The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-11
SAN FRANCISCO DISASTER.
Details of the Horrible Nitro
Glycerine Explosion.
NAMES OF THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
ESTIMATE OF DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.
&c. &c. &c.

Our San Francisco Correspondcnoe.
SAN FRANCISCO, April IL, 1899
The Ala OF yesterday morning contained q descrip-
ton Of the explosive compound, nitro gycerne
concluding with the following words:-"A public
trial will be made OF the nitro gycerine near Gan
Francisco and due notice will be given so that all inter-
ested can see for themselves"
At1l3 p. M. OF that day was standing In an Office
Sacramento street, near Montgomery, when heard
tremendous explosion, which nken only to the
bursting Of some monster gun many times overcharged
followed by Of falling debris and the rush Of men,
women, children and horses and vehicles In wild and
terrible confusion down tho street. The French windows
which standing driven bodily inwards,
and the glass came flying down upon me In shower
Utterly unable TO account for the terrible shock
into the street. and started towards the point from which
the report seemed to come.
STREETS
Montgomery street our leading street. running north
and south through the business centre OF city 1t
s the Broadway Of San Francisco. Sacramento street.
where was standing II at right angles east and
west and the streets next south successfully califor
MIA and Pine Going towards California street met n
number OF people with bleeding faces and hands cut by
the falling glass; which covered the entire sidewalks and
falling in showers from upper windows often with
large pieces Of sash attached as passed along Hardly
n single whole pane Of glass TO be along Mont
gomery street for two blocks each wsy from California
and many Of the buildings sashcs and doors had been
blown away bodily. Al the northwest corner Of Mont
eomcry and California stands the fine three story
quadruple front cut granite block occupied below rs
the banking and express Office OF the great house
OF Wells, Fargo Co., the only express company
the Pacific coast and tho leading banking
house. From the rest Of this building tall
column Of lime dust and pale yelowish vapor was
lifting high in air. and bending towards tho Bay Of
San Francisco with the breeze, which already
clearing II away. The lime dust remained for some
Minutes falling slowly like the street and build
ngs the yelowsh vapor quickly dissipacd leaving
only dsagreeablc gaseous smell In the atmosphere.
The filed with pae-faced and women in
whose white counenances conviction OF some dread Gala
nifty was painted. though ono knew really what had
happened and all hurryin In breathlcss haste To-
wards the centre Of ruin Arriving In front OF Wells,
Fargo X Co.'S building, found the establishment
literally wreck; doors and windows were gone mortar
confusion regncd everywhere Pushing my way through
the excited crowd reached the doorway Of the Union
Club Rooms, between the banking aud express depart
r.. qn vs. s ssSS ssss:' T
entirely occupied by the Union Club The furniture was
in ruins and the ceilings thrown down pushed on 10
the OF the building and looking out Into the
behind bcheld spectacle shall forget On every
side ruin indescrbable-piles Of brick and mortar
thrown confusedy together lumber torn into spntcrs
blood against wallis loft standing beyond the mmc
diate effects Of the explosion. Let me give dia
gram OF the premises
GROUND rIAx