Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-08-02
YuE TAlE q. c. POWDER WORKS
BLOWN rP.
Victoria Post.

Victoria Post
The steamer r p. Rithet arrived from
Yale at O'Clock last evenening. bring
ing news of terrible explosion near
Yale-the blowing up of the powder
magazine. caused by forest fires The
explosion occurred on Sunday after
noon, about O'Clock, the shock being
terrific. Although the works are sit
uated over q mile from the town of
Yale, when the explosion occurred the
ground shock as il heavy earthquake
bad taken pluce, and large amount of
glass vas shattered in the windows of
the stores and the private residences.
Fortunateiy-ve might almost say mir
sculously-no lives were lost, but several
people had hair breadth escapes Mr.. 5.
L. Red1rave, eldest son of the supefin-
tsndent vas on top Of the magazine at
the time, and when the explosion oc-
Cured il lifted the roof completely OF
and threw Mr.. RedRraye some distance.
His wife, Who was standing In the Office,
was blown through the door, but both
escaped unframed. The explosion vas
caused BY bush fires, which are raging
on both sides Of the river. and fears
were felt for the safety of the powder
works for some days. Ii is said that al
the time of the explosion there were $50
cases of giant powder and 10 cases OF
black powder in the works, in addition
to a quantity of Rlycerine and acids.
We are indebted to Mr.. Red2rave, the
superintendent, fer the following par
ticuisrs:
YALE, B. G., Sunday. 10 p. m.-The
powder works are all destroyed. My
son, s. l.. Redgrave, was on top Of the
magazine at the time it blew the build
ings up, and lifted the powder magazine
roof of, throwing him violently to the
ground. The Office at the same time
blew up and threw his wife out. The
magazine did not EXPLODE until later
which saved all their lives. Everything
is perfect wreck, and my son and his
wife lost all they possessed. No lives
were lost, but the shock was terrific
The scene now is one of grandeur. The
fires are raging all around for miles
and it is not safe to be within mile OF
the powder works. have removed ia
the railway track, as it is unsafe to stay
in the house, the fire being close around
A large quantity of glass in Yale and vi.
cinity was smashed to atoms by the con.
cussion, which was terrific, and SHOOK
the Rroand like heavy earthquake.
s. REDGRAvE.
When tire Rithet left Yale yesterday
merning the fires we're still raging, and
fears were entertained that some of the
railway bridges would be consumed
When the steamer was passing San
Juan the flames were distinctly visible
and the whole country seemed to be or
fire.
Mr.. A. Onderdonk left for Yale this
morning by the steamer Enterprise. A
steamer awaits his arrival at New West
minister to convey him at once to Yale
It was Mr.. Onderdonk's original inten.
ton to stay in this city until next Wed
nesday, and then proceed to Yale with
Sir Alexander Campbell, Mr.. SchriebeI
and other gentlemen, but the news OF
the catastrophe at the powder works
fastened his departure. 1t is said that
Mr.. Onderdonk's residence is in grea,
danger. All the furniture has been re-.
moved to a place Of safety; but as the
house is within quarter of mile OF
the powder works, and the whole coun
try is said to be a vast sheet of flames
there is but slight hope of the house be
ing saved. Great fears are also ex-
pressed for the safety of the town, al
the mountains in the vicinity are mas
of seething fire. It is believed that al
the time of the explosion there were ter
tons Of giant powder and a quantity OF
nitro Rlycerine in the works. So fal
the news is meager, and further particu
lars are anxious:y looked for.