Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-28
GASOLINE TANK CAR
EXPLODES;; 80 DEAD
Two City Blocks in Heart of
Ardmore, Okla, Are
Wrecked.
THIRTY-ONE BODIES FOUND
Search Among Ruins Proceeds
Methodically-City Under
Martial Law.

ARDMORE. OKLA. September 27--
A spark from workman's hammer
ignited a tank car of gasoline here
late to-day. and from the ruins Of two
city blocks. razed by the resulting cx-
plosion and the fires which followed.
thrts-onc bodies had been recovered
late Tonight The property loss is
estimated at 100000.
Fifty persons are believed TO have
been crushed or burned to death while
pinned under debris of stores. whole
sale houses and the Ardmore Railroad
Station. Search among the ruins was
proceeding meth odically Tonight, the
workers centerinG their efforts on the
mass of lumber and bricks which had
been department store. and where 1t
was feared the bodies of many girls
and women shoppers and employees
would be found.
a score Of fires caused by the flaming
liquid, which was thrown for blocks
when the car. which contained $50
barrels of gasoline, exploded, were got
ten under control after two hours
work by the small local fire depart
ment, aided by every able bodied man
in the city not assisting the injured.
The city was placed under martial law
Immediately.
FORCE OF EXPLOSION
SHAKES DOWN BUILDINGS
The force of the explosion shook
ing gasoline in every direction. \ few
minutes later Ardmore was at the
mercy Of scores Of fires.
Al s o'clock the wpre lIDder
control and the city was under martial
law. Private homes were Immediately
thrown open to the injured, and scores
Of men were working tonight in the
smoldcring ruins along Main Street in
search for additional victims
Not a building on Main Street es-
capped damage, either as result OF
the force OF the explosion or of the
fires following
All school buildings, business houses
and residences within twelve blocks OF
the business district bear evidence Of
the explosion. and practically every
window In the city was shattered by
its force.
Two workmen were busy repairing
the tank at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon.
Suddenly one of them struck II with a
hammer. a spark from the blow
isnited fumes escaping through small
leak There was terrific explosion.
followed by many smaller ones The
workmen were blown to pieces. The
shock shattered the Ardmorc Railroad
Station. used by the Santa Fe. Frisco
and Rock Island Railroads. and the
Rock Island freight station and scores
Of other buildings quickly took fire
from the flying liquid.
MAIN STREET APPEARS
AS ROARING FURNACE
The flames spread rapidly until all
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
effective work.
The roof OF the Whittengton Hotel
was blown of by the force OF the first
explosion. but all guests were believed
to have saved their lives. At the store
OF Maddin & Co. scores OF girls were
working. and II was feared to-nigh.
some Of them lost their lives.
Deeds of heroism were many
woman waiting at the railroad station
with baby in her arms and four
year-old child al her side dashed three
blocks with her double burden. her own
clothes blazing as she ran. Passers- by
smothered the flames with their bare
hands. The mother was taken to the
hospital dangerously burned The
children were not seriously injured.
For five hours after the explosion
.Ardmore was cut off completely from
the outside world. Telephone and
telegraph communication was severed
h,t
town district.