The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-10-24
SPREAD FAR AND
VIDE BY EXPLOSION
Plant of Du PoHt Powder Cam
pany Blows Up at Fontanet, InG
SHOCK Was FELT 200 MES
Three States Tremble to the Detam
ton of a Giant Magazines Crssh
Victims Burned to Crisv-
Over 600 Injured. 4Gs3aU

] Fentanet, Ind.4Upward OF HE
persons were killed, the majority &c.,
ing blown to pieces; 500 persons OFT
OF a total population Of 1000 were m
iured, and every building n kM9
town was RACED in a series Of exps0-
sions in the Du Pont Powder PMBb
which eliminated in the blowing ND
OF the magazine containing 40,0o0
barrels of blasting powder. Tne
force of this crowning blast was 50
terrific. that the earth trembled ans
buildings were blown down four mica
distant. Aschool house in Coal BFnaE
two miles away was thrown aver
and smashed, The teacher and faEeE
pupils were buried in the wreck. a
passenger train, travelling forty mHaE
an hour on the line of the Big F0NE
Railroad, four miles distant. Wak EE
most thrown from the tracks. EVERY
window in the train was shattered
Reports from other points shoaW
that there was widespread. terror &C
an earthquake. The last and greatest
explosion was heard at points HEEY
miles from here, and it appears ukaE
the greater part of the State ana
large sections OF Ohio and IlffheEE
were shaken. In Terre Haute, tWeH-
Ity miles as the crow flies. window
were shattered and ceilings wer@
shaken down. In CrawfordsVfne-
thirty-fve miles away, walls were
cracked and in large building t0E
recent construction the tiled HOoE
sank more than an inch. Great d&N-
age was done fifteen miles distant fk
Brazil. There was a general Hight
from the houses, in the belief Of 1K
earthquake, until at the end of a MIn-
ute there came the distinct roar OF the
explosion. In many places the exb4Q-
sion wasStaken as thunder.
Nothing remains of this town tR
mark it for what it was Even thR
sidewalks have been obliterated. EnE
a tree stands for two miles AROUND
Hedges, stone bitches, wire fences
all have gone. There are Hea4k
assures in the earth, as if of then
giants of the ancients had turned -
tremendous furrow. Here and there
ares great holes like dents in thax
ground, and over all!the field of deoaE
lation is strewn the wreckage foE
homes. Doors, rafters. windaWf
frames, bricks, mortar, all ere gezt-.
tered fiat, with not a foot OF walk
~protruding anywhere. And with this
wreckage of bare walls and floors ares
strewn the furnishings of 400 FARM
lies. Pianos, beds, tables, ehafrs.
pictures, clocks. are scattered on an
sides, not an article intact, all brokeK
and cast with a direction as IL n
mysterious hand had brushed OVer
the town and blotted it out
There were our explosions. Tor
the devotion Of the townsfolk to UaaK
Saon ooTrhf -, %ho roSI1, ~ &c., -
heavy loss of life and the appaIIIhE.
rapidly and threatening the magaziHG
no a man., woman or child Deserted
the town. Instead, all gathered
around tie plant ready to sacrffeMr
their lives to rescue those dead 1HfE
dying in the wreck of the mills. aEkk
the work was in progress, injured
men being carried ont by the score.
when the magazine blew up.
1t was said by survivors that there
was a flash, and then it seemed there
was a moments, suspense, foIlOWeiK
by a crash that struck every person
within a radius of a mile eftME
dying or sense1ess. Those who Co.
Pcaped death bled from ears, aoaa4
and mouths, and the ear drums OF
scores were shattered. Farmers Wen9r
IuS 1ISI 10 lHfdOS LIE SIf1ChSA 1xOE@
They found the surviving h~undTed@
beginning to regain their senses. Nh.
communication by telegraph and TEX
phone was cut of, but fortunately ms
train which so narrowly escaped dza-r
aster carried the news to the stat10H.
from which it was ~teleDhoned Tor
Terre Haute and Brazil. RelEaG
trains were DISPATCHED within an hour
from those cities, and as quickly a&
the injured were picked up they wer@
carried on stretchers to the trains
Four specials bore them to FTekRH
Haute. The hospitals there were M-
able to accommodate all, and tRR-
schools were impressed as temporary