Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-23
Tie Giant Po,cder Erprosion.

SAN Francisco, Jan. 22.-The total loss
by reason of the explosion will reach
100000. The Giant Powder works sus-
tain damage of 100000; the acid works of
yudson & Co., $4,000. 1t is impossible to
ascertain exact the loss of life, but it is
estimated between thirty and forty. The
first explosion occurred about 4o'clock in the
packing house, in which about 200 pounds
of powder was stored. It is not known
whether any one was killed by the first ex
plosion or not. As soon as the packing
house exploded a number of Cinnamon en-
ployed in the other departments fed for
their lives, and had reached an open space
when the mixing house exploded, killing
most of them in their tracks. 1t is thought
Ferlinan Kompf, superintendent, was
killed by this explosion. In about a min
ute one of the smaller houses exploded,
followed by a fourth explosion which
doubtless killed the surviving employees.
A workman named August Forgofsky was
very seriously injured. All the other
white men have been accounted for, and
the dead are all Cinnamon. There are
thirty or forty missing. On the point occu-
pied by the employees at the powder and acid
works most of the windows are shattered,
doors and sides in many instances dashed
in by the force of the concUssion. After
each explosion the woodwork of the build
ings caught fire and burned steadily for
several hours. Efforts to prevent the
flames reaching the main magazine con
tanning an immense quantity of powder
were happily successful. The consequences
would have been most fearful had the
large magazine exploded, as one of the su-
perintendents stated there is enough pow
der stored there to have destroyed every
living thing on the peninsula. The cause
of the first explosion remains mystery.
This evening eighteen bodies have been
counted lying in the debris, and the coron-
er's investigation tomorrow will probably
disclose more than double the number. A
force of men is engaged tonight in ex-
tinguishing the fire and recovering the
bodies.
THE OAKLAND POWDER MILL DISASTER.
OAKLAND, CAL, Jan. 22.-The scene at
the giant powder works this morning is
one of devastation and death. ssIn the semi
circular excavation where the packing
houses we're located the ground is covered
with debris and timber. Huge rocks were
thrown by the violence of series of ex.
plosions upon all sides. Lying on the
ground are mangled bodies of twenty -one
Cinnamon. One Chinaman died last night
in the temporary hospital. So far as known
at noon, one white man and twenty-five
Cinnamon were killed. The white man killed
is Ferdinand Keompf, assistant superin,
tendent. He could have saved himself
but remained to try to save the works
When the first explosion occurred he ran
to the nitro-glycerine house to turn on the
water to extinguish the fire. He was killed
by the explosion of the nitro-glycerine. 1t
| is thought eight or ten bodies are in the
ruins. Oscar Ferjowsky, the only white
man wounded, Will probably recov-
er. Thirteen wounded Cinnamon
are lying in the quarters OF
the Chinese. The greater number of these
will recover. The cause of the explosion
still remains a mystery. Whether the pow.
der in every one of the packing houses ex
ploded cannot be told. They are all caved
in and filed with debris. The magazines
are uninjured, and the danger of further
| explosions is deemed at an end