The New York herald., 1921-09-22
Great Badische Works at
Oppau and Third of Town
Destroyed-2,000 Per-
sons Hurt.
SHOCKS FELT 40 MILES
Mannheim, Frankfort aHd
Other Cities Shaken as
if Earthquake Had
Occurred. b
NEGLIGENCE is DENIED
Disaster Attributed to Excess
Pressure in Two Gasometers
Trains Buried in Debris
13 Miles Away.
NEGLIGENCE is DENIED
BIZ the Associated Press.

~ He ASSOCfdted PrcSS.
MAYEScE, Germany. Sept. 21.--A
great explosion to-day at the chemi.
cal products plant of the Badische
Aniiinfabrik Company at Oppau. on
the Rhine, wrecked the town and
spread death and destruction on
every hand. The number of killed
is variously estimated at from 1000
to $500, and the injured close to
1000. One report says that there
were 5000 men on the spot at the
moment Of the explosion and 1t 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 of the
others were swept off as IL by a
whirlwind. Here also many were
killed or injured.
The explosion is attributed by
some to excess pressure in two ad-
joining gasometers, the whole of this
part Of the works being literally
pulverized. Where the gasometers
stood is now a funnel shaped hols
130 yards wide and yards deep.
while twisted girders and debris OF
every description lie scattered about.
For distance of several hundred
yards not a wall is left standing.
Wide Eject OF Explosion.
The directorate of the company "a
quoted as saying that the explosion
occurred in storehouse containing
1000 tons Of nitrous sulphates. which
had previously been examined and
were believed to be free from danger
OF explosion.
All the workmen's dwellings in the
vicinity were razed TO the ground. At
Mannheim, on the opposite bank OF
the river and thirteen miles distant,
thirtyfive persons were seriously in
jured and 200 or more slightly injured.
Reports from Ludwigshafen across the
river from Mannheim. say three work
mems trains We're buried under tho
wreckage and many children on their
way to school in that town were in
jured.
Heartrending scenes were witnessed
on all sides. At the little cemetery on
the outskirts OF Oppau there are al
ready more than two hundred bodies
laid out on the grass. Many tomb
stones were lifted and hurled in var
ious directions by the force of the ex-
plosion. There was not a door or win
dow left intact for radius of three
miles.
French medical units are aiding In
the rescue work. Assistance also has
been rushed from all the neighboring
towns and all public and private motor
cars and vehicles were requisitioned.
The roads Leading to Oppau were soon
crowded with people making their way
to the scene Of the d!sa ster.
French Troops sent.
A regiment Of Colonial infantry and
the First Madagascar regiment from
i.udwgshafen Immediately proceeded to
Oppau 10 preserve order and aid In the
work OF rescue. Describing the dis
aster, captain OF the First French
Colonial Infantry. who was an eyewlt-
ness. said
II was riding close to the factory az
1880 in the morning when suddenly [
heard e dull rumbling. The earth
seemed TO uuiver and an immense coll
umn Of flame and smoke shot up q few
hundred yards from me, followed inn
mediately by an explosion and rush OF
air which hurled me and my horse to
a
immense cloud OF dust and smoke hid
that part OF the factory near the gas
ometcrs. All sorts OF objects. beams,
blocks, stones and bricks rained down
the road"
Hearing cries behind me 7 turned,
and realized that the village OF Oppau
was destroyed as by an earthquake
Shortly after the main buildings of
the plant burst into flames and the air
was flled with the fumes OF ammonia.
Twenty minutes after the first explosion
there was another. but less violent.
The alarm was quickly given. and in
less than half an hour after the frst
explosion help arrived. Unfortunately.
as further explosions We're feared. the
rescue parties were not able 10 get to
work properly before 2 o'clock"
a late statement issued hy the man
agement OF the Oppau factory says
that the explosion occurred in a reser-
voir containing 200 tons OF ammonium
sulphate. 1t adds that all necessary pre-
cautions had been taken during the pro-
cess OF manufacture and storing the
products, so that an explosion appeared
impossible. An inquiry has been opened
The first explosion occurred when the
shifts were being changed, at T:4o a. NJ.
in laboratory where 500 men were
working. This explosion was followed
by n rapid succession Of others. which
rendered assistance to the first victims
impossible.
one Of the most circumstantiai re-
ports says the first explosion occurred