The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-08-07
A FATAL ERROR.
Mistook Nitric Acid for Water and
Poured it on Nitro Glycerine,
WHICH CAUSED AN EXPLOSION
Or Powder which was Being Taken
From the Magazines and
Loaded on Wagons Mt
the Time.

E. . . f..
the Time.
(. at Lowell, Mass, two small gun
powder magazines, situated in the
very midst OF the humble residences
of so mill operatives, exploded Thurs
day with frlghtfal concIssion, and
the resultant wave or death cut OFT the
lives Of more than Il score Of human
being and injured nearly so others.
Half dozen men who were loading
kegs Of powder from one Of the maya
zines were blown to pieces; four boys
200 yards, were killed by the force OF
tile explosion, and Ii frame houses
within u radius Of 400 yards were
blown down us If they had been built
OF cards. Seven OF these houses i'm
mcdiately caught fire, probably from
the Kitchen stoves, and were complete
ly consumed. at least three persons
were caught in the ruins and burned
who were rescued died subsequently, Of
their injuries.
1t is estimated that 20 separate
pieces Of property, including tfose al
ready mentioned, we're destroyed,
while the force OF the explosion
wrecked windows for five or six miles
around, and its thundor could be
heard distinctly more than so miles
away.
The following is the list of those
known to be killed: George Finn,
John McNIaStcrs, Louis e. Richards
and James ID. Grady. all employed by
the United States Cartridge company;
danes lS. Sullivan, Charles Moore,
Jean Roleau, all employed by the
Stanley Forwarding company; Gilbert
NIcDermott, 10 years; Michael McDcr-
mott, II years: Thomas IIonligan, l
years: Joseph Houligan, II years; VIII
liam Galloway and son Robert Gallo
way, Albert Lcbrun, Mrs. Catherine
Riggs, Eddie Rodgers, George A. Nc
Dcrmott, four years; Josephine Pc
ruSSc | years: Mrs. Victoria PcruSSc
and Scpilriam Pcrussc (the nine last
named were killed by the fall Of their
houses or burned to death); unknown
man.
-Four persons are missing, two car
pentcrS, names unknown; John Riggs
and Patrick Spencer.
Those fatally injured are. Amadcr
BOulagcr, Is years; Clarendon Good
win, go yea rs, -zbo til ena plnYeS of car
fridge compnny: Mrs. Howard Bur-
kctt, Miss AIcDermott, eliza Gallo
way and Clara Superna.
The magazines were the property Of
the United States Cartridge company
Of this city, but fortunately we're sit
uated more than Il mile away from
the factory Itself. They we're con-
strnctcd some 30 years ago, in what
was then a 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 innn-
ccnt-looking little buildings until they
were almost completely surrounded by
them, except on the river side, the
nearest house being scarcely so feet
away.
Both magazines ordinarily contain
co two or Three tons or gunpowdcr In
tin kegs. The company has for some
time been dcsirous of strengthening
the floor Of the magazine nearest the
street and this morning eight men,
three of them employees Of the com
pany three cXpressmen and two car
pcntcrS, 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 8 o'clock the explosion
occurred.
1t was discovered that can OF
nitro-glycerinc, which was stored inthc
magazine, was leaking. MIR. Goodwin
picked up what he thought was Jug
of water and began to Jour it on tile
nitro-glyccrinc with the idea Of dllnt-
ing it and was washing it up. AS
soon as the lluid from the Jug struck
the floor, he found that it was nitric
acid The floor aL once began tol
smoke, and when the mon 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 gunpowdcr in the three teams
and several seconds later by the
second magazine.
TO those who heard the crash, it
seemed us If there we're two distinct
explosions, with Il 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 five sec
onds, but in that time the surround
Ing property was swept as If IL small
Volcano had broken forth In it's midst.
Every house within 200 yards ctdkH)S.
ed trees were blown down, The grass
within a hundred yards moved as il |
by Il lawn mower, while bricks from
The two magazines were hurled far
across the river and all over the neigh
borho0d.
For several minutes afterwards the
air WIS completely filled with smoke
and dust, illuminated by the glare
from the already burning houses
The work Of rescue began ut once,
but in many cases the flames had al
ready gained full sway over The crum-
blcd ruins and several persons were
burned to death before the debris
which covered them could be rcmov-
ed