New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-08-31
HOW THE POWDER-HOUSE EXPLODED.
AN EYEWITNESS TELLS OF THE DESTRUCTION OF
LAFIIN 4 RANp'S MAGAZINE.

AN EYEWITNESS TELLS OF THE DESTRUCTION OF
LAFLIN & RAND's MAGAZINE.
CHICAGO, Aug. 30.-James Duhnstork, the
only person who has been found that the explosion
of the powderhouse yesterday, says: 81 walk Dg
toward John Jung's house, holding an umbrella over
my head. The wind came from my back and held the
umbrella back little which allowed me TO look ahead
was the Archer road, little over an eighth OF
milo away from Latin Rands powder house. and hap
pcned to be looking at it. The same instant that my
eyes rested and know why singled out this
particular powderhouse while there were so many 9TH
like 1t to mel, long, zgzag streak Of light
ming dartod the sky, and then fiery liue camo
down and struck squarely on the powderhouse
In the little time that elapsed between the
fash aud tho explosion l realized that some
thing terrible about to happen. 1 thought
fast that had determined to run long before could
a muscle OF my body to effect that OBJECT. Ihen
as II 1t had been swept away like mist, saw the
bricks and stones Of the powderhouse suddenly DIS
appear ia the earth. The ground shook beneath my
feet and cl utched at the swaying fence near me-
deep rumbiug noise filed ears aud the next insta mt
stream Of fire shot the air like the pictures have
often seen OF Mount vesuvus know no more Tor at
least ton minutes My umbrella snatchet out OF
my grasp as II by an unseen hand and was thrown
into the ditch. When recovered consciousness saw
that stones and bricks had fallen all around Mono
struck me- however. scrambling TO my feet started
for home. where have romaned. o.,., mill ,ooov.r
IL 10 thought that Mr.. aud Mrs Gum VIII recov er.
George Konn the farmer thro wn 200 feet from
his wagon, Is dead. Mrs. Deyine 10 low M,
There absolutely nothing left OF tue Lanin
Rand magazine Thousands OF sightseers have visited
the place. Tho excavation is $50 by 80 feet and ID
p laces Is 40 feet In depth. :,
The power OF q des tructive agent is wen
illustrated Brighton Park and the immediate vlcn-
explosion. Wndo wless houses, rock strewn
eds roofs cavod In and trees blasted aud stripped OF
their leaves present themselves on all sides Fences are
blown away that they are not TO be FOUND In spots
largo portions OF surface earth are blown away.
andng the force OF ths shock the actual ruin
caused Is not large and tho damage VIII not exceed
pany This Is owing, however, to the practical Isolation
OF the storehOuse. ,,
Across the road from the scene Of the explosion
lies the ditch. aud near him 10 the red pole OF
wagon tina belonged TO Farmer George Keen. Few
yards further is heap OF ruins all was left OF the
in heap partly covered by the Of thin boards OF
which her abode built. Boys had partly dug out
the cooking which the old woman was WORK
ing when tho crash came. The largest crowd, now
ever attracted to the dismantled houso OF
Justice Learney, which presented perfect picture OF
ruin and desozto The front OF the house and the sdo
facing the magazine caved iD and the roof gone
Tho Carney residence is not far from where CUM ana
his wife lived and where tho Earnswoth girl dod hero
the ruin also complete, The WOODWORK or tue nOuso
to-day. Between the Gull house and the scene OF
the xplosion there is OF trees. one or these
10 broken of squarey In the middle Dut
but the others unnjured, save only
that every leaf has been stripped from them as creamy
done by sharp knife. The greatest wonder OF all,
considering condition or the other magazines whc
contaln dynamite 10 that other explosions followed
The Oriental Hazard Dupont and American nagsBines
all smashed n but the black powder giant powder
dynamite and lycerine stored In them Is intact
aged The front aud side Of the building aud tho
roof missing.