
batteries. Many boxes of powder were
stored in a private house, which also con-
tanned five rooms full of Mauser and other
cartridges. The careless handling of one of
the boxes Of powder or of one of the boxes
of cartridges caused the explosion, which
killed or more or less seriously injured thir-
ty-eight persons
The presence of such a large quantity Of
cartridges-known to have been brought re-
Gently from the artillery depot-in and out
OF the warehouse where they were stored
roof high-was against the law. Most of
those employed in emptying the cartridges
evidently the only duty on the premises,
were boys and blrls under seventeen years
of age and they formed the greatest pro-
portion of the victims. The employment of
children in such a dangerous occupation and
the existence of such large quantity Of
explosives within the city limits are both in
contravcntion of the municipal regulations.
Nobody was killed outright by the explo-
sion, but three of the injured died this after
noon and the condition of most of the others
is more or less critical. At least fifteen are
not expected to live. 1t was marvellous that
1t was learned tonight that a man known
as Jeronmo Smith mas acquired several
thousands of cartridges, many of an old
pattern, at the various military depOtS
here for a mere song, and was arranging to
turn his investment to account by remoV-
ing the gunpowder from each projectle with
a view TO later sale at profit. To this end
he hired about fifty boys and girls, with
q few men and women, to do the work. Up
to the hour of filing this dispatch no ar
rests nave been made, although orders have
been given for the removal of similar con-
tents of other houses in different parts Of
the city, which implies an official knoWl-
edge of the existence of such deposits in
dennite localities. The explosion took place
shortly after o'clock this morning in
frame building. AT the moment more than
forty men were at work emptying cart
ridges. Several tons of gunpowder already
lay in the main rooms OF the house, while
other rooms were literally packed with
more than coo cartridges.
There are two versions as to the origin
OF the casualty According to one lighted
cigarette stump was tossed by careless
workman on pile of powder; according
to the other, a child while extracting a
charge, used q hammer on the butt end
of a cartridge, which burst. causing the
greater explosion. Whatever the origin, the
explosion was awful in its effects, wreck
ing the building and mangling and burn
ing the workers. In some cases clothing
was set on fire; in others the flesh was
frightfully torn. Mothers shrieked for their
children and children for their mothers. 1t
was scene of widest horror. Although
there had been only Il partial explosion of
the contents of the building, the fear that
the entire stock, "a great quantity or
powder, would explode added to the panic.
Fortunately, there was no second explosion.
With tolerable promptness the ambu-
lances and surgeons of the Reina Mercedes
and San Lazare Hospitals arrived upon the
scene. The work of rendering first aid to
the injured was greatly hampered by the
want of bandages and stimulants, messen-
gers having to be dispatched to a cOnSid-
cradle distance for these requisites. Final
ly the injured were removed and distrib-
uted among the various hospitals, the Reina
Mercedes Hospital taking d majority. The
house surgeons regard the condition or
most of them as extremely critical.
Captain Peral this morning returned the
usual official visit of the officers of the
United States cruiser Topeka. He was re-
ceived by the second officer In command, as
Commander Cowles was not well.
Immediately after the arrival here OF the
Spanish cruiser Alfonso XIII she Will leave
for the Island of Martinique, accompanied
by the Spanish cruisers Infanta Isabel and
Condor de Venadito.
Charles w. Gould, the special representa-
tive OF the Department of Justice on the
Cuban evacuation commission, to whom the
steamer Bratten and other steamers which
will follow with relief supplies are person
ally consigned, left here this morning for
Cienfuegos by rail for the purpose of meet
ing the Bratten, which sailed for that port
yesterday. He goes to Cienfuegos to attend
to the distribution of the supplies in that
district. Before leaving here the Bratten
landed a quantity of supplies for the Gu
bans at Marianao. Mr.. GouldS colleagues,
viserS of the evacuation commission, will
return to the United States on Wednesday
by way of Tampa. Mr.. Gould will remain
in Cuba in charge of the work of distrib-
uting relief to the Cubans.
The Cuban general Jose Lacret arrived
here yesterday. Gen. Mayi Rodriguez will
assume command of Cuban forces in the
Department of the West.
Colonel Young, commanding the battalion
of engineers which recently arrived here,
held a conference yesterday afternoon with
the Spanish military commander at Maria
mao for the purpose of agreeing on a plan
to avoid the possl bilty of misunderstanding
between the American and Spanish soldiers,
both of which bodies are doing sentry duty
at Quemadas The meeting was most cor
dial and the necessary precautionary meas
ures to prevent any unpleasantness were de-
cided on.
General Menocal, commanding the Gu
ban forces at Mariana. will probably move
his camp to-day or tomorrow from Playa,
! fixing his headquarters at point several
miles farther westward This action is due
to the arrival of American troops whose
landing place is Playa.
The colonial Cabinet on Saturday formal
~ resigned to Gen. JimineZ Castellanos, the
new governor and captain general of Cuba,
their respective portfolios. General Castel-
lanos, however officially reappointed them
and requested them to remain in office until
the Spanish flag had been lowered in Cuba,
lending to the Queen Regent and to him
their cooperation and the use of their valu-
able experience. The ministers agreed to re-
tain their portfolios and will continue in
Office to the last moment of SPANS
sovereignty over Cuba. Marshal Blanco
continues to reside at the palace.
A squad of cavalry has been stationed in
front of the palace to act as the escort of
General Castellanos when ne visits the
forts. Throughout the afternoon large
crowds gathered in front of the palace be-
Iieving that Marshal Blanco was about to
embark for Spain.
Yesterday afternoon two Cuban soldiers
entered the farm of Antonio Trujillo. a
Spaniard,, at Guanabacoa, suburb of Ha-
vana. Senior Trujillo demonstrated with
them for trespassing, and threatened them
with his gun, as he was just returning from
a hunting trip. At this the Cubans drew
their carbines and shot him dead on the
spot. They claim that they fired in self
defense.