Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-01
Dynamite Being Used on Power
House Ruins.
THE INSURANCE LOSSES
No New Developments in the Bus
mess Situation.
DAMAGE BY EXPLOSIONS

Win the AID OF dynamite was continued
early this morning, and it is expected that
long before dark the last brick that now
occupies dangerous position will be dis
lodged.
Yesterday afternoon, after the first cor
ner attacked that at 14th and d streets.
had succumbed to the explosive the corner
at 1o1a and d streets was approached, but
here the contractor and his men did not
have such an easy job, and the work was
forced to be left until this morning This
corner was very unstable, and seemed at
any moment liable to topple over on the
adjoining property. 1t proved, however, to
be more strongly constructed and less dam
aged than at first supposed, and last even
Ing four charges were fired under it with
out much visible effect Its resistance tn
the explosive may be accounted for in the
TACT that the base OF this tower was more
soildIy constructed than any of the other
corners. 1t had no windows, and the walls
were thicker and seemed to be more solid
work was stopped at clock and guards
posted around the dangerous spot all night
Early this morning The corner was again
attacked, and heavier charge of dyna-
mite than that used before was put in
When everything was in readiness for the
Diast the spectators We're warned on the
pennsylvania avenue side that the north
east corner might fall with the southeast
one, and this had the desired effect of in
duclng the greater part of them to retire
across the avenue. After a warning shout
that seemed intensified by the silence that
preceded the explosion, the connection was
made, and with crash the corner wall
Ieil out, leaving the walls on either side
standing. The charge was such a heavy
one that several unpleasant incidents that
might have ended disastrousIy but for a
mere chance occurred
Caused Damage,
A heavy piece of timber used in Snoring
Up the base of the wall to prevent the
debris from being blown in all directions
by the force of the explosion was driven
against the wall"of a brick structure on
the southwest corner of 1917 and d streets
and almost through it, Another heavy
timber went through the window and did
some damage to crockery on~the inside
At L534 d street heavy timber took the
window completely in, while piece OF
scantllng that was headed directly for the
open doorway Of the Union Transfer Com
panys stable, where a dozen men We're
standing, was stopped in its flight by
lamp post. The piece of wood did not reach
the men. but the lamp post was completely
demolished. Probably the most serious
consequence of the blast occurred at J22
Big street. A heavy timber was lifted
completely over the brick house on the
corper. some thirty feet into the air and
hurled throl gb the side of the frame house
at the number stated. The timber entered
between the roof and the ceiling Of the
second floor. and while it did not cause any
Injuries to the inmates of the house, sue
ceeded in making quite a hole in the hall
and demolishing bureau full of orria-
ments. BY an irony of fate the house has
just bteh repapered and repanted. The
grocery store on the northeast corner OF
1312 and d streets, although the most ex-
posed TO the DANGER was not INJURED in the
slightest save for pane of glass broken in
the front window. A piece of the glass by
curious happening fell upon watermelon
and cut it in half. A restaurant on the
southeast corner also suffered some window
panes broken.
The remaining pieces of the wall occupied
very dangerous position, and seemed at
any moment ready to fall outward. They
were taken down later in the day.
From a spectators standpoint the bring
ing down of the northeast corner of the
building wss the prettiest sight of the
whole operation. heavy charge was put
in, apd it succeeded in not only bringing
down the corner, but a portion of the front
wall as well. The charge was of sufIi-
cient size to blow out the foundation and
allow the walls to crumble to the earth
without falling outward and endangerins
the building of the Washington and Mou~
Vernon railway on the opposite corner. The
northwest corner was attacked next, and
tEen the center with it's supporting wall
was the next to go.
Shortly after the charge of dynamite was
placed under the northwest corner the two
safes located near the front door We're
opened, end this delayed the blasting an
hour.
The outer doors had to be cut from their
fasteningS on account of the condition Of
the knobs controlling the combination The
irtense heat had melted and run them to-
gether so that it was impossible to effect
an entrance by their aid. The inner doors,
ait hough warped by the heat, were easily
unlocked and the contents of the safes re-
in @
The safes contained a great number of
tickets, probably thousands of dollars
worth, and the company's books. Every
thing in the safes was in the best possible
condition. with the sole exception of one or
two packages of tickets, that had been dis
colored by water which had percolated
through the roof of the vault. The heat
and flame that ragged SO fiercely and de-
structively about the vault had not injured
a single article contained in 1t, and the Off
cials of the company are congratulating
themselves this afternoon on this one lucky
outcome of the conflagration.
The northwest corner was then success
fully blown down. and the gang of laborers
was put to work on the northeast cor
down in a few moments, leaving but the
center as menace to safety.
steam Engineers' Loss.
The members of Washington Associa-
tion, No. 1, National Association of Steam
central power house of the Capital Trac-
ticn Company was entirely destroyed by
the fire Wednesday night, will meet to-
morrow evening at o'clock at the Az
street power house of the Metropolitan
Railway Company. for the purpose of max
ing arrangements for securing new head
quarters.
During the past eighteen months the as
sociation was located on the fifth floor Of
the Capital Traction building, in quarters
rendered for its use by the company
These quarters the association had fitted
up In elegant manner. besides which
they contained models of some Of the most
improved steam machinery in use. The
walls were hung with paintings and en-,
cravings, and the association was grad
ually accommodating a large and valuables
library.
Among the volumes in the latter ana
bound in the form Of an atlas was a set
OF engarvings of all the United States
cruisers. the gift of Chief Engineer Mel
Vile.
The association carried policy of In
suranee amounting to $500, but this is but
a small portion of its loss, besides which
many of Its former treasures can never
be replaced.
One Of the last acts Of the association