The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-10
IT SHOOK THE EARTH.
Terrible Explosion of Powder
Works in California.
SIX MEN KILLED OUIR'GH' u
The O,bers Had Six Minutes Time to
Run-San Francisco Ratified Ken
Miles Away.

Berkeley, this morning IesHte
in the utter destruction Oh
those works, as well as those of the San
Francisco Chemical Company, located
on the same peninsula. Ihree
white men and three Chinese were Killed,
and half a dozen Cinnamon were
more or less injured. The amount OF
property destroyed at the immediate scene
OF the explosion is estimated at $780,
900, but there is scarcely whole
pane of glass within mile OF
the works. and considerable damage was
also done in Oakland and San francisco.
The fact that such a terrific explosion
should result in SO small loss OF lie
seems almost miraculous, but stlil
stranger feature of the calamity is the effect
of the shocks on localities so far removed
from the scene. 1t IS fully ten miles from
Flemings point to San Francisco. and yet
five of the shocks were so distinct
in this city that hundreds of panes
of heavy plate glass were broken,
chandeliers and other pendants swayed as
if shaken by an earthquake. horses became
frightened and people rushed out OF their
homes and places of business in terror.
Upon a hull not 100 yards from the nitro
giycerine house which exploded this
morning there were forty-two white men
employed, and beyond, around the wind
ing road that leads to the magazine and
boarding houses. were forty-three Chinese
busily at work in the packing-houses. At
the first explosion at the nltro-g lycerine
house they ran for safety, and to this the
survivors owe their lives. The nitro
glycerine house first exploded. 1t was on
the brow of hill. facing the bay. Here
there were, according to the statements OF
the men employed, about 1900 pounds of
the deadly explosive. Only one man, Dick
erson, SO far as known, was here at
the time. The terrific conclusion of the
nitro-glycerlne exploded the material In
the washing and mixing house near by.
The sheds took lire Immediately and
burning brands were thrown high in the
air and far away. Some struck the sui
phur storehouse out at the end of the
wharf, and others presumably crushed
into the big magazine where the giant
and black powders were stored. These
magazines went next. First the giant
powder storehouse exploded. Here there
were fully 100000 pounds of giant powder
or dynamite. The storehouse was built
deep in the side of the hill. with only
small structure projecting, fastened
with iron doors. Only vast
hole about 500 feet across remains
to mark the spot. The conclusion
of the explosion of this magazine exploded
the black powder magazine, about 800
yards east of this. Between them were
the packing-houses where the Chinese
were employed. They had fed at the first
alarm. Fully 100000 pounds were stored
in the black powder magazine. 1t was
built like the other magazines, half under
ground. East of it. separating it from the
sulphuric acid works and the boarding
houses beyond, was high embankment
thrown up for the special purpose of pro-
lection.
The explosion of this black powder
magazine was terrific. 1t shattered every
thing on the peninsula which the previous
explosions had left. 1t was the force of
this explosion which was felt most in San
Francisco. Windows were broken and
chimneys topped over ali over Berkeley,
as well as in San Francisco and Oakland.
Nearer the scene of the explosion the
effect was more marked, and the beholdor
is Tiled with wonder that so many es-
capped death. The family of the
superintendent of the chemical works
resided on the premises. The
house was literally wrecked, but the in
mates escaped without scratch. The
side walls were loosened and spread out
ward ike toe sides of hopper. The front
stairway was twisted entirely around.
and the plastering from the walls lay
SIX inches deep on the floor, get the only
member OF the family injured was ont of
the building at the time. He was sitting
in buggy in front of the house The
vehicle was overturned by the conclusion
and its occupant slightly hurt. A
dozen other houses in the same neighbor.
hood were completely shattered, vet only
slight injuries were received by their occu-
pants. One reason for the small loss
of life was the fact that the
nrst explosion took place in the
a small building where only three men
were at work. These were all killed. but
the second explosion did not occur until
after an interval of about six minutes. so
that nearly every one had chance to take
step toward safety.
The most terrific Of the series of expIo-
sions were those caused by the blowing
up of the powder magazines. These were
situated at a considerable distance
from the nitro-glycerine house. and
were exploded BIZ the concus.
sion. There were three of these
repositories. and they went up one after
another in quick succession. One con-
tanned $50 tons of giant powder, another
$50 tons of black powder, and the third
held large quantity of dynamite. The
side of the hill where these were
located now bears not vestioe
OF their occupancy, and the
place that knew them is represented bv
a great chasm which extends down below
the line of the water in the bav. The
actual cause of the explosion viii never
be known. The only men who could give
any information on the subject are stark.
stiff and mutllated in the morgue. The
names of these unfortunates are:
WALLACE Dickinson, aged 26, single.
CHARLES GoBEsDEY, aged y. single.
john Bows, aged - recently married
lung SHAN, Chinese WORKMAN.
Mock 10y. Chinese workman.
Another Chjnaman, Unidentified.
The bodies of the three men who wers
killed were recovered. Dickerson was in
charge OF the nitro-gl ycerine house, located
near the wharf. and the other men were in
the nltro-g ycerine washing house
located near by. There bodies were
found ii the debris terribly
mangle1. D;ckerson's arms and legs
were broken and twisted, and his ewes
blown'out. The others were badly multi
ated. Bowe's body was thrown into the
water close al hand, where IL was found
and taken up by his comrades. He had
been married not quite a year DickerSon
was - years OF age and single. The other
unfortunate, Giehelige, was q years old