DESTRUCTIVE EXPLOSION

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 29 September 1915, Page 5

DESTRUCTIVE EXPLOSION

A TOWN IN FLAMES

MANY JvILLED OR INJURED.

NY C'^J.H— PEERS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT

(Received Sept. 29, 10.30 a.m.)

NEW YORK, Sept- 28.

At Ardmore, Oklahama, a spark from a workman's hammer ignited a tank car of gasoline, and the resulting .explosion and fires laid two city blocks

m nuns

Thirty-rfive bodies have been recovered.

Fifty 'persons are believed to have Ijeen crushed to death under fallen walls. Search is proceeding at a large departmental store, where it is feared tfchere are the bodies of many girls, women shoppers and employees of the

store

The fires were caused by the flaming gasoline, which was thrown for blocks.

Martial law has been declared. A panic followed the explosion. Every buldrng on either side of the main street was,, demolished, and over the splintered buildings for /blocks around the flaming gasoline was thrown, starting fires.

Rescue parties were quickly formed

All communication with iihe outside world was cut off for five hours. Two hundred injured ihave been sent to hospital.