POWDER EXPLOSION AT SAN FRANCISCO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5611, 18 February 1879, Page 7

POWDER EXPLOSION AT SAN FRANCISCO.

The Alta-California gives the following particulars of a disastrous explosion which iappened near San Francisco last month; — Shortly after two o’clock yesterday afternoon, the whole cify was startled by the sound of an explosion, which shook the buildings and created consternation throughout its wide-stretching space. Almost before the sound had reached the more distant portion, clouds of curling smoke, in heavy folds, tinged with darkened borders, arose, fold upon fold, above the high hills girdling the ocean. “The powder mills have exploded,” were the first words on every lip, and all feared that a serious loss of life had happened, as the hour was some time cast that at which the employees are off work for their mid-day meaL Not only the reporters of the various journals, but also hundreds of citizens rushed off . to the scene of the accident, in buggies and on foot, and the avenues through the Park were crowded by people in vehicles and on foot. For some it was thought that the same mills which exploded last year bad suffered the same fate this; but it soon turned out that the Giant Powder Mills and the Judson Powder Works were the unfortunate sufferers. AH manner of wild rumours were afloat as to the loss-of - life, but dreadful as the accident was—four or five lives being lost, it seems impossible to say exactly how many at present —it might have been far worse, seeing the number, nearly fifty men—employed on the grounds yesterday. A remarkable fact in connection with the explosion is, that whereas in two buildings there were some 150,000 pounds of giant powder and cartridges in store,'; neither they not; the nitro-glycerine in the buHding immediately above the scene of the explosion exploded.: Had they done so; is no telling how many lives would have been lost or how ranch property injured. As it is the loss to the Company is estimated at about 50,000d015. Supervisor Briekwodel, as were others, was of opinion that the accident must have resulted from carelessness on the part of the operators, but “ God alone can tell,” as they observed, since all the poor fellows were dashed into eternity, leaving scarcely a vestige of their remains behind. In fact, all that was coUected of these unforinnate men filled a small cracker box.' The scene was one of lamentable desolation and the surroundings too sorrowful for description. The grounds of the Giant Powder Company cover about five acres, and lie west of the Central road, near Twentieth avenue. They are enclosed with, a neat white fence, and at the time of the explosion yesterday there were 15 buddings in use for the different processes of manufacture, for storehouses, living, and stables. These were not. sufficient for the increasing wants, and the Company had only yesterday commenced to put up another. As near as can be ascertained, the explosion took- place about 15' : minutes past 2 p.m., in the packing-house, 30 ’ by 60 feet in size, which was situated in ft shaUow ravine near the western end of the

