The sun., 1898-12-10

dred6 OF people ran lnCO the sCTects huu
a glance in the direction Of the du Pont
wards convinced them that there had
been powder mill explosion. Immense
volumes of white smoke, resulting from
burning powder, ascended, and soon
spread over the sky.
Buildings trembled all over the city,
from small dwellings to six-story struc-
lures, and in many instances the occu-
pants were alarmed. some being ter
rified. i
Captain l.. Z. Rutan, of Co. X, and
Lieutenant A. w. Foreman, OF Go. A,
First Delaware Regiment, were in the
third story of the armory at Twelfth and
Orange streets, which appeared to be on
the verge of destruction, according to
their story. and they lost no time in get
ing out into the street.
The sensation was almost as pro-
nounced in the upper stories OF the
Equitable Building, Federal Building,
Court House, p, W. & B. Railroad
Station and many other large buildings,
but the fear in each case was soon al
layed when it became known that the
buildings in which the people noticing
the shock happened to be were not DAM
aged.
People who were at the Delaware
avenue station of the B. & 0. Railroad at
the time say the sensation was terrible.
The mills are less than two miles from
that point and ground, buildings and
everything appeared to quake, while the
vibrations in the atmosphere were per-
perceptible and in some cases 80 pro.
nounced as to make it almost an inn
possible to maintain ones equilibrium.
Similar reports come from points near
the mills.
Pedestrians who were on the streets
about the city at the time also expert
1nced the peculiar sensation accompany
ing the reports, and some say they could
see the ground move and large buildings
sway.
Many buildings did tremble to such
an extent as to disarrange woodwork,
overturn furniture and do other damage,
while windows were broken by the Vi
brations and concussion in the atmos-
, phere.
At School No. 8, Eighth and Wollas-
ton streets, the conclusion broke two
windows The pupils we're badly fright
ened, but the assurance of the teachers
J prevented panic.
J Six trained nurses were sent from this
city to the village where the unfortunate
wounded men we're, and two were sta.
toned at the bedside Of each OF the seri'
ously injured powder workers.
There were many narrow escapes IRON
death or mutilation.
2 Harry Miller, foreman OF the mill
! wrights, was most fortunate. He had
been iii the press room less than three
a minutes before the explosion and had
a gone across the yard with small piece
: Of timber in his hand on which wa!
< made some notations.
Il He was thrown downward on hi
e face and stomach and when he wal
able to rise be was unable to find tn
+ memorandum which he had carried witt
t him.
A portion OF the clothing OF the man
! Wright, who was blown over the creek
II was picked from the top of a tree nea
e where the body was found. Several Q
o the branches Of the tree were. broken of
and hoy was sent to the top OF tn
o tree and picked the pieces OF clothing T.
y which were attached fragments OF tlesh
r which proved to be from the lowe
u limbs OF man. -,
Joseph o. Hanley, employed as mill
e wright in the mills was in the mill
i about so feet from the press room, i
IS company with George Mathewson. h
saw his companion fall down on the tirs
1t explosion, which was rather severe.
r This was followed by the explosion c
n the press room. O'Hanley was throw
y down with great violence and severel
o hurt about the side and back. O'Hanle
& stated that he thought his time ha
come. He had fallen to the floor an
n caught onto one of the machines an
IS with it had been moved several feet
IS the floor.
J. He felt the several shock SO severel
that he heard himself utter all exclamt
& ton with each explosion, as ne We
l, lifted from the floor. Glass was throw
% all about him and the yellow pine pos
m and sills looked like stalactities glltterln
as they stuck in the rafters, posts an
p sills.
TO Rev. William j. Birmingham, paste
of St. Joseph's Catholic Church on tt
&c Brandvwine, was sitting in his hon
st when the accident occurred and at on'
IN had his horse hitched to the carrlas
er and fastened to the scene. He went
the mills, where he found the men pic
's ing up several injured men. He ate
1e wards went to the home of John Mu
OF hern, where lie administered the la
IN sacrament to the unfortunate man.
At late hour last night word was
x ceived from the injured men stating tn
he a slight improvement was noticeable
or all but McCann and though he was
1t worse, yet little change for tho better wi
r. apparent.
is 1t was further learned that the hors
is which were drawing the powder 6
:, were slightly burned but not serlousl
lis The collar on one of the horses was bla
er ing when the terrified animal was ca
aI turcd.
J. Out OF Work.
he The experiments at the du Pont 20
ce der Works, with manufactured gun CO
ton, has resulted in o general shut doV
n of all works, during the eXperlmel
IT. and scores of men are idle, while formt
ITS ly there was work for all. 1t is though
er however, that the men will be put
Id work about the first OF the year,