The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-30
POWDER EXPLOSION KILLS 20.
MAG4zINE or A CARTRIDGE co.
RyOVS Up ~ LOWEL MASS.


rour Boys In Swimming Killed by
the ConcussiOn-One Workman out Of
81, in the Powder House Escapes Death
-.rountry for Miles Around Shaken.
,owrlL, Mass, July pa score OF
persons and possibly more were blown
10 death at o'clock this forenoon by the
EXPLOSION Of the United States Cartridge
Companvs magazine, on the banks OF the
Concord River, in South Lowell, two mil es
from the centre OF the city. The settle
ment ia known as Wigginsville. The num-
hsr of those injured seriously is 10, but
more than 100 persons were slightly cut
by glass and burned. At 2 O'Clock IN the
afternoon the list of dead stood at thlr-
teei. with nine missing.
A dozen wooden dwellings which stood
near tho powder house were either demol-
ished bv the explosion or destroyed by fire,
and twentyoth structures were damaged
seriously. The financial loss, exclusive
o, that sustained by the cartridge COM
psny, is roughly estimated at $4,000.
The magazine buildings owned by the
COMPANY we're two small brick structures.
ono Of which was used for storing gun
powier SO large was the quantity OF
powder in storage that the shock OF the
EXPLOSION was distinctly felt all over north
eastern Massachusetts, In Lowell many
windows we're demolished and at places
fifteen miles away glass was also shattered.
The wreck caused by the explosion covers
an extent of three acres. Houses, barns
and outbuildings lie in ruins, some half
demolished and others hardly more than
heap Of broken timbers; still others are
smoking from the fire, the prompt response
of the fire department having quenched
the flames which followed the explosion. -~
The building in which the explosion oc-
CURED was about ono and one-half miles
distant from the works Of the cartridge
company, which are in Lowell. Within a
distance OF fifty yards are half dozen
houses.
One hundred yards away there are twenty
houses more, and beyond that the build
ings are close together. Every structure
within quarter OF mile was torn within
and without. Men, women and children
who were inside sustained cuts, bruises
and broken bones.
SO far as Is known. six men who were
engaged In loading the powder on wagons
we're blown to fragments by the explosion.
Four boys who were swimming in the
river near by were killed by the concus-
sion. A fifth had Just dived into the water
when the crash came. He emerged partly
stunned, but managed to get to shore.
About dozen wooden houses were fairly
torn to pieces. They were built thickly
about the magazine and were demolished
in a moment Seven OF these houses we're
burned by fire. which started In the ruins.
dozen people, French Canadians, were
caught In the wreckage. Three were
burned alive and at least nine more re-
ceived mortal injuries.
Men who lived in streets not far of who
were fortunate enough to escape serious
injury Immediately gave themselves over
to the work Of removing women and chill
dren to places Of safely, for almost stimuli
taneously with the explosion came flashes OF
fame from several buildings Into the
fire and debris scores of men were soon
pmnging to save life and property. The
wreck was SO complete. however, that the
work was slow. The patrol wagons Of the
police and teams OF all descriptions We're
brought into use to supplement the hospital
ambulances.
short time after the explosion the fire
bells we're rung, and the fire department
started ut full speed for the scene. People
bumped on cars that were headed for Wig
gIsville. On the way to the fire numerous
carriages were met that bore bleeding
bodies Of victims. Women and children
with faces bleeding from cuts by glass
passed through the streets In hystercal
state
The city Of Lowell was thrown into a
panic, and it required every effort OF tho
authorities to establish and maintain
anything like order. Alarming reports
to the effect that more than 100 had
been killed and injured caused wide
spread confusion. The streets of the
city were soon filled with throngs OF men,
women and children. 1t finally became
necessary to summon four companies OF
the State militia who responded promptly
and are now on guard.
Several theories have been advanced as
to the cause Of the explosion. 1t is known
that five or six workmen were engaged in
Iaying floors in one part OF the storehouse
N~AT "VcN' lIlty Ncic III tiN bthSAHS' ''N'''
morning. and it is supposed that in some
way jar caused by them set off the ex-
posves just what happened probably
will never he known.
The police and hremen, assisted by other
men, began a search Of the ruins as soon as
possible. Physicians hurried out from
the city as soon as the news Of the disaster
became known and they, together with
doctors living in Wigginsville, made the
injured as comfortable as possible until
ambulances arrived to convey them to St.
Johns Hospital One man was suffering
such intense agony that upon his arrival
at the hospital he begged the surgeons to
shoot him and end his misery.
i saw something burning on the floor
and hurried forward to put 1t out and then
saw column OF fire springing up and that
sa know Of the explosion until found
myself here said John Goodwin, said to be
The sole survivor OF the explosion, to a
reporter
Goodwin was found unconscious and
oadlv injured some distance away from the
explosion. He was taken to the hospital
az once and may live. -Four or five Of us
were doing our usual work in the storage
mouse this morning. he said. THE ordinary
amount OF loose explosive was scattered
ABOUT the floor but as this Is a matter OF
small mnortanc In n powdar hoilGa w a