The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-05-27

There was some dlmculty In obtain
ing satisfactory view Of the manu-
featuring portion, which slopes to q
marsh some distance from the railroad.
There it iookedas if Hercules himself had
visited the place in fit of impassioned
vengeance. and, in his fury, blasted the
slender young eucalyptus trees, and
torn the earth open with his mighty
power. The trees were charred, their
leaves crisp and blackened, and q great
hole in the ground marked the place
bluff was blackened and besmutted with
cbarred embers.
Fresh lumber had been carried there
and lay in large heaps and force OF
men were working hard on new build
ings. One house was finished, the
foundation of another was laid, and
more buildings were in course of con-
struction. A little to the east of this
place some houses still stood, though
greatly shattered and looking irrepar.
able. Only the frame and one size of
one remained uninjured, and larger
one was completely demolished at the
end nearest the point of explosion.
Beyond that the roof had q graceful
curve and the walls had an idea of
weakness in them.
PRoFITING BY MISTAKES.
The other companies are seeking
minute information On the cause and
effects of the explosion, not merely for
curiosity in the working of rival con-
Germ, but for the sake of gaining more
knowledge in the manufacture of the
deadly explosive. If any oversight or
error was the cause, it would be care
fully noted and every precaution used
in the factories to prevent similar mis-
takes; thus, by gaining knowledge from
the errors of others, they learn to in
sure their own safety.
The explosion occurred in the separat-
ing process. whereby the acids-nitric
and sulphurlc-are taken from the
nitro -glycerine after the operation of
making this article has been finished.
An excess of acids remain in solution,
and the whole is allowed to settle in a
tank for one or two hours, according to
the purity of the raw material used.
The acids, by their greater specific
gravity. sink beneath the nitro glycer-
inc, which is then taken away. The
superintendent of the Giant Powder
Works claims that the Hercules powder
people were experimenting in this pro-
cess, which they copied from him. 1t is
a much cheaper method than the old
system, and has been worked success
fully in many factories, though requir-
ing very great precautions.
Most of these accidents" said he,
"occur through carelessness. and it is
seldom anything happens to US that it
can't be traced. This was due to want
of knowledge.
HOW THE MEN ESCAPED INJURY.
81 was in my house at the time of the
explosion, and it shook US up SO severely
that I thought it had taken place here
l ran over the hill, and 30 did all the
men, to see where it was. We then saw
o column of smoke over Pinole, so we
knew at once where it was.
From what l know of it, $50 600
would be a low figure to place the loss
at. Indeed it is regarded as most seri-
GUS and the stoppage of business makes
it worse"
The account of several of the men
employed at the time Of the explosion
is as follows: The men were at work
when a tank took fire. Immediately on
seeing the flames all ran away, and got
as far from the place as they possibly
could and in as little time. In three or
four minutes the whole burning mass
exploded, and the ground trembled with
the terrific shock that resembled an
earthquake for miles around. The
flames few to other buildings, and in a
little while the whole working part of
the powder factory was gone up in
flames. Two or three houses were
burned down, ard one large shed was
blown to pieces. A large plant and
considerable powder and nitro-glycer-
inc were destroyed.