The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-09-22
$50 Bodies Recovered

Paris, Sept. 22-Up to this morn
ing $50 bodies had been recovered
from the ruins at Oppau where the
plant of the Badische Aniline corl-
pany blew up yesterday, it was an
nounced in Mayence dispatches. In
jured persons to the number of 2
500 had been attended. 1t is reported
added the dispatches, that the explo-
sion occurred during experiments for
the compression of a new gas, the
qualities of which had not Eeen fully
ascertained.
Less 15O,OOO.O 900 Marks
Amsterdam. Sept. 22.-The total
damage from the explosion in the
Badische Aniline company's chemica!
plant at Oppau yesterday is esti-
mated al 150,000,000 marks, accord
ing to Berlin advices received here
today
Mayence Germany Sept. 22.-
French troops and volunteer workers
toiled throughout the night in the
ruins of the Badische Aniline Com
pany's war-born chemical plant at OPP
pau, where hundreds of workmen
were killed by an explosion yesterday
morning. Estimates of the number of
dead ranged as high as 1900 early to-
day, but definite figures were obvious
ly impossible. More than 800 bodies
had been recovered, however, and it
was known that at least 1900 per
sons were injured by the blast. Op-
pau was virtually swept away and, the.
explosion hurled desolation over a
wide district on the west bank of the
Rhine between Mannheim and Fran
kenthal The scene of the explosion
was more than three miles from
Mannheim but every window of that
city was shattered by the conclusion.
The shock was felt in towns fifty
miles away.
There were hundreds of worimen
at or near the ill-fated plant at 1880
o'clock when the explosion occurred
and there were wild rumors regarding
the loss of life last night. These
could not be confirmed, but it ap-
peared certain that the casualty list
would be appalling.
Immediately after the blast every
means of rescuing the injured and
bringing out the dead was utilized
but several minor explosions prevent
ed workers from entering the grounds
for a long time.
Great clouds of chemical fumes hung
over the ghastly scene of ruin and
the first men to enter the place were
compelled to wear gas masks. The
fumes spread as far as Mannheim and
Ludwigshafen and tended to heighten
the fears of the frightened people.
An investigation of the explosion
has been ordered by the authorities
but those who have visited the scene
of the disaster say there is little upon
which a finding can be based. Build
ings of the Badische company have
disappeared and only great hole in
the ground marks the site of the main
structure. 1t is theory of those IA
maliar with the plant that at least two
gasometers exploded and that nitro
gen compounds stored in the buildings
or in process of manufacture, were de-
tonated. Nitrogen products are un-
stable as a rule and it is believed the
first explosion, which was relatively
light, set off great masses of chemi
Gals. Another theory is that a nitro
gen tank let go, and that four others
were set off by the concussion.
Order is being maintained in the
town of Oppau and vicinity by French
soldiers, that district being within the
French zone of occupation. The base
of the French forces in that region is
at Ludwigshafen, on the west bank
of the Rhine from which place the
troops were rushed to the scene Of
the disaster.
This is the second time Oppau has
been destroyed. In 1888 a dam burst
above the town and the place was
swept by a wall Of water.
Gen. Degoutte, in command of
French forces of occupation, went
from this city to Oppau and immedi-
ately sent for the sanitary staff of the
army on the Rhine. He has organ
lied kitchens to feed the families of
the victims of the disaster, and the
high commissioner has given $4,000
marks to the workers syndicate to al