Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-04-14
EXPLOSIONS n POWDER NILS


scene alter = heavy mill has exploded
cannot imagine the destruction involved
in the immense force exerted BY ton or
two Of frst-class powder. The first ex-
pl0sion after my connection with the
works occurred IN the packing house
where the powder was being put in kegs
for delivery TO the government. It took
place about Z o'clock on short Decem-
Der morning, just as was eating nv
breakfast. A pane Of glass from the
window six feet away suddenly slapped
the side Of my head, and st the same
time heard and felt tremendous re-
port and heavy jar which made me think
the world was coming To an end. Run
ming out Of doors I saw heavy column
Of smoke shooting up in the air: ali the
tree tops ia the vicinity Of the building
were full Of burning powder bags which
gave the scene q strangely wierd look In
the twilight Of q dismal winters morn
ing. The only occupant Of the mill
was blown into thousand pieces, the
largest bit found being his left
arm. These relics Of poor humanity
were scattered around in the woods for
fully half a mile from the mill At night
when the coroner arrived 20 hold an In
quest he asked for the corpse. Some one
silently pointed to peach basket placed
on the stone wall; il was full Of smell
pieces of flesh and bones, all that was left
Of staIwart man. The victims wife
and daughter were in the house he had
occupied not over 200 feet from the mill:
the house was racked to pieces. but
neither received scratch, and the horse
in the stable beside the house was found
roaming around the yard unframed.
The next explosion that witnessed
took place at noon OF July dav. The
hay in the yard about the mills had been
cut and eight OF ten men had been work
ing around the corning mill all the fore
noon drawing the hay away to the barn.
At noon they went to dinner, and while
they were eating the mill exploded.
killing only it's regular attendent. If
had occurred either m hour earlier or
later eight or ten lives would have been
lost. The mill stood on the bank Ola
pond about two acres In extent. The
explosion forced the watcr completely
out Of the pond and over the dam, leav-
ing nothing but the creek running
through the center Where the building
had stood pit was dug large enough to
hold two-story house.
At one time man was discharged
from the works for neglect of duty. Al
fortnight after he met one Of the en-
ployees In the village near and cues
toned him as to whether the men who
worked at night were changed at the
same hours IS formerly. He was an
swered in the affirmative. That night
about fl O'clock / was awakened bv q
tSf&rn n
voice prOclaiming that the Office was
on fire. = This building stood on
rather steep hill near. It was . COM
bination Of Office and carpenter shop, and
was used on occasion rs storage house
for powder when other places were full.
On hearing the cry Of Gre pulled on my
clothesz-in my excitement getting inside
Of two vests and started out Of the
house, picking up . pail Of water on my
way. AT the gate ! met the foreman, .
tall lank Yankee. That's right, said
he, ''hurry up and follow mcl'' He
threw himself against the door and burst
it open There was the FIRE flaming ii
one corner Of the carpenter shop. a
large pile OF shavings had been raked up
and set On fire apparently With . slow
match As we entered the flames begsn
TO gather headwav and burned up bright
". At that moment happened 70
think that there were about two. hundred
kegs Of powder stored Ia the room d.
rectly over the carpenter shop and that
the floor between consisted only 0f loose
boards laid down on the beams Ny
courage came near leaving me and
shouted 10 the foreman, who was before
me For Gods sake, come back
There's powder overhead II 4 know
that said be cOolly { but we must put
out the fire. Taking Of bis coat, he
threw it over the shayings and
then threw himself full length
on top Of it. At the same time
he called out 70 me: Now throw on the
waterw and did it. thoroughly drench-
ing him and checking the flames mate
rally. BY the time the other workmen
came running up the fire was out. Turn
ing and grasping me By the hand the
brave Yankee exclaimed q would not
have entered this building il the face Of
such danger as threatened Us for all the
company Is worth if hadn't thought it
vas my duty. Examination showed /
that tho Office had been robbed q several
costly rifles and other things, and then
the Gre was started to hide che crime.
Several days after the employee who had
met the discharged workman On the day
81 the FIRE happened 90 remember about
his interview with him end reported Il.
Two or three other suspicious circum-
stances were recalled. he was arrested.
and SO the stolen goods found in his
room TTe had robbed Tie slice And So