The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-08-05
Mistook Nitric Acid for Water and
Poured it on Nitro Giycerine,
WHICH CAUSED AN EXPLOSION
OF Powder which was Being Taken
From the Magazines and
Loaded on Wagons at
the Time

the resultant wave of death cut OF the
lives Of more than a score of human
being and injured nearly 50 others.
Half dozen mes who were loading
kegs of powder from one Of the maga-
zines were blown to pieces: four boys
200 yards were killed by the force of
the explosion, and II frame houses
within a radius Of 400 yards were
blown down as if they had been built
of cards. Seven of these houses i'm
nediately caught fire, probably from
the kitchen stoves, and were complete
w consumed. At least three persons
were caught in the ruins and burned
TO death, while seven or eight others
who were rescued died subsequently OF
their injuries.
1t is estimated that 20 separate
pieces of property, including those al
ready mentioned, were destroyed.
while the force of the explosion
wrecked windows for five or six miles
around, and its thundor could be
heard distinctly more than 50 miles
away.
The following is the list of those
known to be killed: George Finn.
John McMasters, Louis E. Richards
and James D. Grady, all employed by
the United States Cartridge company;
James B. Sullivan, Charles Moore,
Jean Roleau, all employed by the
Stanley Forwarding company; Gilbert
McDermott, 10 years; Michael McDer-
mott, II years: Thomas Houligan, II
years; Joseph Houligan, 10 years; Will
liam Galloway and son Robert Gallo
way. Albert Lebrun, Mrs. Catherine
Riggs, Eddie Rodgers, George A. Nc
Dernott. four years; Josephine Pe-
russo, II years: Mrs. Victoria PcrusSe
and Sephriam PerusSe (the nine last
named we're killed by the fall Of their
houses or burned to death); unknown
man.
-Four persons are missing, two car
penters, names unknown; John Riggs
and Patrick Spencer.
Those fatally injured are. Amader
Boulager. is years: Clarendon Good
win, 90 years. both employees OF car
fridge company Mrs. Howard Bur-
kett. Miss McDermott, Eliza Gallo
way and Clara Superna.
The magazines were the property OF
the United States Cartridge company
of this city, but fortunately were sit
uated more than a mile away from
the factory itself. They were con-
structed some 30 years ago. in what
was then broad, open field on the
banks Of the Concord river. During
the last decade small wooden dwell
ings have gradually sprung up in the
vicinity, crowding nearer and nearer
with fancied security to the two inno-
cent-looking little buildings until they
were almost completely surrounded by
them, except on the river side, the
nearest house being scarcely 50 feet
away.
Both magazines ordinarily contain
ed TWO or three tons Of gunpoWder IN
tin kegs. The company has for some
time been desirOuS Of strengthening
the floor of the magazine nearest the
street and this morning eight men,
three of them employees Of the COM
pany, three expressmen and two car
penters, were sent there with three
large express teams to take out the
powder and mend the floor. Two
of the teams had been loaded and the
other was almost full when, at six
minutes past 9 o'clock the explosion
occurred.
1t was discovered that can OF
niero-glycerine, which was stored lnthe
magazine, was leaking. Mr.. Goodwin
picked up what he thought was jug
Of water and began to your it on tie
nitro-glycerine with the idea of dilut-
ing it and was washing it up. AS
soon as the fluid from the jug struck
the floor, he found that it was nitric
acid. The floor at once began to
smoke, and when the men saw it they
rushed from the building, but had not
gone 10 feet when the explosion oc-
CURED.
This magazine was, therefore, the
first to go up, followed Immediately
by the gunpowder in the three teams
and several seconds later by Che
second magazine.
TO those who heard the crash, 1T
seemed as ii there were two distinct
explosions, with continuous roar be-
tween them. There are, however,
five holes in the ground, which clearly
indicate five explosions.
The entire catastrophe, however,
occupied the space Of scarcely tive sec
onds, but in that time the surround
Ing property was swept as II a small
Volcano had broken forth In its midst.
Every house within 200 yards c0Lsps-
ed trees were blown down, the grass
within hundred yards moved as II
| Dy lawn mower, while bricks from
the two magazines were hurled lar
across the river and all over the neigh
! borhoOd.
For several minutes afterwards the
air was completely filed with smoke
and dust. Illuminated by the glare
from the already burning houses.
The work Of rescue began at Cnce,
but in many cases the flames had al
ready gained full sway over the crum-
bled ruins and several persons were
burned to death before the debris
which covered them could be remov-
ed.
The property is situated just over
the Lowell line, in Tewksbury, but
the Lowell fire department did most
Of the work in caring for the wounded.
Before q stream Of water was started
from the engines, the hose from all
the wagons was taken out and the
hodies Of the wounded were placed IN
the wagons and hurried TO the hos
pital. Ambulances soon appeared on
the scene and assisted the tiremen,