Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-10-16
CORONER'S INQUEST.
SOME NEW AND INTERESTING TES-
TlMONY GIVEN YESTERDAY.
One Hundred Tons OF Powder Was Fx-
pIoded-Fifty Tons Estimated to be In
the Big magazlne-A RemaI kable
Theory-Funeral of Daniel Rarkins.

I
DUPONT powder mill explosion made one
important discovery yesterday. 1t Is
that William Il. Green had on more than
one occasion departed from his accus :
toned cArefulness and not only used
solder not provided by the firm, but APP
piled the soldering iron when red hot.
Sometimes 1t was heated to Euch q
degree that sparks flew from it on being
taken from the fire. The jury also ascer
tanned an approximate Of the amount OF
powder which had been blown up, as
well as the quantity stored in the big
magazine.
The testimony of the five witnesses
heard yesterday morning was similar to
that published on Tuesday. with few
additional points. 1t was sworn that the
amount of powder packed in each Of the
boxes which Green soldered wss from
100 to 100 pounds; that they had
never been dragged along the floor, but
always carried to the door of the maya.
zine where Green did his work. 1t was
also testified that the screws used in
fastening the boxes were invariably
driven below the surface of the wood.
Tie theory was also advanced by Frank
Kelly, one of the witnesses, that hot
iron will not explode powder. On a
clsse examination, he admitted that he
had never made an experiment and only
spoke from heresay None of the wit
nesses had ever believed that Greens
work was more dangerous than any other
work in the mill, for as one of the wit
nesses said, "a mans life is always in
| danger at whatever work he does, there
fore, l never thought any particular
work more dangerous than another
Yet, strange to say, everyone Of the wit.
nesses seemed to think there was little
danger in working in the powder mill,
One man declared, u never dreamt Of
danger, and would have no fear OF work
ing IN any mill or magazine in the yard,
but my wife would not hear of me going
back since the Cay of the explosion. All
the witnesses examined in The forenoon
described Green as very careful man
who took every precaution to ensure
safety, and one man declared that he
heard Green remark that he would rather
do that work himself than see another DO
1t. Any Of the witnesses who had ever seen
second handed boxes used declared that
they were always as safe as new ones,
and only to be distinguished by the less
brilliant lustre OF the tin
At ~ 30 o'clock the jury decided to
take recess for dinner. Several OF the
witnesses became recalcitrant, and pro
tested against being kept there while
the jury took dinner The bel.igerenta
were led by Timothy Toomey, who rIdely
demanded expenses from the coroner.
The jurors thought that they had been
put TO as much incoRvenis ice as the
witnesses, and refused to reconsider
their decision. Charles l. DUPONT re-
monstrated aud his interference pacifed
the kickers
Francis G. Dupont testified that he
was a member Of the firm OF the E. l.
DUPONT Company. 1t was almost i'm
| possible to say how much powder was
stored there. he had just gotten back
from a trip the night before the
explosion, and could not say how
much was ia the yard Eugene
and Charles l. DUPONT had charge He
had been int the big magazine since
aud bout one third OF the usual stock
carried is there This might be fifty
tons. 1t was never altogether flied but
there were 100 tons of powder there at a
time The government was dilatory ID
taking away powder some time ago, but
he was not prepared TO say that it was
on that account so much powder was
there The prismatic powder manufac
tured is for the United States navy, and
he thought 1t was inspected before leav-
ing the yard. He did not think that il
the big magazine was blown up any
mora dsmage would be done than what
happened
Charles l.. DUPONT Of the firm, testified
that he had often seen Green at work. The
large magazine was packed to height
OF ten feet with powder. There might
be fifty or sixty tons in it. There wa,
about 100 tons Of powder destroyed
There were seven mills blown up and one
magazine. He did not think that had tbs
| large magazine exploded the force of this
conclusion would have been any greater
He had no idea Of what caused the OK
plosion or in which building 1t orlgs
mated.
At this. point the coroner complained
that Timothy Toomey, who tended the
door, wished 10 put the jury to every in
convenience George Dougherty testi-
ged that he was fifteen years in the EN-
ploy Of the DuPonts and had worked
there on the day Of the explosion H,
often wsrked With Green and helped hin
to solder the CANS Green worked on tn,
sill of the door when sold sripg and wit.
ness carried the boxes to him. Tn,
heating furnace was about twenty fee
away. He sawthe iron red hot and saw
sparks fly from it. He saw Green TAX,
the iron while it was at red heat and
solder with il He remarked to Greer
that the iron was too hot and warned
him to stop Nesting it SO much. He saw
Green use solder that the firm
did not sanction or provide
because he could get NOR,
work done by It Green would hide this
solder when any member Of the firm
would come around. Tue solder fur.
nishsd By the firm would melt at very
low heat, but would not set as fast Al
harder solder would. None Of the mem
, bers of the firm knew anything about
Green using this ether solder. After be
warned Green about using the red no
iron, Green stopped using It. Other
wise, he would have reported him. III
ll,did not know whether Green ever used
it afterwards or not.
John Moore testified that he worked
eighteen years with the E l. DuPon'
Company. He worked near the iroi
bridge that day and was there when thu
explosion occurred. He worked will
, Green while he was soldering the can
and thought him q careful man. H.
never saw the iron very red. he neve
saw any sparks fly off it. He only say
one kird OF solder used The furnace
was fifteen yards away. He helped Greer
about five months ago The boxes weigl
about 100 or 100 pounds He helpe'
Green in company with DOAgherty bu
once
Charles Dupont here sisted. said