Remember the explosions. Es Polvorí whispers tales of destruction and resilience. This building is not just stone and mortar. It is a testament to human fallibility and the fight for safety.
Es Polvorí translates to “The Powder Keg”. These buildings stored gunpowder and munitions. They were vital to military operations but incredibly dangerous. Accidents were common and often catastrophic.
One such disaster occurred in Palma. On November 25, 1895, the Es Polvorí of Sant Ferran exploded. It was the most devastating workplace accident in the Balearic Islands. Ninety-seven employees died. Most were women and children.
Imagine the scene. A massive explosion rocks Palma. The shockwave reaches the Puerta Pintada. Rescuers arrive to find bodies scattered. Those still alive begged to be put out of their misery. The injured were severely burned. They were taken to the Hospital Civil Provincial. It is now a nursing home.
The tragedy exposed the precarious situation of women in Mallorca’s factories. Women were hired for simple repetitive tasks. They earned less than men. Children earned even less. These women were from poor families. They needed to contribute to the family income.
The disaster at Es Polvorí led to public outcry. A newspaper demanded to know the safety conditions. All eyes were on Gabriel Padrós Costa. This Catalan businessman had recently bought a large batch of cartridges. He was supposed to render them useless.
Instead, he exploited his workers. Women extracted gunpowder from the cartridges with awls. They placed the powder in buckets next to them. At the time of the explosion, about 150 kilograms had accumulated. The gunpowder should have been immediately soaked in water. But Padrós planned to sell it to a company in Barcelona. He also lacked enough experienced personnel.
Two women survived the tragedy. They reported supervisors smoking while watching them. Other theories included a disgruntled former employee. Padrós was arrested. He was charged with involuntary manslaughter due to negligence. He was sentenced to three years in prison. He also had to compensate the victims’ families.
Unlike a similar tragedy in New York 16 years later, there were no changes in labor laws here. It was common to collect donations for the victims’ families. Queen Regent Maria Cristina even sold a commemorative booklet to raise funds.
In 1934, the city of Palma honored the victims with a plaque. It was near the site of the explosion. Today, Es Polvorí serves as a reminder. It shows the importance of workplace safety. It also shows the fight for women’s rights. The memory of this terrible event should never fade.