Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-29

Lowell, Mass, July 29.-An explosion
believed to have been caused by the
jarring of dynamite by workmen laying
a new floor destroyed the magazine of
the United States Cartridge Company,
located just outside of Lowell today.
causing the death of probably twenty
fiye persons and injury of more than
fifty others, 1t also set fire to a number
OF buildings in the vicinity and caused
general wreck of houses within a
radius of half mile. The conclusion
was felt in Boston and Exeter, n. H,
over forty miles away. At many points
score Of miles distant, windows were
shattered and other damage done.
This city was thrown into a panic
and it became necessary to summon
four companies fthe state militia to
maintain anything like order. Alarm
ing reports to the effect that over 100
persons had been killed and injured
caused widespread confusion.
The building in which the explosion
occurred was stone structure about
one and one-haIf miles distant from the
works Of the cartridge company. With
in a distance Of fifty yards are located
a half dozen houses with hundred
yards there are twenty houses or more,
and beyond that buildings very close to
gether. Every structure within quart
er of mile. was torn within and with
oat. Men. women and ,childTen who were
inside thouses sustained cuts bruises
or broken bones II they escaped with
their lives. Men who were fortunate
enough to escape serious in
juries Immediately gave themsel-
yes over to the work of
removing women and children to places
of safety. for almost simultaneously
with the explosion came flashes from
several buildings. Into the flames and
debris a score of men were plunging in
their efforts to save lives and property.
The wreck was so complete, however,
that the work was harrowingly slow.
Patrol wagons, police and teams OF
all descriptions Were brought into use
to supplement the hospital ambuIanccs.
1t was nearly noon before anything like
an accurate estimate of the number
killed could be obtained. A canvass OF
hospitals and inquiry at the office sta
tion resulted in the conservative es-
Innate OF twenty-five killed and fifty
five injured. Sixteen of the victims
most seriously hurt were taken to st.
Johns hospital, where at noon it was
said that four would die, and many
more were desperately hurt. The
crowds increased momentarily and 1t
seemed as II all Lowell had suspended
business and was out at the scene of
the catastrophe.
Some Of the Dead.
The following are among the dead:
Mrs. William Riggs. Riverside Park.
James Galloway, William Flynn,
William McDermott and Michael Rog-
ers, all boys, who were in swimming in
the Concord river.
Unknown man, driving grocery cart
William Galloway.
Poore, Lowell.
Six bodies of men working near the
powder house. unidentified.
The wreck caused by the explosion
covers an extent of three acres.
Houses. barns and out buildings lie in
a ruined state. The prompt response of
the fire department enabled them to
quench the flames, which followed the
explosion. which before this had ex-
tended beyond the building affected by
the shock.
At 9 o'clock this afternoon the num-
Der Of dead stood at thirteen, with nine
missing. The number of seriously In
jured is placed at thirty.
Many others were slightly bruised or
cut by flying glass. The financial loss
&c $40 900