Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-06-29

TUCSON, June 2Ssh-The scene lust after
the terrific explosion last night was one of
terror and never to be forgotten. There was
fully 10000 pounds of the Tonite powder in
the magazine, and the crash and reverber-
atoms which broke from the msuntains were
truly grand. A moment before the report
GREAT BLAZE
Shot upward from 700 to ], 600 feet. followed
by an immense sand cloud, reaching nearly
as high. As the shock spent itself and
reached the Santa Catalinas, eleven miles dis.
tant, it came back with the rumble and
tremble so distinctive of an earthquake.
The people were eithsr thrown out
into the street or crowded there
as quickly as possible for breath, as
the conclusion raised cloud of dust little
short OF asand-storm, that enveloped the entire
town. In the street the people were rushing
wildly to and fro to what they believed to be
placs of safety. The Catholic Cathedral,
capable OF holding 2,0ce pc. PIE, was packed
in less than fifteen minutes, mainly by our
Mexican population, who rushed to the
church as the last resort and act of their
lives. To adj to the CONSERVATION, while
the city was in total darkness.
a CRY OF FIRE
Was raised, and was shortly confirmed
by blaze, the FIRE starting from fallen
lamps. At this hour the bank build
ings on Congress street were stand
ing open. the heavy oak doors being
torn off their hinges, the force of the concus-
sion being Murdered neither by bolts, locks nor
iron bars, and windows of plate glass half an
zach thick were shattered Two of the
largest stores in town, those of Theodore
Welisch & &c. and a. n. Oiis & Co, were
completely Quilted Of glass, sasbes and doors,
and presented an inviting scene for plunder.
There is scarcely house 10 town, or build.
ing, but bears marks Of the shock, which
broke sashes and glass at Fort Lowell, eight
miles distant, as readily as it tore the roofs
from the houses and demolished the walls.
ceilings, etc., of buildings near the location Of
the scene. No less THAI ten calls came
in by telephone for medical aid, including
one from the hospital across the valley some
two miles.
INCIDENTS OF THE AFFAIR.
AT Levin's Park, where many people were
assembled, over forty were prostrated, sew
eral ladies fainting. Incidents of the ex-
plosion are almost unlimited, some of them
being amusing. 1t was generally believed at
the instant that the comet was the cause of
the catastrophe. At Levin's Park rough
o!d miner, a moment before the shock, walked
up to the bar, remarking. "Well, boys, the
comet will get away with US al yet. Let's
have one more drink" The conversation was
being carried on in this strain, and just be-
fore raising the glasses came the blaze, fol-
lowed quickly by the explosion. All the
miner could say was, My God boys, we
are struck. Drink quick p The next mo-
ment he was found prostrste ON the ground
twenty feet away. aeaseless II vas almost
not been hit by the comet.
FORCE OF TIE EXPLOSION.
Reports reached the city tonight from
Harshsw, distance of so miles, saving the
shock was distinctly fslt at that place. The
military telegraph Inc rurriis by the mag
azine cannot be 70 nd for distance of nearly
half mile, and several of the Western Union
poles were shivered. The accident to the
military line cut off communication, but
dispatch was sent from Fort Grant as far as
Camp Howell, inquiring the cause of the
shock. Fort Grant is 120 miles from Tucson.
AL the United States Signal Service instru.
ments were completely ruined.
VISIT TO THE SCENE.
The Mayor and Marshal, with the City
Surveyor, visited the scene to-day. The hole
u feet deep By rs in diameter, and
the explosion destroyed every vestige of grass
and shrubbery for ten acres around. Upon
it was found that the magazine
was located $50 feet outside the city limits.
The law requires that no powdsr-house shall
be loca'ed carer than one.half mile, and it
is the intention of many 10 institute damage
suits agains5 the owners OF the same.
The LOSSES.
The Star places the losses at 500, 000 the
Citizen at So, 900, as low estimate. The
heaviest losses are /: l.. Zeckendorf & Co.,
powder, etc., S14, 600; A. N. Otis & Co.,
$4,000; FL. J. Brown. crock
cry and glassware, 81 500; Welisch & Co.,
plate glass front, 81, 200; M. Katz. destruc-
tion by FIRE caused by falling lamp, $4,000;
81. N. Stevens, damage to house, 81. 500; J.
B. Pomeroy, damage to house and furniture,
81, 500; M. T. Brown, damage to house and
furniture, 5000; l., C. Hughes, $1,000;
railroad shops and buildings, $1,000; w. S.
Edwards, $1,000; Charles Brown, $3.50; st.
Joseph's Academy, $3.50; Catholic Church.
$500; Grand Hotel. $50; Samuel Hughes,
81, 900; c. II. Lord. 5000; L. Meyer & Co.,
S25O-and great many others ranging from
800 to $500.