Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-11-01

the scene OF the explosion, and fire,
said that his windows were not only
blown in, but that he was lifted clear
from the ground by the force OF the
concussion.
The crowds which gathered about the
scene were SO great that the police
were for o time powerless to keep them
in order. Several lines were estab-
lished. but the people appeared to be
SO beside themselves that they broke
through and swamped the police. All
the available reserves from neighboring
stationhouses were called out, and even
then the crowds appeared for time to
get the better of them. Reserves were
then o dered from half dozen or more
stations.
The streets for several blocks were
strewn with broken glass and other
debris, and blood was spattered in every
direction, showing that there must
have been many persons in the neigh
borhood at the time who were injured
by falling glass.
Three fire horses wore so badly cut
by flying glass that they will probably
have to be shot.
Que fire engine was almost completely
demolished by the falling of the walls
From an unofficial source, it was said
that the fire started on the third floor
of the building, which was four. story
structure Immediately a column Of
white smoke shot up through the roof
This column of smoke was follwed by
an explosion, whirh shonk the entire
building, lifting the roof completely
off and tearing away part of the front
wall.
The first alarm of fire was carried
into IN engiHehouse close to the burn
ing building. Fire Captain DeVanny,
who was in command, and his men
hurried out and coupled their hose to
the hydrant under the ele aled structure
and alongside the building which was
on fire. The minute he saw what sort
OF a fire 1t was, he turned in second
alarm. Then came the explosion. The
firemen saw the building coming down,
and fled Tor their lives. Four were in
jured. The engineer, Ruckberry, was
seriously hurt, So was Capt. Devanny.
Both were taken TO a hospital. Fire.
man Brown and Dillon were also in
jured. The engine had to be abandoned.
Capt, Deranny's successor sent in
a thi d alarm, and then a fourth, and
general call for ambulances. The
engines and ambulances were blocked
by the immense crowds, which gathered
by the thousands.
The building as it fell came out, and
the elevated station was completely de-
molished and hidden iiom view by
debris. Much Of the elevated structure
was carried away.
Joseph BECK, an employe of Tarrant
& Co., was seen after the explosion
His head was swathed in bandages and
his right arm was limp. He said that
there were about 200 girls in the build
ing. Many of them escaped on the fire
escapes. There were at least 70, he
said who could not possibly have gotten
away. The girls we're all eating, their
lunch at the time the fire started, he
said. He said that Tarrant & Co.
carried large stock. There was also
a large quantity OF alcohol and other
explosive liquids stored in the building.
The building was also used as st Or
age warehouse by r. W. Phair& Co.,
who manufactured patent medicine,
as we'll as W. j. Breittenbach Il Co.,
also manufacturers OF medicines.
j. Donnison, the cashier of the
Irving Bank, was bruised and cut, and
H. q. Meoklin of East Orange and S.
Combs Of Brooklyn were also injured,
The employees in the elevated railroad
station were gotten out before the ex-
plosion occurred.
At II. 80 p. NJ, explosions occurred in
the building occupied by j. H. Mohl-
man & Go. ,grocers, on Greenwich street.
New York, Oct. 30.-All night long,
gang OF several hundred lsborers were
at work among the ruins caused hy the
explosions in the building occupied by
Tarrant & Go. No body was recovered,
and IL was believed that none would be
recovered for another l2 hours at least.
That there are bodies in the ruins
there can be no doubt, but it is not be-
lieved thatsthe list of dead will exceed
30, and some estimates place the total
dead at below 20. One hundred and
twenty seven injured persons were re-
ceiyed at the hospitals, most of whom
were discharged after theil wounds had
been dressed. The list of missing was
large at first, but many of those sup
posed to have been buried in the ruins
have been accounted for; and as far as
known, not more than % persons were
missing this morning. The property
loss is variously estimated at from
81, 500, COO TO 50, 600, ,0O0.
Superintendent of Buildings Dooner
had 1000 men at work as soon as day
light appeared. He said he intended to
get the debris cleared away so that
bodies might be reached before after.
noon. He declared that dozen build
ings would have 10 he torn down.
Sanitary Superintendent Roberts said
that between t50 and 200 tons OF fruit
and vegetables were in the ruins. He
said much of this had spoiled, and
some of the otfaasiva odor ascribed to
dead bodies was really caused by decay
ing vegetable matter.
SuEerintendent of Buildings Dooner
said that II would be necessary to make
thorough Inspection of the neighbor-
hood Of the explosions and file and as
soon as possible, and that the result of
it will be that me of the buildings
will have to come down. There WAS
little doubt, he said, that the founda-
tions of many of the buildings had
been damaged, and that they are now in
dangerous condition.
Explaining his statement that
dozen buildings would have to be torn
down, Superintendent D0oEer said:
"More important than finding the dsad
is the protection of the living. Tho
force OF the explosions has impaired
many ouiluHeS IN Ihe nelgnDUrnoDQ.
cannot think of letting mon work in
them while there is possibility that
they may come down. | believe that the
buildings along the south side of
Chambers street fiom Greenwich to
Washington and on Washington street
from Chambers to Warren have been
made unfit fer occupancy. They will
be thoroughly examined today: and
until L am sllrn of Eham | will NOT