Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-09-22
PUSHED INTO THE FLAMES
A Mad Fight For Life in a Factory
Fire.
SEVEN DEAD and MANY INJURED.
Explosion Of Fuse Causes Fire In Fuse
Pactory--Men and Women Employees Rush
Terror.stricken for the Doors and Windows
Those Unable to Escape Burned to
Death.

Avon, Ct (SpeciaD 1.-The explosion
of fuse, followed by fire, in build
ing of the Climax Fuse Company, in
| this city, caused a panic among 20 en-
ployes in the building, and resulted in
the death of seven and injuries that
doubtless will prove fatal to several
others.
There was no way of coping with the
flames, which soon spread rapidly, and
in less than an hour after the explosion
occurred those who were unable to es.
cape were in the clutches of fire that
eventually burned their bodies to ashes
AS the day wore on the great crowc
that collected in the hamlet saw the
bodies of men and women roasting IL
the fire, and were powerless to ever
check the flames.
The exact cause of the accident, which
caused the loss of seven lives, may never
be known; but it is the accepted theory
here that in an effort to burn out
stoppage in one of the machines, a work
man caused an explosion of fuse with
the hot iron he held in his hand.
Those who were in the room where
the explosion occurred say that the ex'
plosion was not severe, and ordinarily
would not have caused a panic. In
lammable material, however, was sci
on fire, and in a few moments the room
was mass of flames. In an instant
there was mad rush for the doors and
windows, and during the scramble many
were pushed back into the building
while others were severely hurt
There were but 90 hands at work IN
the entire plant 1t was stated that some
of the dead may have been overcome
by smoke before they had a chance to
fee and that it is improbable that any
one of the Seven victims lost his life by
the force of the explosion. ~
An accounting was made for all the
employees but seven, whose names are
given. s.z-ss ~ .
Ten physicians from nearby towns
came to the rescue and did good service
in caring for the injured, the screams OF
some of whom could be heard for con-
siderable distance. U.rC1
lne scene at the IRE Was HedIiiehu-
ing. Friends and relatives of the miss
ing were almost frantic when it be-
came known that bodies of those close
to them were being burned to Grip in
the ruins of the factory. As there is no
fire department in the town, it was ut
terly useless to cope with the flames with
buckets.
AS one of the walls of the second
largest building fell several bodies could
be seen entangled in the mass of ma
chinery in the basement, and in short
time they were reduced to ashes. Early
in the evening the body of a woman
was seen near the edge of the FIRE, and
an effort was made to pull it away from
the flames, but on account of the great
heat this was impossible. jJll
Soon after the building in which the
lives were lost was consumed the fire
spread to the new structure, which was
Just completed at cost Of $4,000, and
in few hours this building was gutted
only the four walls remaining. The
smaller buildings were reduced to ashes,
making total of four burned the loss
on which is estimated to be 100000