yard. In this building were three wbitmren, Oscar Carlson, Edward Monies, and Samuel* Thayer, with Mro Chinese. They were 'em- 1 ployed in filling the powder into cartridges from a tank, and the Superintendent says that there wore at least 6000 pounds on hand at the time. Not a vestige of the buildingsor its contents was left, apd the fate, of its inmates was made painfully certain by the accumulation of two large iron buckets filled with the disjointed fragments of theirbodies) gathered from remote distances. Situated directly north was a mixing-house, 40 by 60, containing 40,000 pounds of powder, packed in boxes ready for shipment. The Building was utterly demolished, but the rows of boxes were unharmed, and only a few had tumbled down. Looking west' from the place of explosion, across the ravine, stood a small building used for immersing the cartridges into a mixture of oil and beeswax. This was totally gone, and still further west stood a brick magazine containing 100,006 pounds of cartridges and boxes containing powder. This building was badly shaken, especially the east wall, through which a large hole had been blown, but the contents were unharmed. On the side of the ravine, just east of the point of explosion, were three small detached' buildings, used for glycerine, wash-houses, etc. Still coming east, on the brow of the hill, was a large building surmounted by a. high tank. The latter was left standing, the roof of the tank alone being lifted off, but the building was one mass of ruins. In groping around the debris was found a pair of pantaloons badly torn in the legs, and near by lay a hat, but there was no signs’ of any body. If there was anyone in the building, it will take some time before the fact can be known. Near this stood a building, used for making the Judson powder, which was badly shattered, and is practically mined. Still nearer the main road was the main house for grinding. In this were some large boilers, engines, and machinery. The damage was nbt heavy to the latter, but a large section of the roof was raised and lifted clear off the building and deposited on the ground some feet south of the line of the roof. From this point, looking across the road and south, was seen the smouldering ruins of the large store- , house. This stood under a low Ml fully 500 feet from the point where the explosion took place, and yet it was set on . fire almost at - the instant. It contained 700 tons of nitrate of soda and 40,0001bs 6f saltpetre. The fiie had no other effect on those than to form a thick greyish-coloured substance resembling lava, which flowed over a large part of the ground toward the ravine into the hollow. Between this house and the ravine, about [half-way, were two buildings-occupied by the labourers as sleeping and eating quarters. They were set on fire at the same time as the others and were totally destroyed. The only other building affected by this terrific explosion was the residence of the Superintendent, Mr Frank 80110, which stood at the extreme left of the grounds, and is the first building seen after entering the gate. It is a pretty cottage, one and a-half stories, ahd is protected from the strong sea breeze by a high paling. Every window in this building was shattered to atoms, the walls -were badly cracked, the plastering came off in many places, but, strange to say, not a picture was disturbed. The slender laths in the fence were also uninjured. Mr Hollo was sitting at his desk in front of a window, and was cut in the face and hands by the shivered glass and sash. , From a count of the buildings after the explosion it was found that nine were totally destroyed. Yesterday morning, according to the Superintendent, there were 45 men at work—3o Chinese and 15 whites. As far as could be ascertained, the killed and missing are five. In addition to this, two Chinese are seriously injured, one about the back, which may result fatally, and the other cut in the neck and hand. It should be noted that the companions of these unfortunate men immediately took to the bush and did not wait to lend a helping hand for either friend or stranger. As for the probable cause of this disaster, it will for ever remain shrouded in mystery. The opinion of those best qualified to know is that it was the result of criminal carelessness on the part of some one of the five men at work in the packing-house. These works have been in constant operation for nine years, and without either loss to person or property. It is too soon to give the exact damage, but Mr Briekwodel, one of the Directors, puts it at least 50,000 dels —perhaps more. The only insurance was a policy of 2500 dols. on the nitrate of soda, which will not begin to cover the loss upon that article alone.

One of the first to reach the place was Sergeant Walls, of the Park Police, and he and his assistants proved an efficient guard over the crowds of hoodlums attracted there. One of these found embedded in the sand a queue attached to a portion of a scalp, and he at once started to make off with the prize. The Sergeant gave chase, and pressed him so hard that he was obliged to drop it and trust to his heels to save him from arrest. Just before he let go be said he wanted it for a present to the howling hyena of the Baudots.

A Michael Burke, who keeps a small milkranch between the grounds of the Company and the Part, was out looking for his herd 5 his children were at school, and the housewas deserted. On his return he found everything in a demoralised state; windows broken, stove down, tables, chairs, and furniture generally shaken to pieces. His loss will be quite severe. The shock of the explosion was felt in many parts of the city, and glass was broken in houses as near the city as Sixteenth street. The school-house on McAllister street was rocked as if by an earthquake, and on the top floor the pupils were thrown from their seats. A couple of gentlemen were walking on Pacific street at the time of the explosion. They say that before they heard the explosion, there arose a huge pillar of silvery-white smoke, ascending to a great height, and then expanding into a most graceful shape, somewhat of an umbrella form, it hung suspended for a few moments over the fatal spot, and then rolled away in volumes of grey clouds. The jury found that the deceased came to their death from an explosion, caused by concussion, by the use of a hammer in the hands of Samuel T. Thayer, deceased, and that the explosion was the result of an accident. And the jury “consider it gross carelessness on the part of the Company in having a hammer and nails in the said building.”