The Savannah morning news., 1903-07-30

Lowell, Mass. July 29.-Two small
gunpowder magazines, situated in the
midst of the humble residences of tlf-
ty mill operatives, exploded to-day
with a frightful conclusion, and the
resultant wave of death cut off the
lives of more than a score of human
beings and injured nearly fifty others.
Half a dozen men, who were loading
kegs of powder from one of the maya
zines, were blown to pieces; four boys,
200 yards away, were killed by the
force of the explosion, and fourteen
frame houses, within a radius of 400
yards. were blown down as If they
had been built of cards.
Seven of these houses Immediately
caught fire, probably from the kitchen
stoves, and were completely consumed
AT least three persons were caught in
the ruins and burned to death, while
seven or eight others, who were res
cued, died subsequently of their in
juries.
1t is estimated that seventy separate
pieces of property, including those all
ready mentioned, were destroyed, while
the force of the. explosion wrecked
windows for five or six miles around,
and it's thunder could be heard dis
tinctly more than fifty miles away.
List of the Dead.
The following is the list Of those
known to be killed:
George Finn.
John McMasters.
Louis E. Richards.
James l.. 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 McDermott. IL years.
Thomas Houligan, IL years.
Joseph Houligan, 10 years.
William Galloway.
Robert Galloway.
Robert Galloway, son of above.
Albert LeBrun.
Mrs. Catherine Riggs.
Eddie Rogers.
George A. McDermott, years.
Josephine Perusse. IL years.
Mrs. Victoria Perusse.
Sephriam Perusse.
The nine last named were killed by
the fall of their houses or burned to
death.
man
Four persons are missing, two car
penters, names unknown, John Riggs
and Patrick Spencer.
The Fatally Injured.
Those fatally injured:
Amadee Boulager, Al years.
Clarendon Goodwin, 60 years, both
employees of cartridge company.
Mrs. Howard Burkett.
Miss McDermott.
Eliza Galloway.
Clara Superna.
In Fancied Security.
The magazines were the property of
the United States Cartridge Company
of this city, but fortunately were stu
ated more than a mile away from the
factory itself. They were construct
ed some thirty years ago. in what was
then a broad, open field on the banks
of the Concord river. During the last
decade small wooden dwelling houses
have gradually sprung up in the vicin
ity, crowding nearer and nearer, with
fancied security. to the two innocent
looking little buildings, until they al
most completely surrounded them. ex-
cept on the river side, the nearest
house being scarcely fifty feet away.
Both magazines originally contained
two or three tons of gunpowder in tin
kegs. The company has for some time
been DESTROYS of strengthening the floor
of the magazine nearest the street,
and this morning eight men, three Of
them employees of the company, three
expressmen and two carpenters, 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 9:O6 o'clock. the explo-
sion occurred.
Poured Nitric Acid on IL.
It was a long time before the actual