Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1879-07-24
A DANGER.
what May Happen to Our Town
from the Explosion Of the Powder
Maxnxfaaea |

what May Happen 70 Our Town
from the Explosion Of the Powder
Magazines.
The late fearful catastrophe by which the
| old Standard aud other works ON Bodie
Bluff were blown to atoms, taking with
| them, ~ the number now stands, seven
human beings, and severely wounding
many others, should act o. . warming TO
all who may have explosive matter about
| their premises. The evidence given before
| the Cor u Jury recently held here goes
to show that the magazine which exploded
on the 10th instant contained but two tons
Of powder at the time Of the accident. The
injury lone by this comparatively small
amount OF explosive matter should rug
gest the thought Of how much more d.
struction would haze been caused had
more powder been stored in that maya
zine. Rumors, Of course, are rife that
many small lots Of blasting powder are
even now slowed away in various portions
Of the town, which are as liable TO be ex-
ploded IN was that in the magazine OF the
Standard. Whether these rumors are true
or no il q question which should he 1t
once decided. and. il is to be hoped, that
all dealers in dangerous explosive mate
rails Of all kinds will at once see that the
same are removed TO some safe place out.
side the town limits. We cannot afford 10
be in continual dread Of another disaster
such as occurred lately. and are satisfied
that it is only necessary to make the above
suggestions in relation TO this matter to
nav. IL 1T once attended to. A magazine
should he built by tunneling into q side
hill at least two miles from town. and all
parties owning powder or explosives Of any
kind be required to store the same in that
receptacle.
The above is from the Bodie News"
Bodie had a fearful experience two weeks
ago. and OF course the News" speaks
knowingly Of the subject. We have copied
the foregoing to show the constant danger
hanging over our town. The News says
two tons Of powder at 9 distance Of nearly
three-quarters of a mile committed all the
damage in Podie. There is stored within
a quarter of a mile Of the very business
heart Of the town Of Eureka not less
than ten tons. There are three or four
magazines located on the divide immeli-
ately west of Chambers stone quarry. The
most remote Of them is not 200 yards from
the center OF population ON Mob Hill.
Should any of these magazines explode, all
would be set off by the concnssion. the
whole OF them being located within n
radius Of 100 yards. 1t would not be diff
cult to predict the result of such a catas-
trophe. Scarcely a house wonld he left
standing in Eureka and hundreds OF lives
would be lost. One Of the magazines is
constructed of sheet iron. Tie danger
from this one must be especially great dur
ing the present heated term. The iron.
we doubt not, gets almost blazing hot each
day from ii A. NJ. to 5 p. NJ. This intense
heat is likely any day to cause spontaneous
combustion. The danger TO our town and
the lives Of our people is imminent and
terrible, and ought not to be endured a
moment longer than possible. We do not
write this warning in any spirit OF
fanlt finding with the merchants
owning these magazines. None would
regret a great calamity to the tow pro-
ceeding from an explosion more than they.
We merely point ont the danger which
hourly threatens the town. On reflection,
the stoute~t If ns must grow nerveless in
contemplation Of SO terrible a disaster.
Eureka has been especially Inflated. Let
not y mammoth explosion be added to our
long list Of woes. The Commissioners
have done their duty in the premises.
They have ordered that all magazines
shall lie removed to u point beyond the
town limits. Merchants should not await
orders fran the Sheriff to comply with
this very proper enactment. The SENTI-
E is informed that some of them have
already moved in the matter to the extent
Of selecting a site in the vicinity Of Carl
boo Hill. So far. 80 GOOD. but the prompt
removal Of the magazines Is the thing de-
sired and imperatively demanded by every
consideration II safety to the public and
the well being Of the community.