Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-10

OF the danger OF going too near the burn
ing building. He made no reply, but drove
| UP TO the fence. and within eight feet OF
the drying-room. / remarked to some per-
sons standing near me that Chiet Far-
icy Is In a mighty bad place Mr. Farley
had just jumped from his buggy when the
explosion In the drying-room occurred,
and his horse was thrown to the ground
There were" continued the witness
twelve trays OF yellow powder In the
room, each containing eighteen or twenty
pounds. This powder Is five times stronger
than gunpowder All Of us at the plug
ran Tor shelter after the explGson. There
were other drying rooms which might ex-
plode. and the situation was extremely
dangerous. In few minutes heard that
Mr.. John Il. Bland and Mr.. Charles y:
Romaine and others had been killed. ana
number Of persons injured
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
The witness then said: 1.-The fire was
started by the first explosion in the man
ufacturing- room. Charles Lee. who was
In the room at work at the time, told
me he did not know how the fire occur
red. He was at work at the time press
Ing powder and all at once there was
a flash above him and he ran out. My
opinion. said Mr.. Hoy. ''is that the dust
from the dry powder which covered the
walls OF the room. and which will ignite
from the slightest spark, was the cause
OF the FIRE | think a spark must have
been blown through an open window into
the room and ignited the dust
John T.. Wingfcld testified 10 being in
the yard near the drying-rOom when the
explosion occurred with a number OF
others, among them James w Perkins,
Mr. Romano. and others who were Killed.
Witness said he was knocked some TWEEN
~ or thirty steps by the force OF the
explosion
Mr. f.. ID. Beasley testified that Messrs.
Bland, Romano. Tosh. and others were
In the yard attempting TO put out the
fire In the manufacturing-roOm when the
dreadful explosion occurred. Other wit
nesses were examined to the same effect,
when the jury were adjourned over until
l O'Clock T. NJ. to-day
A THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
When the coroners jury met this after
noon Charles Lee (cOlored) gave the fol-
lowing testimony:
Il have been working at the fireworks
factory four years; Saturday / was help
ing 10 make the yellow powder; was IN
the yellow pOWdcr-rOOm by myself when
the first explosion took place pressing
the water out of batch Of yellow; there
were several barrels Of saltpetre, magne-
sia, and other things in the room. | was
at the press and heard the explosion. ana
| turned to run ont the door. when a
piece Of plank struck me and Knocked
me down. when | found myself ! was
lying In the yard, where my mother
found me, and she took me home, ! was
home when the second explosion occurred;
] cannot tell how the explosion occurred;
Saturday was the first day ! worked in
the room by mys.f: it was the first
time | ever made yellow powder by my
self; / had made two patches Of powder
and was making the third when the ex-
plosion occurred: there was about Two
double hands fun OF dry powder In the
room. sweepings from the floor; ] was
knocked senseless. and how / got out the
door | don't know; all the windows were
up at the time; spark could have been
blown through the door or windows: the
house was on fire when | came TO my
senses: / never knew Of an explosion In
the room before: only n partition sepa-
rated the drying-room and engine-room
from that which ] was in
The jury rendered verdict Of death
caused by an explosion in the fireworks
factory Of c. Y. Romane.
At special meeting Of the Council
held this afternoon 500 was apnropri-
fectei by the explosion in Romaine's fire.
works factory on Saturday
Miss Annie Elliott, Of Richmond. died
nj the residence Of her uncle. s. :. Eli
oft, in this city. to-day.