Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1893 — ARTIFICIAL EARTHQUAK[?] [ARTICLE]

ARTIFICIAL EARTHQUAK[?]

Five Hundred Cases of Dyna mite Exploded at a Spanish Port. The City of Santander, Spain, In RuinaVlre Hundred Live* Believed to , Have Been Lo*L The Associated Press dispatch from Madrid, Spain, Nov. 5, says: The Cabc Machichaco, a Spanish steamship, belonging to Bilbao, caught fire about 3 o’clock. Friday afternoon, while the steamer was alongside the quay at Santander discharging part ofher cargo, which comprised nearly two thousand tons of different merchandise. The main part of this cargo was supposed to be iron ore, with a number of sacks of flour, barrels of wine and many cases of petrolenm. However, over SCO cases of dynamite were aboard, of which only twenty cases were declared on the steamer’s manifest. The remaining 4SO cases of dynamite were contraband, to the shame of the shippers. This contraband dynamite has now caused immense loss of life and vast damage to property. Among the victims were the civil Governor, several judges, the captain of the port, his daughter, the colonels commanding the troops and gen d’ armes, several government officials, officers, magistrates, policemen, soldiers and the Marquis Casatombo. The material losses chiefly consist of the great number of houses burned and which are valued at half a million pounds sterling. The Spanish government sent the Minister of Finance, Senor J. de Laconcha-Castaneda, with unlimited credit to dispense all necessary relief to the sufferers. The Council of Ministers experienced a great deal of trouble before they could persuade the Queen regent from going to Santander. -According to a later official return the accounting shows that three hundred persons were killed and 450 wounded. In the midst of this scene of horrible panic, when men and women tore their hair and cursed or prayed, a few brave men retained the presence of mind to jump on horseback and ride to the nearest railway stations, where they caused telegrams to be sent to the government and to the authorities of other cities, imploring succor for the wounded, and asking that fire engines be promptly dispatched to the scene, as a failure to do so immediately would result in the utter destruction of Santander. The cities of Valladolid, Burges, Bilbao and Barcelona were quickly aroused by the appeals for assistance, and took steps to do everything possible to assist the stricken city. Fire engines, physicians, medicine and food were soon sent.from the cities mentioned, and nothing was left undone to relieve the distress. Large forces of troops were also dispatched to Santander, the soldiers rendering most valuable assistance in the work of salvage and rescue. The whole country is indignant at the criminal conduct of the captain and crew of the Cabo Machichaco, as well as the criminality of those who shipped the 480 cases of contraband dynamite, the general opinion being that the government must take immediate steps to punish the people who shipped the dynamite, as the death of the captain and crew of the 'teamship but poorly compensates the ihousands of victims of the destruction caused by their criminality. The exploilon lifted the sea up in the air like a water-spout, mingling enormous quantities of mud and stones with the Wreckage, and hurling them fora great distance >n every side.