Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-19
DYNAMITE KILLS 50
Terrific Explosions Near Pinar
del Rio, Cuba.
DESTRUCTION OF BARRACKS
Most of the Victims Members Of the
Rural Guard.
OFFICERS HOMES IN RUINS
Public Works Employees and Fam
lilies Among the Dead-Gen. Mon
teagudo to Render Aid.
DESTRUCTION OF BARRACKS
'ICERS' HOMES IN RUINS

HAVANA, May 1o.-Until the ruins
| have been more thoroughly examined 1t
vii not be known positively how many
..ves were lost when the Rural Guards
barracks in the city of Pinar del Rio
was demolished by an explosion of dyna-
mite late yesterday.
| There is reason, however, for the hope
| that the fatalities did not exceed nifty.
| The wounded will number more than
| 100, it is believed.
This morning twenty-eight bodies have
been recovered, and forty injured per-
sons removed to the hospitals.
Digging Out the Victims.
! Many injured ones are believed to be
still pinned under the debris. The work
of extrcating the victims was continued
, Throughout, the night by torchlight.
Among the bodies recovered were those
of Capt. lfredo Ra~ena of the i.ural
Guards. his wife and three children. With
the exception of a daughter. Gracielis.
the whole family persisted with the de-
s.ruction of their home.
The body Of Lieut.. Dihigo Of the Rural
Guards and those Of a score of privates
also have been recovered. Many wounded
guards have been rescued from the ruins.
Andrea. the daughter Of E. Gonis. the
Spanish consul at Pinar del RIO could
not be found today, and 1t is believed that
she was killed. Senior Leagre, engineer OF
the province. also is thought to be among
the dead
Disaster Not Planned.
Investigation today has developed no
good grounds exist for the suspicion that
the disaster was planned by conspirators
against the government. 1t is almost GER
tain that the explosion resulted from the
accidental fall of a case of dynamite from
the hands Of an employee OF the public
works department. who. with others. was
engaged in loading upon wagons seventy
two cases Of the explosive which was to
be transferred from the barracks to the
government magazine in this city
Most of the Dead Rural Guards.
Most of the dead were rural guards, but
the entire families of several officers OF
the guard, it is reported, were killed Also
as we'll some employees of the public
works department and residents of the
city, on which fell deluge of masonry
and other debris from the blown-up build
ing.
1t Is not known yet whether the explo
sion was the result of an accident. or was
the work of conspirators. but 1t probably
was accidental.
Several relief trains carrying rural
guard surgeons, officers and men and gov
noon from Havana to the scene Of the
catastrophe, 10S miles distant.
The barracks, massive building OF
Spanish construction, stood on a hill In
During the late Intervention 1t was the
headquarters Of Col. Parker's regiment
the 18th Cavalry.
Near the barracks was long row Of
officers quarters. Recently the barracks
was occupied by the public works de-
partment and four troops OF rural cav
airy.
The Explosions.
In consequence of the alarm over race
disturbances the government ordered all
deposits of dynamite in the visinity in
the possession of contractors for road
construction and other public works to be
removed to the barracks for safe keep
ing. Yesterday afternoon the work of
removing the dynamite from the barracks
for shipment to the government maya
zines In Havana was begun by employees
of the public works department, assisted
by rural guards.
They were loading cases of the dyna-
mite on wagons when a terrific explosion
occurred instantly followed by another,
strew;ng the central court in which the
work was going on with dead and
wounded.
The whole massive barracks building
was destroyed, the adjacent row Of of1-
GERS quarters was demolished and the
whole northern section of the city was
deluged with a torrent of fragments OF
masonry
The explosion caused great terror
among the habitants. many Of whom
thought that the disaster was caused by
the approach Of HalIey's comet and that
1t was q precursor of a still greater
catastrophe.
Inc explosion occurred at o'clock, a
few seconds before the men would have
quit work. and 1t is generally believed
that the first resulted from the accidental
fall of a box of dynamite which was
being lifted on a wagon.
According to reports received here
mangled remains of victims were found
i'm the streets of the city mile from
the scene Of the explosion.
There is great anxiety in Havana, for a
large number of the rural garrison Of
Pinar del Rio recently were sent from
this city. where their families live.
Gen. Monteagudo, commander of the
rural guard, lett last night for Pinar del
Rio with a strong force to render all pos
sible assistance.