Show TO ATOMS ten girls and one man meet their death WILKES BAKEE pa february 25 A terrible disaster occurred at plymouth a few miles from here this afternoon by which the souls of ten girls and one man were hurled into eternity back of the gaylord shaft stood the factory of john powell used for tha manufacture of squibb squibs used by miners in loosening coal in the mines the factory employed eighty four girls ranging from 12 to 20 yeara of age and several male workmen chile the majority of the girls were at their homes eating dinner the people were startled by the deafening thunders of a terrible explosion they rushed terror stricken to the doors and windows and in an instant saw a cloud of smoke ascending from the squib factory soon a large crowd had gathered around the began wringing their hands and the men tamed away from ane sight presented when the charred body of a young girl was seen lying in one of the rooms and the fact became known that at least twenty persons were in the building at the time of the explosion eating their noonday lunches the scene was fraught with terror as the girls some bleeding others gasping for a few breaths of fresh air rushed to tho windows end screamed frantically for help about thid time a dozen miners from the adjoining colliery came upon the scene and as soon as they saw the bleeding forms of the girls calling for aid they rushed toward the building in a body but fate prevented their proffered succor for as soon as they stepped near the door another terrific explosion and the entire building collapsed burying in the ruins the forms that a moment before stood crying for assistance i the braver odthe men when the smoke and flying debris had settled rushed among the ruins and one by one the bodies were found and taken out they were charred beyond recognition bleeding and mangled and recognized some familiar token or piece of dress by which they could tell their loved ones the scene represented the extreme throes of sorrow and distraction the bodies as fast as they were taken out were removed to an undertaking establishment where they were placed in a row their features were so badly mutilated that they were scarcely recognizable at the main entrance the remains of five of the girls were found they must evidently have made an effort to get out after the first explosion but were caught in the debris before they could resell the door not one was recognizable some had their haada blown off others their arms and a majority wera minus both legs and arms the arrival of the relations of the dead added confusion to the scene their cries were heartrending what made it more pathetic was the fact that mothers and sisters were unable to recognize their dead after the working hours the rescuers succeeded in getting out all the remains which consisted of trunks arms legs and skulls every one in the building at the time oi the explosion perished with the exception of foreman beese he was standing at the stove when the farat explosion took place he rushed to the door to notify the girls when the second explosion knocked him down into the basement he managed to crawl out of this place the cause of the explosion is a mystery |