Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 May 1901 — MANY KILLED BY EXPLOSION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MANY KILLED BY EXPLOSION

At Least Fifty-One Persons Are Dead. A VILLAGE IS DEPOPULATED. Electro-Chemical Works at Grolsheim, Germany, Are Wrecked and Burned— People Driven from Their Hosses by Fumes of Biasing Adds. At least fifty-one persons were killed and 100 severely injured tn the electrochemical works at Greisheim, near Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, by an explosion at 4 p. m. Thursday. The

hospitals are crowded with patients. The catastrophe originated Jn a small fire which ignited several receptacles of piorid acid, causing a terrific explosion. The houses adjoining the factory were partly burned and partly demolished by the violence of the explosion. The flames started by the explosion were instantly communicated to the huge factory buildings. The fire spread with frightful rapidity to adjacent houses and then leaped across the river Main to Schwanheim. Shortly after the chemical factory began to burn a second explosion followed, increasing the danger to lives and property. In the room where the fire broke out were eighten cylinders, each containing one hundredweight of smokeless powder. It was the explosion of so large a quantity of powder that caused so great a loss of life. To add to the danger there were several large reservoirs filled with benzine in another part of the factory. Fire brigades from every place in the neighborhood hurried to the scene, but owing to the dangerous nature of the disaster and the fear of a renewal of the explosions the greatest difficulty was experienced in stopping the progress of the flames. Only after five hours of strenuous effort was the conflagration to some extent controlled and the danger passed, so as to make it possible to begin the work of extricating the bodies. The government promptly dispatched troops to the scene, and ambulances, nurses and surgeons were sent by special train from Frankfort. The deadly fumes from the blazing chemicals added to the dangers of the situation and the inhabitants of the village of Greisheim were consequently ordered to leave the village. They were taken by special train to Frankfort, where they were given shelter. The army surgeons took immediate charge of the work of caring for the injured. Temporary hospitals were set up in sheds, to which the injured were brought by relays of soldiers. As soon as the first needs of the injured were cared for they were taken to Frankfort by special trains. It is feared the number of dead will be larger than at first reported, as it will be impossible to ascertain the full effects of the disaster until the list of employes at the factory is examined.

MAP SHOWING EXTENT OF STORM WHICH CAUSED THE FLOODS.