The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-09-29
Injured at ArdmOre
Number 200.
GREAT PROPERTY LOSS
Terrific Explosion Causes Mil
lion Dollars Damage.

Ardmore, Okla, Sept. 29-The Off
cial number of dead in the explosion
of tank car containing 5000 gallons
of gasoline is given as fifty-fve. Of
this number thirty-six are white and
nineteen negroes.
The property damage is estimated
at more than $1.O00000 There are at
least 200 injured, some probably
mortally.
With the expectation of uncovering
a score more bodies rescuers are con
tinuing the search of the ruins of
/ business houses and public buildings
for victims.
4 Eye witnesses of the disaster said
/ the flames shot into the air 200 feet
/ Immediately preceding the explosion,
which scattered the flaming liquid
+ for blocks. thus starting scores Of fires
i in the buildings wrecked by the con
I oussion.
Most of the persons killed were
crushed by falling walls, some of them
more than a block away from the
4 scene of the explosion
Ardmore virtually is under martial
law. while business is suspended TO
permit the work of rescue to proceed
with great speed. One hundred spe-
cial deputies have been sworn in to
prevent disorder.
Car Was in bad Order"
Railroad men who were in the San
ia Fe yard at the time say that the
car of gasoline was shunted to a sid
ing because of its being in bad
order" The car was leaking gasoline
to such an extent that pool OF the
fluid had formed on the ground under
J, the car. When switchmen refused TO
move the car further an inspector
was called.
Ira Woods, about forty years old,
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 gasoline be
came ignited and Woods, the car and
every lose piece of material within
100 yards were hurled through the
air
First reports that there were two
explosions were confirmed. guam
tity of dynamite in the freight store
house was set off by the concussion of
I the gasoline explosion. The second
explosion came within a second after
the first
The greatest damage in the city
was done from the shock of the eX.
plosion The fire damage did not
equal that caused by the dynamite
/. and gasoline Nearly a score OF
; buildings were demolished by the dy
Mantle.
Neuroes' Houses Demolished.
Near the siding on which the tank
car was placed were a number oi
: wooden structures. part of which were
occupied by negroes. In this section
!. two-story frame building collapsed
!. taking fifteen negroes in pool hal
. to their death. It is in the wrecks oi
q these buildings that other bodies are
! expected to be found.
The downtown business section pre-
! sents a picture of disaster. one block
> of Main street, from the railroad sta
!, tion to the Wilmington hotel. havinG
: been razed by the explosion, many
buildings on the opposite side of The
= street and plate glass fronts of every
), store in town demolished.
: The greater part of the city was II
darkness. the electric lights havin.
: PROSTATE charged wires
: Many clocks about the city whicl
stopped at 2:35 o'clock are reminder
= OF the explosion. The terrific repor
: was heard for distance of twenty
two miles.