Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-09-28

Ardmore, Okla, Sept. 2s.-The Off
cial number of dead in yesterdays ex-
plosion of a tank car containing 5000
gallons of gasolene at 10 a. m. today
was given as SO. OF this number 80
are white and 10 negroes. The prop
erty damage will reach s1,0oo,ooo. The
injured number more than 200.
Death List May Reach Three Score.
In addition to the bodies believed
still in the ruins it is feared that sew
eral Of the 200 persons injured will
succumb, making a probable death list
Of three score.
Investigation Of the cause of the dis
aster was started by city officials to-
day. 1t is supposed that spark from
the hammer Of one Of the workmen
repairing the car ignited the gasolene.
Eyewitnesses said flames shot in
the air 200 feet Immediately preceding
the explosion, scattering flames for
blocks.
Falling Walls Crush Many.
Most of the persons killed were
crushed under falling walls. some OF
them more than block away from the
scene of the explosion.
Ardmore today was virtually under
martial law. while business was sus-
pended One hundred special deputies
were sworn in to prevent disorder.
The downtown business district
presented a picture of disaster.
one block from the railroad station to
the Wilmington hotel having been
razed by the explosion, many buildings
Of
stroyed, and the plate glass fronts OF
every store in town demolished.
The town was in darkness last night.
the electric light wires having been
cut in fear of fatalities from fallen
wires
Many instances Of heroism were re-
ported today. The terrific report was
heard for distance Of twenty-five 70
miles.
Damage Extends Several Blocks.
The explosion caused great damage,
six blocks in each direction from the
Santa Fe freight and passenger de-
pots being affected.
Railroad men in the yards at the
time state that the car was shunted to
a siding on account Of it being in bad
order" The car was leaking to such
an extent that pool Of gasolene had
formed on the ground under the car.
When the switchmen refused to move
the car an inspector was called.
Ira Woods, aged about 49, the car
inspector, according to the story of
those who saw him. mounted the car,
unscrewed the cap and peered in. Just
as he did this the explosion occurred
and Wood was hurled thru the air.
Explosion Causes Great Damage.
First reports that there were two
explosions were confirmed today. A
quantity of dynamite in the freight
house was set off. The second explo-
sion came a second after the first.
The fire damage will not equal that
caused by the dynamite and gasolene
The dynamite damaged nearly a score
of buildings. Near the siding on which
the tank car was placed were number
of wooden structures part of which
were occupied by negroes. In this sec
ton a two story frame building coll
lapsed, taking fifteen negroes in a pool
hall to their death. Search OF the ruined
buildings proceeded all night and today.
Hammer Tap Causes Blast. i.
Two workmen were busy repairing
the tank at $3.50 Monday afternoon
Suddenly one of them struck it with
a hammer. A spark from the blow ig-
nited fumes escaping thru a small leak
There was terrific explosion followed
by many smaller ones. The workmen
were blown to pieces. The shock shat
tered the Ardmore railroad station used
by the Sante F'e, Frisco and Rock Is
land railroads and the Rock Island
freight station and scores of Other
buildings quickly took fire from the
flying liquid.
The flames spread rapidly until al
Of Main street appeared a roaring fur.
mace. Thirty freight cars in the Santa
Fe railroad yards were destroyed. The
pail Of smoke hanging over the whole
city prevented rescuers from doing ef.
fective work.
Hotel Unroofsd.
The roof OF the Wilmington hote
was blown off by the force Of the frs,
explosion, but all guests were believed
to have saved their lives. The entire
block in which the Pennington whole
sale grocery was located was razed BY
fire.
At tie store cs AeAdin Z Co. ecore.
Of girls were working and 1t was fearet
Monday night some Of them lost theil
lives. -.
saves Children At Own Risk