The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1913-03-22
50 DEAD, 100 HURT
BLAST DESTROYS BRITISH YES
Sci WHICH rs LOADING DYNA-
MITE IN HARBoR.
JARS SURROUNDING COUNTRY
Cargo Of Steamer Alum Chine, Pana-
ma Bound, $50 Tons Of Giant Pow
der, ExpIodes, Wrecking Col
Her Jason and Other Vessels.

baltimore, Md, March 10.-When
nearly $50 tons OF dynamite, which
mad been loaded into the hold of the
British steamer Alum Chine, at anchor
In the Patapaco river near Hawkins
Point, exploded Friday. fifty lives
were lost and 100 were injured. The
property damage will amount to fully
100000
The explosive had been loaded into
the vessel to be taken to Panama to
be used in the construction of the
canal fire of unknown origin
broke out on the vessel while the last
OF the explosive was being loaded.
II spread with lightning rapidity to
the dynamite and when the explosion
occurred the vessel was blown into
bits and sent hurting in all directions
through the air.
Bits OF the steel sides OF the Alum
Chine were blown with such force
that they tore their way through the
armored sides of the collier Jason
nearly a mile away, killing four men
and injuring ten others aboard the
collier. The tug Atlantic of the At
Iantic Transport company caught fire
while rescuing some of those on the
Inflated ship and was sunk. Other
damage was caused by the breaking
OF glass and wood work in dwellings
as far as several miles from the scene.
The greatest damage aside from the
absolute loss of the Alum Chine was
10 the collier Jason. This giant OF
its type had just been completed at
the Maryland Steel works and was at
anchor ready to start on it's trial
trip. Its sides were battered by fly
Ing steel and II appeared to have been
in a battle. Its interior was demol-
ished
Thirteen bodies are at the morgue
and nine have been identified.
More than fifty Of the injured were
brought in to Browns wharf and Spar
rows Point and taken to the hospitals
of the city.
The shock was felt as far away as
Reading, Pa. 100 miles from Balti-
more. II was recorded also at Allan
tic City. People at first thought an
earthquake had occurred. A school
house at Sparrow's Point, several miles
from the scene of the explosion, was
partly destroyed and several children
were hurt. Baltimore itself was sha-
ken as II by a powerful trembling OF
the earth, and tail buildings in the
center of the city rocked perceptible.
Scores OF vessels hurried to the
scene of the disaster to render what
aid they could. The explosion was so
powerful that pieces OF steel weighing
fifty pounds were hurled through the
air for a distance of four miles. Cases
of dynamite we're thrown for a great
distance from the Chine and exploded
as they fell adding to the damage and
destruction.
The injured we're removed as speed.
lily as, possible to this city. The dock
where they we're disembarked was
scene of pathetic effort on the part OF
women and children. seeking to learn
the names OF the dead and to identify
the wounded.
The tremendous explosion shook the
country for miles around. Windows
were broken and chimneys knocked of
houses dozen or more miles from
the scene OF the disaster.
The Alum Chine had been here
since March | and was finishing the
loading of a cargo of high explosives
for the Panama canal. In the morning
a lighter with four railroad cars was
towed to the side OF the vessel and
the work OF completing the task OF
loading was expected to be finished
In a few hours.
Near by were the tug Atlantic and
several launches belonging to ship
chambers who we're engaged in fur
nishing supplies to the steamship for
It's trip.
Suddenly pun of smoke came from
the hold of the ship. One OF the crew
noticed II and, appreciatiHg the dan
ger OF impending disaster. ran scream
ing to the deck, followed by the panic
stricken crew or as many as had time
TO escape from the lower part Of the
ship.
Right alongside of the Alum Chine
was the launch Jerome, manned by
Ship Chandler James p. Goodhues.
Into this boat leaped fourteen Of the
British boats crew and Goodhues
turned the bow OF his little craft
away from the doomed ship and put
of at top speed only to be caught an
instant later by the blast.
Mrs. Letter 10 Buried.