The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-10-17

Fontsnet. Ind. Oct. Is. - Fontanet
was practically destroyed by the explo-
sion OF the plant OF the Dupont Powder
company. The dead number S5. More
than 600 persons were injured. and
every building in the town was wholly
or partially levelled to the ground.
Where stood a thriving and busy
town OF 1000 persons there Is now ruin
and scattered wreckage. the dead ard
more seriously injured have been TAX
en- away. Five hundred inhabitants.
all moEe or less wounded. remain 10
gather their scattered household goods
and sleep under tents and on cots.
guarded by soldiers OF the state.
Without warning the powder mills.
seven in number. blew up. They en-
ployed 200 men and and OF these rs
were ct work when the first explo-
sion occurred in the press mill. In quick
succession the glazing mill. the two
coming mills and the powder magazine
blew up. followed by the cap mill. In
the magazine. situated several hundred
yards from the mills, were stored 40
600 kegs of powder. When II blew up
the conclusion was felt nearly 200
miles away
Houses TWO Miles Away Wrecked.
Farm houses two miles away and
school houses equally distant were torn
to pieces and their occupants injured.
passenger train on the Big -Four
railroad four miles away had every
window broken and several passengers
were injured by flying glass.
The mills went up with three dis
tinct explosions followed later by
fourth even more serious than the 9TH
ers when the magazine went up. I'm
mediately following the explosions the
wreckage caught fire and the inhabi-
tants Of the town who rushed 70 the
rescue Of the mill employees found
themselves powerless 10 aid those burn
ing in the ruins. They worked fran
tically in constant danger from possible
succeeding explosions unmindfll OF
their ruined homes. Dead and dying
were picked up and collected. Eighteen
bodies burned and mangled were cart
ed TO a protected spot 10 await iden-
tlhcation while the badly injured. num-
hering upwards OF 80. were put on a
special train and taken 10 Terra
Haute for hospital accommodations.
Nearly every one OF the 1000 inhabi-
tants carried blood on hands and face
from his own wounds OF those OF peo-
pie who had required aid.
Rescuers Killed and Injured.
The mills were located one mile
south Of the town. With the first ex-
plosion the employees ran for safety.
but most Of them were killed or wound
cd by the quick following explosions
in the other mills. When the heat
from the burning mills exploded the
slant powder magazine. practically de-
stroying the town by the conclusion.
many OF those engaged in rescue work
were badly injured and several killed |
Superintendent Monahan. Of the plant.
was killed while sitting In his Office. |
and his wife and sister-in-lsw were |
Killed In their homes some distance |
away. That the death list is not far 1
greater Is due 70 the fact that the peo-
pie Of the town had left their houses /
al the first explosion. and were not in |
them when the explosion OF the a. 900 |
kegs OF powder in the magazine hurled /
their homes 20 pieces and scattered |
their household goods in heaps Of de- |
bris
Among the building totally DESTROYED |
in the town We're the Methodist and 1
Christian churches. the depot. all bus |
mess blocks. including a large block
just completed. a large warehouse and |
300 homes In many OF them the /
fronts were blown away. while in 9TH
ers the roofs were hurled into space
the sides blown out or they were left
confused mass OF collapsed wreck.
age.
Three school buildings we're destroy
ed. two ar Fontanet and one at Coal
Blum, two miles away. All were fill
I'd with school children and every one
or these were more or less Injured by
the collapse Of the buildings.
fOur-room school building was
torn 70 pieces and not one OF the 200
children escaped unhurt None was
fatally hurt The school building at
Coal Blur was turned over and col
lapsed. The teacher and 30 pupils were
more OF less injured.
Terre Haute and Brazil sent phvsI-
clans and nurses with supplies IN cars
and automobiles across country. while |
special trains were made upand run |
over the Big -Four railroad for the
care of the injured
Governor Hanly at Indianapolis or
dered the Terre Haute company OF the |
Indiana National Guard here to patrol /
the ruined district and protect life and /
property. Later the governor arrived
He brought with him 700 tents and cots
for the use Of the homeless.
Among the dead IL T. T. KelIup. OF /
Wilmington Del
State Superintendent Nash. Of the |
Dupont Powder company. who was |
seriously injured about the head and |
hips and who IS in the hospital. said:
Superintendent Monahan. myself |
and T. T. Keliup. a representative OF
the eastern company, OF Wilmington |
Del, were in the business Office.
MonAhan snd were looking over the
mornings mail. Mr.. Kellup was read |
Ing newspaper. This is the last I
remember until was picked up on
the hill, 100 yards away"