The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-09-28
SHOWER or GASOLINE
DRENCHBD THE TOWN
CONTINUED from page IL
GLADYS KENYON.
MRS. X. w. KENYON.
( DR.. HARVEY SPARKS.
Fifty Dead Go Far.

. 5 u
Fifty Dead 90 Far.
ARDMORE, Okla, Sept. 28.-The
death list in the gasoline explosion
here was raised to fifty when the
bodies OF four unidentified negroes
were found in the wreckage OF .
building ON Main street, about noon.
Counting the Dead.
ARDMORE, Okla. Sept. 2S.-Ard-
more is counting its dead today.
The worst explosion In the history
OF petroleum has cost 1t least nifty
lives and the list IL growing hourly.
as mangled and charred corpses arc
dragged from ruined buildings. There
are over two hundred injured in To-
cal hospitals and private homes. F1vo
Of these died during the night and Il
is reported that many more can live
but few hours.
Thirty-nve bodies were recovered
last night Six more were taken
from q wrecked pool hall near the
scene Of the explosion early today,
where seven other bodies were found
last night. Bodies Of four unidentified
negroes were found 1t noon.
witnesses were found today who
declared there were two big explo-
sions. This was borne out by the
fact that there was large quantity
OF dynamite stored in the demolished
freight shed A second defamation.
following Immediately after the drst.
is believed to have resulted from the
ignition OF the dynamite.
It developed today that there was
but one workman employed in the re-
pairing Of the tank car In the Santa Fe
railroad yards, when q spark from his
hammer ignited $50 barrels Of gaso-
line and resulted In an explosion as
terrific as an equal quantity OF dyna-
mite. The workman was Ira Woods.
employed by a refinery company. Bits
OF his body were found many yards
from the scene of the explosion. The
workman, who was supposed to have
been helping Woods, left the car for
a few minutes and escaped injury.
Most OF the telegraph and tele-
phone wires into Ardmore follow the
railroad lines, and these were put out
OF commission by the explosion. The
first news of the disaster was sent
out by c. s. Neil, an operator, Of the
Santa Fe. His leg was broken and
lis back wrenched by the explosion.
Despite his injuries, he crawled to
the wrecked freight house. found
Telegraph instrument. dragged him
self to the broken wire and worked
for two hours. He was forced to tie
q handkerchief over his nose to save
himself from suffocation from the
dense smoke arising from the burning
building. He finally tainted and Is
reported in serious condition,
Scores Of girls were working In the
dry goods store Of Maddin & Co.. and
In the Dewitt Cigar company's plant.
Several of them were injured. but
they were hurried to their homes be-
fore their names could be learned.
A systematic search is being made OF
the ruins OF these two places, but no
bodies have been found up to noon.
The effect produced by the explo-
sion was that OF veritable earth
quake. Wooden buildings collapsed,
brick walls crumbled and telephone
poles were snapped off short, The
shock is said to have lasted nearly
forty seconds and was probably pro-
longed by lesser explosions from
Of gasoline sent flying
the air considerable dis
lance from the tank car.
A number of injured are quartered
in nearby towns where they were
rushed after the arrival of relief
trains from Gainesville. Texas, and
Oklahoma City. 1t is probable that
an accurate list Of the injured will
never be compiled.
Citizens stampeded.
ARDMORE, Okla. Sept. 2S.-Ard-
more stampeded this afternoon when
II wae reported that other leaking
gasoline cars had been discovered in
the railroad yards. Hundreds OF citi-
zens fled madly to the outskirts and
refused to return to their homes until
assured there was no danger.
The source Of the rumor has not
been determined. as the only tank
carr in the yards this afternoon were
thrse which paced thEosEA yester.