Eveleth, MN Explosion, Oct 1900

GREAT EXPLOSION

Seven Thousand Five Hundred Pounds of Dynamite Go Up at Eveleth, Minn.

DULUTH, Minn., Oct. 9.---A special to The News-Tribune from Eveleth, Minn., reports one of the largest explosions ever occurring in the state. Seven thousand five hundred pounds of dynamite in the powder magazine at the Spruce mine, about half a mile from town, blew up about 5:30 o'clock. A hole 100 feet square and 25 feet deep marks the spot where the magazine stood. The force of the explosion was so great that there is not a piece of glass over a square within a radius of two miles of the mine. Practically every window and mirror in Eveleth was broken, while in saloons all bottled goods were demolished in addition. The loss in the city is estimated at $30,000. The damage done to the Spruce mine was about $3,000, the mine laboratory and warehouses being totally wrecked.

At least 200 people were hurt more or less from being thrown down by the shock or hit by shattered glass. The explosion was plainly felt at Biwabik, 12 miles distant. The cause of the explosion is hard to explain. An unknown man was seen near the magazine a few minutes before it occurred, and it is believed that he was responsible, although that is pure guess work. At any rate the fellow has not been seen since. The only explosion equaling this occurred at Virginia, Minn., in 1894, when the Lake Superior Powder company's magazine exploded, destroying everything within two miles.

Aberdeen Weekly News, Aberdeen, SD 11 Oct 1900
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!