The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-09-23
GREAT DISASTER
Kills HUNDREDS
GERMAN CHEMICAL PLANT EX-
PLODES WITH TERRIBLE RE-
SULTS-WHOLE TOWN DES-
TROYED-DEATH LIST MAY
REACH AT LEAST THOUSAND.

Mayence, Germany, Sept. PA
great explosion today at the chemical
products plant of the Badische Anil
infabrik Company at Oppau, on the
Rhine, wrecked the town and spread
death and destruction on every hand.
The number of killed is variously es-
timated at from 1000 to 1900, and
the injured close to 1000. One report
says that there were 5000 men on
the spot at the moment of the explo-
sion and it is believed that about half
of these were killed.
The town of Oppau is a scene of
utter desolation, more than a third
of the houses having been completely
destroyed, while the roofs on the 9TH
ers were swept off as if hit by a
whirlwind. Here also many were
killed or injured.
The explosion is attributed by some
to excess pressure in two adjoining
gasometers, the whole of this part of
the works being, liertally pulverized.
Where the gasometers stood is now
a funnel-shaped hole 130 yards wide
and 45 yards deep, while twisted
girders and debris of every descrip-
ton lie, scattered about. For dis
tance of several hundred yards not
a wall is left standing.
The directorate of the company is
quoted as saying that the explosion
occurred in a storehouse containing
four thousand tons of nitrous sui
pilates, which had previously been ex-
amined, and was believed to be free
from danger of explosion: "
All. the workmen's dwellings in the
vicinity were razed. At Mannhelm on
the opposite side of the river, IS per-
sons were seriously injured and 200
Or more slightly injured. Ludwig
schafen reports say that three work
mems trains were buried under the
wreckage and many children on their
way to school in that town were in
jured.
Heartrending scenes were witness
ed on all sides.> At the little cemetery
IN the outskirts of Oppau there are
more than 200 bodies laid out
on the grass. Numerous tombstones
we're lifted and hurled in VARIOUS di-
:ections by the force of the explosion
There was not "a door or window left
intact for radius of three miles.
French medical units are aiding in
he rescue work. Assistance also has
been rushed from all the neighboring
owns and all public and private mo-
;or cars and vehicles were requisi-
Toned. The roads leading to Oppau
we're soon crowded with people max
ng their way to the scene Of the
disaster.
A regiment Of colonial infantry and
he First Madagascar Regiment from
Iudwigshafen Immediately proceeded
o Oppau to preserve order and aid in
he work of rescuing. Describing the
lisaster, a captain of the First French
Colonial Infantry, who was an eye
witness, said:
81 was riding close to the factory
t 7:3O. in the morning when sudden
y I heard a dull rumbling. The
arth seemed to quivver and an i'm
nense column of flame and smoke
hot up a few hundred yards from
ne, followed Immediately by an ex-
,losion and a rush of air which hurl-
d me and my horse up an immense
loud Of dust and smoke hid that part =
f the factory near gasometers. All
orts of objects, beams, blocks, stones
nd bricks rained down the road. :
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