The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-02
The Tug Fearless and Ship John Ena Were Passing Pno Yes
terday When the California Powder Works Blew Up The
Conclusion Almost Stopped the Tug and the Ship Hee1cd
Over Though IN a Heavy Gale.

Point the California Powder Works blew
up. For an instant the powerful towboat
quivered and almost came to a standstill
while the big ship heeled over from the
force of the conclusion. Shortly after
ward there was a second explosion and
then number of slighter detonations fol-
lowed.
II newer saw anything like it in all my
life" said Captain Dan Haskell of the tug
Fearless. 1.-THE explosion was terrific in
its force and the fame shot a hundred feet
into the air. Then the smoke and vapor
spread out until it looked like a gigantic
UNI brella, the handle being the thin col
umn of smoke that connected the earth
with the covering. The second explosion
was not as bad as the first, and it seemed
to spread right from the ground. Imme.
diately afterward there was third, and
then we heard several light ones as we
steamed along. By the aid of glasses l
saw a num- Der of houses in ruins, and
guessed from that that the loss of life
would be considerable"
The John Ena IS one of the handsome ST
ships in port to-day. She is named after
a well-known Hawaiian planter and is
owned principally in Honolulu and San
Francisco. The shares were placed at 800
each and in consequence there are more
people interested in the vessel than in any
other that comes to this port. She will
dock at the seawan to-day and will take
in stiffening for Puget Sound. At Tacoma
she will load lumber for Port Piri, in Aus
tralia.
The bark Theobald sails to-day for Coal
Bay, Alaska. She will take up twenty
miners to reinforce the gang already there
and the vessel will bring back about 1000
II IL >. 4 u
the second trip of the bark to the mines On
the last occasion she brought down 800
tons of coal and it proved Of such quality
and sold so readily that the owners have
| determined to develop the property. Over
10000 tons of coal will be sold in Alaska
this year. All the canneries and Govern
ment vessels, the Treadwell mines and the
mines of the Alaska Commercial Com
pany will be supplied and Sitka and
Juneau will be regular customers. Captain
| Swan Of the Theobald, who is well in
| formed about Coal Bay and its vicinity,
| says the mine is one of the most promis-
ing IN Alaska.
The steamer Jennie got back from Cooks
| Inlet yesterday. Captain Esser says that
there are over 5000 miners on the beach
and that nearly all are destitute. The only
| vessel to return from the Inlet before win
| ter is the Dora and she has only accommo-
dations for $50. II help is not sent before
winter sets IN Captain Esser says the suf-
! ferings of the miners will be awful and
the deaths many. All the salmon fleet
| had got away when the Jennie left. The
last to get away was the Prussia and she
had IS. 900 cases aboard.
The Occidental and Oriental Company's
Gaelic, that went ashore on the coast of
Japan, has been docked at Nagasaki and
inspected. Several of her plates are
broken and the frames hent. It will take
considerable time to repair her.
The Harbor Commissioners decided yes
terday to light the clock in the new post
office at the foot of Market street. Chief
Engineer Holmes told the board that as
soon as it was ascertained what the post
Office officials wanted in the shape of light
ing the necessary steps would be taken.
A light in the clock tower will be great
boon to people who have to catch the late
boats.
The Risdon Iron Works asked for an ex-