More on the Washington Arsenal Explosion-- Part 2

The final death count from the explosion will never be known, as many of the young women fled the scene and never returned.

One sad aspect of the fire was that government regulations at the time required them to wear the large, bulky hoopskirts at work for reasons of modesty and so as not to distract the male workers.  This restricted their movement and also contained much flammable cloth.

The remains of 17-19 bodies were laid out in five-foot boxes, with as many as five sets of remains inside each.  Other body parts were placed on boards or tin pans in the grass waiting for identification from friends and family.

Some identification was achieved by bits of clothing, jewelry or shoes.

--Old Secesh