THE WITTEN DISASTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1947, 1 December 1906, Page 2

THE WITTEN DISASTER.

TERRIFIC EXPLOSIONS. HOUSES DEMOLISHED AND PEOPLE BURLED IN ALL DIRECTIONS. HEROIC WORKERS. KKtra PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT • Received 10.5 p.ro„ Nov. 30. Berlin, Nov. 30 Twenty thousand kib grammes of robu« rite was stored in She factory situated in a bellow outside AnnoD, and adjoining Witten, An outbreak of fire in the mixing-room spread to the packing shed, where the first explosion occurred. Assistance was immediately sent to the scene, when a second terrific explosion hurled rescuers and spectators in all directions. Many were seized with panic, but others remained aud helped the injured away. Despite rumors that there were immense quantities of unc-xploded robarite in the vaults, firemen, nuns, doaconssses, and workmen courageously faoed the perils. First aid ambulances and tradesmen’s oarts oonveyed one hundred who were dangerously wounded and two hundred and fifty who were less seriously injured to hospitals. Incendiarism is euepcotod. Several bouses in the vicinity were demolished, and bouses at Dortmund were shaken to their foundations and the plats* glass windows smashed. Thirty bodies have so far been recovered. They were fearfully mutilated and charred. The Kaiser has sent a thousand pounds for the relief of sufferers.