The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-12-31
Column Of Fire Is Seen To
illuminate Sky Near
Powder Plant.
RAILROAD MEN SAY
SHOCK FELT HERE
Thebes And Cairo uniformed
Wires, Demoralized, Delays
Report.


in the Aetna powder plant at Fayville,
ILL.,. 20 miles southeast of the Cape,
and the second within the last 9
days, was distinctly heard in South
Cape at midnight last night, and a
column Of fire many feet high and
lasting for several moments was seen
in the direction of Fayville down the
river.
Owing to the fact that telephone
and telegraph communication with
Fayville had been cut off by the
wrecking of wires by the sleet and
snow storm Tuesday night, no news
could be obtained directly from the
place where the explosion is supposed
to have occurred.
No communication with Commerce,
which is directly across the river from
Fayville, could be established early
this morning, on account Of the con-
dition of telephone wires.
The explosion shook windows in
South Cape and more than q score of
men working in the round house in
South Cape heard The detonatiou dis
tinctly. 1t occurred a few moments
after midnight.
An hour and a half after the explo-
sion, communication was established
by wire with The5es, H., where it was
said that nothing had been heard of
the explosion.
This denial Of the explosion is offset
by the fact that when the nitrOgrycer-
in department of the plant there ex
ploded week ago last Tuesday morn
ing, nothing was known of the occur
renee in Thebes, till the news was
brought in afoot.
The explosion at that time left only
a hole - feet deep where that part
of the powder plant was placed. None
was injured, the wOrkmen being in
the plant at the time, having been
given warning that the explosion was
coming.
Thebes and Fayville are separated
by chain Of hills that extend to the
river and the detOnation of the eX-
plosion in Fayvile is thrown away
from Thebes. 1t is sent across the
river to Commerce and other nearby
Missouri towns.
Rube Boswell, night foreman at
the round house, and companion, Joe
Warner, were on the outside of the
round house when the explosion oc-
Cured.
They saw the column of fire light up
the sky in the direction of Thebes and
Fayville and a few moments later,
came the heavy detonation of the eX-
plosion. The fire column mounted
several feet into the air, Boswell de-
clared and was many feet in thick
ness.
1t lasted for several moments. When
the sound Of the explosion came, the
windows shook and the men at work
were startled at the noise.
The reconstruction of the Fayville
powder plant was commenced imme-
diately after the last explosion, work
men having been placed in the pit left
there as soon as it had been ascertain
ed that none had been killed or in
jured.
The plant employs about 200 men
and it is announced as one of the fac
tories where explosives are made that
manufactures only for the commercial
market in preparing blasting powders
and purely commercial explosives.
1t became known some time ago
however, that the officials of the plant
have planned to extend the working
force to between 600 and 1000 men
this spring and make other extensions
in the factory. Many of the men who
are employed at the factory reside ir
Thebes.
Early this morning, according to {
dispatch from Cairo, nothing had beer
heard of such an explosion in Cairo
which is south of the plant several
miles.