Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-10-06
1000 TO 1900 DIE
IN GERMAN BLAST
SHOCK FELT FOR SO MILES


#mence, Germany. A great ex.
Nz1eian at the chemical products plant
o. the Bodische AnIlinfabrIk Company
81 0ppan on the Rhine wrecked the
town and spread death and destruction
\ on every hand. The number OF killed
Il variousiy estimated at from one
pusand to fifteen hundred and the
Injured close to two thousand. One
report says that there were three thou
sand men on the spot at the moment
Of the explosion, and II Is believed
that about half Of these were killed.
The town Of Oppau Is scene Of
utter destruction, more than third
OK the houses having been completely
destroyed. while the roofs or the 9th
ers were swept on as II By q whiri-
wind. Here also many were killed or
snIured.
The explosion IL attributed by some
TO excess pressure in two adjoining
gasosneters. the whole Of this part Of
the works being literally pulyerIzed.
Where the gasometers stood is now .
funnei-shaped hole 1870 yards wide and
forty-iye yards deep, while twisted
girders and debris Of every description
lie scattered about. For a distance Of
several hundred yards not wall Is
left standing.
The directorate Of the company Ia
quoted as saying that the explosion
occurred In q storehouse containing
1000 tons Of nitrous sulphates, which
had previously been examined AMI
were believed to be free from danger
OF explosion.
All the workmen's dwellings in the
vicinity were RACED.
AT Mannheim, on the opposite bank
1T the river, thIrty-flve persons were
eriously injured and two hundred or
hOre slightly Injured Ludwigschafen
Y reports say that three workmen's
trains were buried under the wreckags
and many children on their way 10
that town were injured.
ing scenes were Witnessed
AT the iiltie cemetery
Its or Oppau there are
q han 200 bodies laid out
es,a fIIs gf6s Numerous tombstopes
we're lifted and hurled IN various III.
recfiona 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 10
the rescue work. Assistance also has
been rushed from all the neighborlng
towns and all public and private mo.
e6F caTs-and vehicles have been re-
rkauIsltioned.
The roads lending ~ 0ppau we're
soon crowded with people making
their way to the scene Of the disaster
The explosion occurred just as shifts
were being changed at 7:55 O'Clock In
the morning.
The FIRST explosion came In iabOrn.
tory No. 50 Of the old plant, which was
lifted bodily by the force of the binst
and then dropped back 10 earth, killing
the 800 men employed in the building
there escaped death, according to enc
report. Other explosions followed IN
quick succession. rendering assistance
! to the first Victims impossible.
The e0ncusaious were so terrific that
they were felt In this city, some thirty
Ave miles from the scene, while at
Mannheim, thirteen miles distant, al
most every window was shattered.
Many roofs were blown on houses
and all the windows In the town were
broken at Worms. The shock was felt
as far as Frankfort. more than forty
miles away, and many windows were
hCpken there.
H'he whole district was enveloped in
thick smoke. which. together with the
cutting Of telegraph and telephone
communication with neiehboring
towns, hampered the efforts at assist
ance.
All the available sire brigades were
rushed to the spot. but the work OF
rescue was found by the relief parties
to be exceedingly difficult.
A regiment of Colonial Infantry and
the First Madagascar Regiment from
Ludwigshafen Immediately proceeded
to oppau to preserve order and aid in
the work Of rescue.
"a dispatch says that all the mem
of party Of French soldiers on
I'D duty at the 0npnu works were
Cd and that number OF French
1 tiiers aboard a French transport I'M
lahfnE- Mannheim harbor were In
] 9uFed.
The dispatch adds that the old pal.
ace. in Mannheim was badly damaged
ana that the National Theater was
rendered unsafe.
mAaiLWAuKEE RARs 70 STAY