The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-18
First Explosion at 9 o clock
Heard Twenty Miles
Away
NUMBER KILLED
NOT KNOWN
Information Lacking As To
The Cause of The
Disaster
(By Associated Press.l

great plant mere or curtis q MarVey
Limited, explosive manufacturers,
was wrecked today by a. series OF
terrific explosions ana buried be-
meath the ruins of a dozen or SO
structures that comprise the factory
are an unknown number of dead.
Several thousand male and female
workers employed at the plant were
in the danger zone for hours. An
early estimate based on first reports
placed the number of killed at about
$50 but indications now are that
there were comparatively few cas-
ualties. ..
Montreal, Aug. 1S.-A terrific ex-.
plosion at the powder plant of Cur
tbs & Harvey Limited, at Rigaud.
Quebec, today is believed to have
caused a heavy loss of life. Five
thousand men and women are en-
ployed at the plant which covers an
area of five square miles.
Reports received soon after the
explosion said the plant was nearly
all in flames.
Trainmen who got away from the
scene of the explosion reported that
forty houses at Dragon, a little viii
lage near the powder plant occupied
by worlmen, were razed by the
force of the explosion.
From points near Rigaud IL was
learned that three explosions took
place. The first at o'clock was
heard in Vaudreil, twenty miles
away. It was followed by two others
in quick succession. The explosion
disrupted telephone and telegraphic
communication with Rigaud making
1t difficult to obtain information.
Traffic on the Canadian Railroad
Ottawa Montreal railroad line which
passes close to the plant. has been
suspended.
Rigaud is a post village in Vaud-
reuil county, Quebec, on the Riviere
A. La Graisse. forty-five miles south
west OF Montreal. It had a population
prior to the war of about 1000.
.r,., Special Train oE Doctors.
The whole countryside was cover
ed at 10 o'clock with a dense cop
per colored smoke A special train
of doctors and nurses left here at
1880 o'clock for the scene OF the
disaster.
officials here of Curtis & Harvey
Limited lacked information as to
the cause OF the explosion. It was
said that probably three hundred
persons were working in the section
of the plant where the first explosion
occurred. It was believed by the Of
ficials the two other explosions were
caused by fire which spread from the
first.
Passengers on a Canadian Pacific |
t. sznS
scene of the disaster placed the
number of dead from the first ex-
plosion at twenty. They said 1t was
to obtain definite figures |
rs hundreds rushed into the open /
country when the first explosion oc-
CURED and a few had returned when
their train left for Montreal.
The extent of the explosion may /
be judged by the fact that two farm i
houses over a mile from the plant
we're blown down. At noon the vii
age of Dragon was blazing.
A relief train arrived from Mon
real at noon bringing doctors and
nurses, but owing to the fierce heat
rom the burning ruins of the plant
hey were unable to approach. No
1eath list can be obtained until the
'uins cool.
The loss in the values Of build
ngs and stock will reach well up
nto millions, it was said
The first explosion was caused by
Of the machinery in the
litric acid building. The flames
eaped all along through the build
ng and another explosion occurred.
dost of the workers are believed to
ave had ample time to escape. 9th
# explosions occurred every five
minutes or so shaking the sur
ounding country like an earth
uake. Fifteen detonations were
counted.