Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-04-08
MIDNIGHT DISPATCHES
GIANT POWDER EXPLOSION
IN SAN FRANCISCO.
FEARFUL LOSS OF LIFE AND
PROPERTY.
MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN
BURIED IN THE RUINS!

San Francisco, April Shortly
before 4 O'Clock this afternoon the
city was shaken by an explosion
! followed quickly by an alarm o.
fire from the box on the corner o.
! Stewart and Folsom streets. On the
arrival of the firemen at the corner
of Harrison and Spear streets, a
fearful scene presented itself. Next
west of Hathaway's bonded ware
house was a small frame building
occupied by Mr.. Risdon, contractor
for removing Union rock, as an
office. His foreman, Mr.. Clark,
was engaged in filling giant powder
cartridges when the explosion oc-
Cured. The office, and saloon and
restaurant at the corner and two
frame buildings adjoining We're
blown into fragments, and the east
wall of the bonded warehouse was
crushed in. A large hay barn on
the opposite side, on Harrison street,
and several frames were destroyed q.
The groans of crushed and mangled
men, women and children, caught
in the falling ruins and writhing in
the embrace of the flames, were
fearful. The heat was intense, rem
dering assistance almost impossible.
By the greatest exertions a number
of unfortunates were rescued from
their perilous situations, but many
others were beyond all human aid
and persisted in the flames. At
present three bodies have been re-
covered, and it is believed others
have been taken out; bat at present
it is impossible to state for certain
the number.
The wounded were taken to st.
Mary's Hospital, near by. The fol-
lowing are the names of those
known to be killed by the explosion
or persisted in the flames: Clarke
Risdon, foreman; Ferdinand Haas,
barkeeper in saloon; Coyer, a color
ed man; an Englishman and an un-
known boy. Sharp, proprietor of
the restaurant, Mrs. Sharp and II.
P. Baker are among those wounded
and removed to the hospital. One
ALA Thompson was said to be dying
when the reporter left the scene.
Henry Richards is dangerously
hurt. 1t is impossible at present
to give, with any accuracy, the
names or number of the killed and
wounded. Many bodies are sup
posed to be still in the ruins. By
the eXertions of the Fire Depart
ments the flames were prevented
from spreading further, and in the
course of the evening the ruins will
probably be thoroughly searched ..
The loss of property in the bonded
warehouse is not less than $500, 900;
principal consigners of the goods
stored there are j. c. Merrill & Co.,
Ii. b. Blanchard & Co., Forbes Bros,
Barrett & Co., and C. Adolph Low
& Co. Loss in the hay barn and
coal yard adjoining, and in the small
frames, is proably S250,0O0. The
greatest excitement prevails, and all
sorts of rumors are flying about as
regards the number of killed, some
estimating as high as Is or 20, and
even more. In running to the fire
the hose cart of No. was capszed,
and four men running on it injured,
some very seriously, being run over
by hook and ladder trucks closely
following. The bodies recovered
from the ruins are being taken to
Morgue as promptly as possible, and
during the evening the loss of life
will probably be definitely ascer
tanned.
A man named John Daley COM
mitted suicide this evening at the
corner of Pacific and Powell streets.
by taking strychnine. Jealousy of
his wife is supposed to have been the
cause.
A LETTER left by the latest San
Francisco suicide, d. r. Meeks,
says: General 10 Hamilton, OF
Auburn, Placer county, and J.. S.
Wall, 404 Front street, are nv
friends; also Joseph Munsell, Jr.,
224 Sansome street, 7. NJ. Horrell
of the City Gas Company, and many
others who have known me well
My father and mother, G. w. Meek