The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-01-06
EXPLOSION KILLS 4
ON PANAMA CANAL
Caused by Premature Firing OF
Giant Dynamite Blast
Fifty W0RKMEN WERE INJURED
Others Missing and May Be Buried
Under Tons Of Debris at Bas
obispo-Thrce Americans Among
Those Blown to Pieces.

l1OSt DlOhu ~ lSSSSs
Colon, Panama.-A giant blast OF
dynamite; already prepared for firing,
was pr%ematurely exploded in the
workings on the Panama Canal at
Bas Obispo. Fourteen men were
killed and fifty injured.
It may be that others have been
killed, for the debris is piled up In all
directions. o.
Bas Obispo is about thirty miles
from Colon, and the shocks Of the ex.
2losion was distinctly felt here.
Numerous reports are current as to
The cause of the accident, but the OFF,
:ial version from Clebra states that
Turing the loading Of the last hole OF
he blast the dynamite In this cutting
was discharged, and the remaining
twenty-five tons were exploded by
,oncussion. The holes had not been
connected electrically, as the dis.
charge of the blast was set for 5
o'clock in the afternoon. The last
lole was being loaded under the SUI
>ervision of one of the most efficient
powder men in the employ Of the COM
mission.
Thirteen bodies have been taken
rom the wreckage caused by the ex-
,losion. It is believed that a score or
more are still under the masses OF
,ocks and earth that were rent and
hurled about over a space 500 feet
ong by 400 wide. The death list
would have been appalling had a train
conveying 500 laborers passed a few
minutes later. This train steamed
through the cut and was barely out
II view when the explosion occurred.
All the tracks we're first torn up and
hen buried deep under sod and frag-
nents of rocks.
The whole hillside in the cut has
,een wrecked, the dynamite scatter
ng the earth and tossing huge bould-
ITS in all directions.
A ninety = ton steam shovel was
rushed to bits under the weight OF
falling rocks. Every n OF the crew
vas killed. 50 81
The clearing away the wreckage
continued throughout the night, but
/ much longer time will be necessary
10 clear away the great heaps OF
earth and rocks in the search for the
buried dead. Hundreds Of men were
working heroically to find the bodies.
Here and there pieces of human flesh
and bone are turned over with PICK
and shovel.
The blast consisted Of ffty-one
aoles sixty feet deep and spread out
over a large section Of territory. The
last hole was being charged by John
J. Reidy, an experienced powderman,
when it exploded. The others were
exploded by the conclusion. Reidy
was blown to pieces.
The other Americans dead include
John J. Korp, steam shovel engineer,
and J. T. Hummer, steam shovel
.raneman. Two Spaniards were also
killed and eight West Indian negroes.
The badly injured include B. H..
Cole, powderman, and Arthur Bas-
Sett, drill foreman, both Americans.
The officials at the Ancon Hospital,
where many Of the injured were
taken, report that they are doing
we'll, some of the men not being
seriously hurt.
A thorough investigation, with a
view to fixing the responsibility, has
been ordered, and already officials are
taking evidence and endeavoring to
ascertain the cause Of the premature
discharge of the blast.
Washington, D. C.-The following
dispatch was received from Chief En-
gineer Goethals:
"The premature explosion Of TWEEN.
ty-one tons of dynamite at Bas Obispo
at lilo this morning resulted in the
death of fourteen men and the injury
of fifty. Three or four Of the injured
will probably die.
Following Americans killed:
James T. Hummer, craneman,
steam shovel, Dunnellen, N. ].
John j. Korp, steam shovel en-.
gineer, Phillipsburg, N. J.
"John J.. Reidy, powderman, In
dianapolis.
seriously wounded: Benjamin H.
Cole, foreman, Rochester, N. Y.
Slightly wounded: Arthur H.
Bassett, foreman, Philadelphia, Pa;
W. G. Bell, foreman, New York City;
C. W. Hayden, steam shovel engineer,
CondpcGv Ohio