The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-09-22
DEATH TOLL GROWS
AS EXPLOSION RUINS
GIVE UP $50 BODIES
fBy Associated Press,

MAYENCE, Sept 22.-While esti-
mates of the number of dead from
Wednesdays explosion, which destroy
ed the Badische companys great
chemical plant at Oppau continued to-
day at approximately 1,500, the total
Of persons actually found to have been
injured exceeds the first figures by a
wide margin.
Already $500 persons have received
treatment for hurts sustained through
the effects of the explosions. Bodies of
the dead to the number of $50 had been
recovered this forenoon.
The French and German authorities
in the district were continuing the
rescue work today in the closest col
liberation A German hospital train
has arrived at Frankfort and a French
train at Treves with injured from the
scene of the disaster.
Shock Felt SO Miles.
The scene of the explosion was
more than three miles from Mann
helm, but every window of that city
was shatttred by the concussion. The
shock was felt in towns so miles away.
There were hundreds of workmen at
or near the Inflated plant at 1880
| o'clock when the explosion occurred
and there were wild rumors regard
| ing the loss OF life yesterday and last
night. These could not be confirmed
/ but it appeared certain that the casual
! ty list would be appalling.
Immediately after the blast every
means of tescuing injured and bring
| ing out the dead were utilized. but
several minor explosions prevented
/ ~, = e.
a long time. Great clouds of chemical
fumes hung over the CHASTITY 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 ruins
declare there is little upon which a
| finding can be based
Buildings Disappear
The buildings of the Badische com
| pany have disappeared and only {
| great hole in the ground marks the
| site of the main structure. 1t is {
| theory of those familiar with the plan
! iHdI dI lcdSL J"O SdSdDlEISIS 6AplOutt
and that nitrogen compounds stored il
the buildings or in process of manu-
facture, were detonated Nitrogel
products are unstable as a rule and i
is believed the first explosion, whicl
was relatively light, set off grea
masses OF chemicals Another theor,
is that a nitrogen tank let go and tha
four others were set off by the cor
| cusSion.
Soldiers Keep Order
Order is being maintained in tn
town of Oppau and vicinity by Frencl
soldiers, that district being within III
French zone of occupation. The bas
of the French forces in that region i
at Ludwigwhafen, on the west ban
of the Rhine from which place tn
| troops were rushed to the scene c
, the disaster.
This is the second time Oppau ha
/ been destroyed. In 1853 a dam burs
: above the town and the place wa
swept by a wall of water
, General Degoutte, in command
) French forces of occupation, sent fror
this city to Oppau and immediatel
sent for the sanitary staff of the arm
, on the Rhine. He has organize
/ kitchens to feed the families of vi
tins of the disaster and the high con
missioner has given $4,000 marks I
! the workers syndicate to alleviai
distress.