Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1879-11-20
Frlghtful Explosion Of Petroleum
Gas, By Which from Thirty to
Forty Cinnamon were Killed.

uubs W VutCh isoM As" "
Forty Cinnamon were Killed.
San JOSE, CAL, November l9.-Ths
explosion which occurred In tho long
tunnel on the South Pacific Coast Bail.
road on Monday night has proved to
have been OF the most frightful and
shocking character. It occurred about
midnight. in tunnel No. 3. near wrisht's
station. In the Santa Cruz mountains,
and the report was heard for miles
around, while the shock caused the
mountains to trsmbls to their base. II
wal caused by petroleum gas. For .
year past Messrs. Martin & Ballard,
contractors. have had . large force Of
Chinese at work on the tunnel. Several
months ago the workmsn cut through
rock In excsvsting the tunnel, from the
assures OF which
CRUDE PErRoLEux AND PETROLEUM Gas
Issued. and despite tho air pipes which
were used to supply fresh air to the
interior. the utmost care had to be taken
to prevent explosions. About 1--WE
months ago the air supply pipes or
engine got out OF order and before IL was
fully repaired an explosion occurred. BY
which one or two Chinsmen were killed.
Two white men and several Cinnamon
were badly burned. A better system OF
ventilation was supplied BY adding an
additional 10.inch supply pipe TO the
8.inch one then In use. Since then oil
has apparently went we'll, and no gas OF
consequences, OF not sufficient to burn,
was noticed. Last Saturday afternoon
tho men opened up an additional
gas fssure. Parties who visited the
face Of the tunnel on Monday afternoon
scented the gas, and spoke OF the odor
and the danger and hurriedly left the
place, with the remark that there would
likely be an explosion before six hours.
Owing to The hazard attending 1t, It 10
said the gas wal not flashed out 90
II was formerly, the fans being solely
depended on to keep the air fresh and
pure.
now THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED.
On the night In question. just preyi.
Gus to the frst explosion, there were 81
Cinnamon engaged on the face Of the
tunnel, 2700 feet from the mouth, under
the foremsnship Of . white man named
Perry Hiukle. There was also Q white
man named Tom johnson. who drove
the mule used In oarting out the rock.
The latter was waiting for q carload Of
dirt, when tho Chinese fred Of q blast,
ignitine the gas and causing Q terrific
explosion. The noise aroused everybody
within O mile. and the cause was In.
stautly conjectured. Those In the
vicinity soon started for the tunnel.
Arriving there. It was found that II was
almost impossible to enter on account oil
the smoke, and contractor Ballard and Q
few white men tried to keep the China.
men, who appeared Devil Tered, from
rushing in. A few minutes alter the
frst arrived, Perry Hinkls and johnson
CROPPED their way to the opening with
closed eyes and their faces and hands
HORRIBLY BURNED.
They were Immediately taken to their
cabin, q few hundred feet from the tun.
mel, and placed In bed until medical
assistance could be summoned. Seeing
these men yet alive increased the snxisty
OF tho Celestials outside to try and
rescue their friends known to DO inside.
Securing torches. about twenty or more
- the exact number 10 unknown-pushed
by the men at the entrance and went 10. |
The Hrst OF the rescuing party had prob.
ably got In 1900 or 1000 feet, when the
second explosion took place. This was
at 1920 A. ", which was by far more
and death.dssling than the Hrst.
It was q double explosion. n report
following the other so rapidly that the
echo blended into one. The explosion
was preceded by q rush Of air from the
tunnel which gave the majority Of those
near the mouth time TO step to n side,
so that nons were exactly In front.
Quicker than II can DO told
VOLUME OF LuRIp FLAME,
The size Of the tunnel, shot out, ex.
banding as It issued for upwards Of
hundred yards. This was accompanied
by the crash aud splintering OF the en-.
CINE house, which stood about ffty feet
from the mouth Of the tunnel on the left
OF the track. and the utter demolition Of
the blacksmith shop, which stood on
the right OF the track over O hundred
feet from the tunnel. For o few min.
utss after the second explosion q heavy
volume OF smoke issued from the ball Of
which continued to lessen until It
had almost entirely died out. After the
second explosion II took some time for
thote uniniured to realize what had 90.
Word was sent 10 by telegraph
for Dr.. Thorne, Of this city, to 60 out
and render such assistance as was pos.
sible. and Q few hours later the doctor
was on the ground, having been hurried
out on q special locomotive. When hs
YrrrETS OF TEE WOUNDED
had been taken out. Two others were
soon afterwards rsscued-sll alive. but
horribly burned. The last OF these
were found about 1900 feet from the
smoking mouth OF the tunnel. To 90
would cause asphyxis, and the
had to be abandoned. Nothing
was attempted yesterday. not
an effort being made to resrrangs
The engine and air pipes. 90 a. to enable
those present to bring out the dead. OF
II 10 known that there are twenty.