The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-03-29
snecial to the REcoRp-uN1oN.

SAN Francisco, March 2S.-At two
minutes to o'clock this morning the
California Powder Works at Hercules
Point, near Pinole, were blown up with a
crash that was heard for miles around. a
hundred men were employed at the place
at the time, but through chain of lucky
circumstances not even scatch was re-
ceived by any of them.
The disaster took place in the nitro
glycerine house, and about 400 pounds of
that combustibIe exploded. This particu-
lar establishment is right on the brow of
2 hill overlooking the bay and faces the
magazines, which are protected by huge
bulkheads and earthworks. Owing to the
great danger connected with its operation,
only the most skilled and reliable work.
men are detailed within it, and the ut
most precautions are taken to prevent the
possibility of any catastrophe.
At 4 O'Clock this morning the days
work opened up as usual, the nitro-gly-
cerine house being in charge of Foreman
James Taylor, Peter Mcclellan, John De-
Jesse and Thomas Acton. The glycerine
and nitric and sulphuric acids were
brought up from the storehouses, and the
mixing started and progressed satisfac-
torily until about seven minutes to Z
One of the tank watchers gave a cry Of
alarm at that time, and well he might
From the surface of the compound red
nitric fumes were beginning to arise and
those who saw knew that an explosion
was imminent
With a cry of alarm they fled from the
building shouting as they went and the
signals of danger created a wild tumult
among the other worKmen outside. One
more cool and thoughtful than the others
EfnIOnnH q the angina hnllSn no ha INV 4
the brow of the summit, and then he set
the alarm whistle going and let the viii
layers and all around know of the danger
that was imminent
Several minutes had now passed by
since the red fumes had been first no.
tced, and by this time huge cloud of
heavy smoke was hanging over the seeth-
ing fluid. From its center flashes of light
burst forth occasionally, getting fiercer
and fiercer as the moments went by, I'M
til ut last the crash came.
The force of the explosion was so great
that windows were shattered and NOV
able articles thrown down a mile away
In the air over the hillside the debris fell
in shower for couple of minutes after
wards, and the machinery that had been
in the working rooms was now scattered
in fragments on the hillsides for couple
OF hundred yards around. Not a stick of
the glycerine house was in fact left I'M
splintered.
The total loss of property will reach
100000. 1t is as far as the preservation
ofIife is concerned, one of the most for
tunate explosions that has ever happened
here, as everybody had time to get out of
the way. The Oregon express was Just
rounding the curve when the explosion
took place, and the passengers jumped to
their feet and thought dynamiters were at
work. Pieces of the destroyed building
We're picked up two miles distant.
No blame at all is attached to the work
men, for the accident was one of those
unfortunate occurrences that seem to defy
all the precautions and ingenuity of man.
Oakland, eighteen miles distant from the
disaster. Chandeliers were thrown down
and glasses broken as far south as Four
teenth street, and in the northern part of
the city the crash was heard by all. Many
thought it was an earthquake.