Show christmas disaster asheville N C dec 25 forty people bere mere seriously injured hero here today by the explosion of a cau can of powder while firing a cannon on the outskirts of town A scene was presented that made sick the hearts of those watching from a nearby hill in the that arose from the explosion they saw human beings run blindly here and there over a hill bill falling and ana rising only to fall again as they rushed frantically about blinded and powder burned madly trying to extinguish their flamin flaming clothes those who were unhurt ran to the aid of the unfortunate ones smothering the flaming clothing or cutting the garments from their bodies one man was blown or rolled completely down the high bluff feet nearly to the river the people in the neighborhood rau rall to the scene and the work of giving assistance to tile the injured began the hill was dotted with blackened groaning figures some of whom lay almost perfectly nude A number of the injured were able to walk from the scene one while cots were provided and gentle hands placed the more seriously wounded on them and conveyed them to an old house which served as an 1 improvised m pro bo hospital spital several of th them e m will die |