The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1913-03-12
TEMPTED DEATH
TO RESCUE TWO
GaIlantry SweIIS List Of Victims
In Dynamite Disaster
THIRTY ARE DEAD; MANY DYING
Fire Aboard Steamer Lying Of BaIt.
more Causes Explosion Of 800 Tons
of Dynamite-Men Torn to Pieces.

Of Dynamite-Men Torn to Pieces.
BY curious irony of fate it was the
instinct of mercy and brave mems
gallant responses to the appeal of two
OF their fellows in imminent and
deathly danger that swelled TO such
great proportions the list of killed and
injured by the explosion of 300 tons
OF dynamite aboard the British steam
ship Alum Chine off Fort Howard,
near Baltimore.
Thirty are known dead in the
disaster more probably whose bodies
are buried in the icy waters OF the
harbor, and scores are injured, over
many of whom death hovers. The loss
probably will total 100000.
OF the injured a score are frightfully
manned, their skulls fractured, arms
and legs torn off and their bodies
lacerated. At least fifteen are expect
ed to die
Curling smoke from the Alum Chine
gagged in loading her from barge and
the crew OF the tug Atlantic lying
alongside that death was in the air.
Every man knew in an instant the
coal bunkers we're on fire and that
within a few minutes the heat and
flames would reach the dynamite.
There was a rush to the ships side.
The crew and stevedores tumbled
aboard the little launch Jerome. Most
Of the other seamen and the steve
dores leaped for the decks OF the At
lantic. Hurriedly the two small boats
sped away from the doomed ship.
The Atlantic was rapidly reaching a
place OF safety when two figures were
seen clamboring from the hold of the
Alum Chine. They were two sailors
who had been left behind. They
reached the sides of the vessel and
sent up piteOus appeals for help.
Despite the danger that menaced
him and his vessel Captain w. f. Van
Dyke Of the Atlantic heard and heed
ed the call. He gave the orders that
turned the Atlantics nose again to-
ward the doomed steamship
With the two sailors aboard the At.
lantic again sought safety, but sought
it too late. With a roar the dynamite
exploded. For a moment a dense pail
of smoke covered the waters. When
it cleared away ship and barge had
disappeared and the Atlantic. a dis.
mantled hulk, had become a human
shambles.
Death in a dreadful form had de-
scended from the sky The Alum
Chine had been torn into shreds and
boxes of dynamite mingling with the
flying fragments Of steel and timber
filled the air. These fell on the packed
decks OF the Atlantic, the dynamite
exploding as it fell and sweeping those
on board as a charge of shrapnel
levels charging troops.
Mems heads and limbs were torn
from their bodies. Blood was every
where. From ships and launches near
by watchers saw dismembered bodies
slung across and tumbled about the
Atlantic's decks.
A half mile from the scene of the
explosion is the quarantine hospital.
There are about twelve patients there
and not one of them escaped injury.
The hospital was battered and scarce.
ly pane OF glass left Mrs. Richard
son, wife OF the quarantine physician,
was severely injured by the concus-
sion. The damage was enormous.
Near by lay the United States col.
lier Jason ready for her trial trip
After the explosion she resembled a
battered practice ship. Four men were
killed outright and twenty-seven in
jured by the explosion. Captain
Thompson, in charge of the special
crew of the big collier had a very
narrow escape. He was tossed into
the air fully six or seven feet by the
force of the explosion.
The shock was felt as far away as
Reading, Pa, 100 miles from Balti.
more. 1t was recorded also at Atlantic
City. People at first thought an earth
quake had occurred
Baltimore itself was shaken as IL by
a powerful trembling of the earth and
tall buildings in the center of the city
rocked nercenfihlv