Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1900-11-01

startled by a booming sound which,
it developed, was an explosion in the
building occupied by Tarrant & Co.,
wholesale druggists. The fire depart
ment Immediately responded to a
call, but had not reached the scene
when three additional explosions oc-
Cured, more violent than the first.
A column of debris and smoke and
flame was shot upward 800 feet. Per.
sons in the vicinity say they saw hui
man bodies thrown up in the column
of debris when the explosion oc-
Cured.
Four Explosions.
Four explosions occurred in rapid
succession. The Sixth Avenue elevated
railroad structure, which passes the
building, is demolished at that point.
Windows in the vicinity and for blocks
around were demolished by the con-
were damaged.
Fearful Loss of Life.
1t was said that there were fully
$50 persons in the building a. the
time of the first explosion, and few
if any of them had time to escape.
a young man who gave his name as
Harry Ross said that nc was standing
on the corner when the explosion oc-
Cured. JIe was blown ten feet When
he picked himself up he said he saw
bodies flying through the air and
landing in the flames. Three fire
horses were so cut by flying glass
that they will probably have TO be
shot. One fire engine was almost
completely demolished by falling
walls.
A Large Majority Were Girls.
It was said that 100 of the employees
in the building were girls. They were
on different floors when the fire broke
out, and the explosions occurred. 1t
is hard to see how thes girls could
have escaped.
In Restaurant Next Door.
In restaurant next to the drug
store there was about zoo people eat
ing their luncheon. OF these many
were injured and, it is reported, that
a score or more of them lost their
lives.
The Spreading Flames.
A lithographing establishment
close to Tarrant's place caught fire
md the flames spread to the Irving
bank, and to two buildings across the
street.
The Warren Street station of the |
Ninth Avenue elevated road, directly |
in front of the drug establishment, |
was completely demolished and a
of persons who were stand
ing upon it waiting for a train were
blown to the street and received seri-
Gus injury. A number of women es-
capped from the station, however, by |
along the plank platform at
the edge of the track.
Several Buildings Blown Down.
Several buildings at the rear of the
drug store were blown down. The
flames spread with wonderful rapid
ty, until the two blocks from Cham
bers to Warren and from Washington
TO Greenwich streets were soon on
IRE.
story of an Eye-Witness.
oplAAA isilloAls w 1llOOhiN It's WAS
sitting on the roof OF the seven-story
at GO West Broadway, block
and q half away from the explosion.
He says the force of the first cXplo-
sion was directly upwards for 4 mat
er of 80 feet, when the column of
lebris spread and fell downward. i
look the roof off the building, and
ne could hear the cries and screams
Of injured people. Three minutes
alter the third explosion, which he
,aid was the worst OF all, came. 1t
shook the building where he was. and
lebris fell about him.
Rescued One-Others Perished.
Policeman Calvin was i'm the i'm
Mediate vicinity of the fire when the
irst of the series of explosions oc-
lie said a number of firemen
we're blown TO death on the Warren
street side of the building He said
hat he rescued one of them. but
hat no living being could have res
.ued the others.
A Terrible Estimate.
Policeman Calvin said that in his
relief not less than 200 persons will
,e found to have lost their lives. This
vas on account of the suddenness of
he explosions which rendered it inn
possible for anybody who was in the
'uilding at the time to escape.
The force of the explosion was
eard and felt clear down to Wall
treet and heavy plate glass windows
we're smashed and people thrown to
he street distance of four blocks. :
Bank Clerks Shook Up.
The employees of the Irving nation
i bank, whose building stands di-
ectly across the street from Tar 1
ants place, were busily engaged at ]
heir desks at the time of the explo-
ion. The first of the explosions
anne and not clerk or official of the |
ank but who was thrown to the i
DOR by the force of the conclusion. {
Thinking that the building was ]
bout to fall several of the officials ,
an for the cash and had it taken out :
f the building and to a place of safe !
y. The clerks and other employees
hen made their way to the sidewalk I
nd ran for nlacas Of co fafv .