Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-02
Dynamite Being Used on the Power
House Walls.
TEE IMMENSE SMOKESTACK REMAINS
It is Believed to Be in Good Con-
dition.
WORK OF DEMOLITION


tractor. the work of blowing down the
walls of the ruined power house with
dynamite was not completed last night.
The work Of taking down the southeast,
northeast and northwest corners took up
about all the working time of the day, and
1t was found necessary to leave the por-
ton OF the center wall over the main en-
trance on E street until this morning. A
rope and wfndlass was used with effect on
some portions of the front and side walls
last night, and when the time came to
knock or work the two walls on either
side of the southeast corner and the center
wall. with its abutting wall, were the only
menacing parts Of the structure left stand
ing.
While the men were at work this morn
ing putting the blasts under the main en-
trance another gang put q wire cable
around a part Of the southeast corner bu,
the wall was so solidly constructed, the
coal vault having been located there, that
the cable was broken In the attempt. An
ether trial with rope on a different Dor
ton of the wall later on had the desired
effect. and al II o'clock the only really
dangerous spot was at the corner Of 131s
and D streets, where the south wall had
been left standing. This was taken down
later in the afternoon by rope and wind
less.
Foundation Blown Out.
: The charge put under the front wall was
a large one and had the desired effect of
completely blowing out the foundation and
allowing the wall to crumble to the EARTH
so that few bricks reached even the other
side Of e street. and none fell on the grass
In the park. The work of snoring up the
base of the wall was we'll doae, and no
fragments were thrown a distance of more
than ten feet. The blast dislodged but
small norton a WA
this, with the high part Of the wall left
standing near 1.-The smokestack, Will be
blown down before work is stopped this
evening.
The precautions to prevent accidents were
ample, aid so far as Is known not even a
finger has been crushed in any of the at
tempts to dislodge the dangerous portions
OF the ruins. An immense crowd was out,
notwithstanding the raw and chilly breeze
which blew from the northeast, and the
north side of the avenue was lined until
after the explosion occurred.
Effects of the Wind
The wind this morning made the work
doubly dangerous. and men were detailed
from the various gangs at work upon the
walls to stand at an angle with the totter-
ing portions and give warning, should they
see any signs of a premature tumble.
While the high portions swayed to and
fro in the breeze and several false alarms
tccls and timbers and seek safety in flight,
no accident occurred, and Contractor Allen
Is well pleased over getting this part of
the building down so easily.
Fire Is still eating its way through the
debris on the inside Of the power house.
and the tiny tongues seem looking for
whatever was left unnoticed by the giant
bursts of fame which destroyed the build
ing Wednesday night. The iron Of the
machinery still shows evidences Of great
heat, and a stream of water poured up0n
this portion Of the ruins Immediately pro-
duces a great cloud of steam. It will be
some time before the workmen will be
able to get inside Of the ruins to clear
away any of the rubbish, and nothing CT
this sort will be attempted until every
portion of the wall which is considered st
all dangerous Is pulled or blown down.
An Object Of Curiosity.
The huge smokestack is still an object
ton could be gained today as to whether
the company intends to leave 1t standing
or not. The stack appears to be in ex-
ceilent condition and almost uninjured by
the flames, and the Traction company NAV
decide to leave 1t for the next tenant of
the property or to use 1t themselves upon
the erection Of a new power house.
The Belt railway cars were running I'D
and down 14th street this morning. us
usual the threatening walls ON that thor
oughfare having been removed. 1t win be
some little time. however, before the track
OF the Washington and Mt. Vernon electric
road on street Is cleared. and until that
time the trains Of this company win start
from 1871 and D streets.
As soon as the walls are blown down q
force Of men IL put to work clearing up the
debris and earting 1t back TO the ruins,
the distance In nearly all cases being only
few feet. and the street IL soon clean and
ready for traffic aRnfu