The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-29
GONE UP IN SMOKE.
Terrific Explosion at the Calif0r.
mia Powder Works.
Four Thousand Pounds of Nitrc-Glycsrine Go
Of at Once-1he Shock Is Felt
Einety Niles Away

There have been several explosions at the
powder works az and in the vicinity of
Pinole Point of recent years, hut none so
serious as that which occurred yesterday
morning, almost entirely wrecking ia @
works. TIE sheds will. however, be rebuilt
as soon as possible and operations resumed
The last serious explosion occurred about
three years ago.
The manufacture of dynamite, litho-
fracteur. giant powder and other "high ex-
plosveS, as they are called, all depends on
the production of nitro-glycsrine, a substitu-
tion-pr0duct obtained by acting on gIy-
cerine with mixture of nitric and sulphuric
acids at a low temperature. The product is
usually received in water, in which it is
very slightly soluble. aud collects as a sort
of oily liquid, extremely liable to spon-
taneous explosion. When the nitro
gycerine is absorbed BY fine saNd or dia-
tomaceous earth il constitutes the litho-
fracteur, dynamite or giant powder used In
blasting operations.
THE UTMOST CARE USED.
At the PinOle works the utmost care s
used to prevent an explosion and to mini =
mize the risks If such an event should occur.
Nevertheless, not even the oldest and most
experienced workmen are able TO prevent a
calamity when the chemical action has
reached certain stage, denoted by the
formation of red fumes of nitric peroxide
When those appear they at once denote
that the action is too energetic or that the
vessels containing the acids and the
glyeerine are too warm. The warning Is so
short that there Is rarely time to do any
thing except 30 escape as fast as the limbs
SpuTTed on by impending death, can carry
the workmen from the scene. This is what
they did yesterday, and when the warning
was given nearly hundred persons sought
refuge from the coming crash. 1t was
probably five minutes from the time the red
fumes were noticed tn the mOmen when,
with crash that seemed like the crack Of
doom, the charge OF 1000 pounds of nitro
giycerIne went up In smoke, aud the hill
sides for miles around shook as in the throes
OF an earthquake.
THE WORKMEN ESCAPED.
The four workmen in immediate charge,
namely, Foreman James Taylor, John De-
Jesse, Peter Mcclellan and Thomas Acton.
escaped unhurt, rs did gang of forty CHI
neSe employed at the works. The air for
half mile around was filed with frag-
ments OF timbers and iron work. but provi-
dentially the entire colony of 100 or more
persons escaped without scratch
The direct damage is estimated at about
$50, 600, which sum is estimated as neces-
sary 10 restore the buildings and machinery,
but an equal sum will probably be lost in
delays during rebuilding and the possible
most precisely at o'clock A. NJ.
Superintendent Qunlan vas iE San Fran
cisco at the time of the explosion, but act
ing Superintendent Pollock promptly put
gangs of men 10 work with hose and fire
apparatus 10 case any buildings should be
fired. OF the two nitro-g iycerine houses
not even timber was left standing, and
about the only things remaining 10 mark
the works are the site and the well. In
Pinole itself not pane of glass escaped,
and the smaller and unsubStaQtial buildings
were leveled, while others ofsa more pre-
tenious character have been badly shaken.
The effects of the shock were very per-
ceptible in Oakland. Windows were broken
and houses shaken. At Haywards the same
result was noticed. In San Francisco the
shock was comparatively slight, but on
the east side Of the bay the vibrations were
transmitted along the foothills all the way
to San jose and Los Gatos. At San Jose
windows ratified, and the general impression
was tina; an earthquake was in progress.
AT Los Gatos people hurried from their
houses under the same impression. At Dry
town, in San Mateo County. the shaking an
was considerable and was attributed to an
earthquake.
The passengers on the Oregon express.
which was rounding the curve al Point
Pnole at the time, had narrow escape
aud jumped to their feet thinking that dyna-
miters were attempting to wreck the train.