The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-09-22
CASUALTY LIST GROWS;
NEARLY 1000 BODIES
FOUND; $500 INJURED
Rescuers Hampered By
Fogs of Poison Gas
Over Scene.

Berlin, Sept. %. - Omitted
Press l-GAsuaItieS in the ex-
plOsiOn at 0ppau will amount
to more than four thousand
killed and injured, it was esti-
mated today, as rescue parties
penetrated the fogS of poison
gas which hung over the scene
of the tragedy.
Nearly LOCO bodies already
have been recovered.
More than 300 injured are
being treated at hospitals.
French troops are guarding
the area
One report said a company of
French troops stationed at the
factory was wiped out by the
explosion yesterday.
Only "A great gaping chasm
marks the scene OF the initial
explosion.
Amsterdam, Sept. %. - (By
the Associated Press)-The to-
tai damage from the explosion
in the Badische AniIine COM
pany's chemical plant at 0ppau
yesterday is estimated at I50.-
100000 marks, according TO
Berlin advices received here to.
day.
Berlin, Sept 22.-CUnited Press. }
Penetrating the fog of poisonous
vapor which still lowered over
Oppau, scene of the greatest ex
plosion disaster in German history
rescue corps, gas masked, toda!
fought for the lives of possible sup
viyors, while reports came bacl
that the death roll would total a
least 1900.
Five hundred bodies have bee
extricated from the shattered ruin
about the synthetic nitrate plant o
the BadiSche Aniline works, nea
Ludwigshafen, which was destroy
ed, together with the little town ui
Oppau, by a series of terrific e1'
plosions early yesterday.
Hundreds Unidentified.
Three hundred bodies have been
identified and hundreds of others
found mutilared beyond reCogni-
ton At Ludwigshafen the huge
hospital, all the schools and many
public buildings have been requls-
toned by the Red Cross.
Scores OF injured were taken
from wreCkage far from the scene
OF the original explosion. but il
was feared that all those trapped
in the fatal explosion had been
poisoned by the fumes, which yes
Piteous scenes were witnessed al
the cemetery at Mayence, where
bodies of nearly 200 were laid out
for Identification by relatives. In
most instances the victims had
been so muulated by the explosions
that they could not be recognized
RumOrS Blame BOlsheViki.
Investigation as to the cause OF
the explosion will be started al
once. Rumors blaming the bolshe-
Wiki and other enemies of the Ger
mans were in the air near the
scene OF the disaster, but were IN
confirmed.
The first explosion occurred al
7:30 yesterday morning, while a
change Of shifts was under way
1t was followed an instant later by
another more terrific which actu-
ally lifted the main fac ory build
ing from the ground, hurled chin
neys and men hundreds Of feet In
the air, completely buried and de-
three shift trains bringing
wOrkmen to the factory and was
felt for d distance OF 50 miles
around. All workers in and about
the plan, about 500 IN number
were killed Further explosions
followed.
The Rheinich high commissioned
has allocated 100000 marks for re-
lief worl: in Oppau, the little vii
lage which was completely destroy
ed. The French supply corps near
the scene Of the disaster has open
ed free food kitchens and shelters
for refugees.