The San Francisco call., 1898-04-30

SANTA CRUZ, April 29.-There Is no escape from the theory that the eX- plosion at the California Powder Works here was caused by an act of treach- cry. That Is the calm judgment of William Peyton, one of the inventors of modern artillery powder. While he is not writing or talking on the sub ject, his views are clear and pointed. He believes there was treachery back of the disaster.
 Mrs. Martha Wilson, who lives on Beach llill, contributes a little testi- mony as to the identity of the three dead men whose remains are not known here. She says she saw two Spaniards with blankets the day of the explosion. They were going toward the powder works. The blankets have been found and Coroner Clark expects to have them before the inquest on Monday.
 Aman named Kenny who works at the mill, saw stranger peeping through a knothole in a board fence near the works about the time of the explosion. That might account for the third body
 Government agents are quietly work ing on the case and nobody is allowed on the grounds. There is no excite ment here over the explosion, because people know nothing about the mys tery of making modern priSmatic and military powder. The public diSmiSSeS the question with the simple verdict that the disaster was accidental, but suspicious become more and more grave in the minds of those who know the details of the explosion.
 Colonel Bernard Peyton, In an inter view with The Call correspondent, said:
 There Is absolutely no way to solve the mystery. It is almost certainty that the explosion began in the room where wet guncotton was dried and it is equally certain that all experience has shown that wet guncotton is harm less. It will burn quietly without do- ing danger, and it cannot be exploded by a blow from hammer or by rife or pistol shot, so the entire matter is mystery; but I do not believe it was done by spies.
 Colonel Peyton made the following significant admission concerning the explosion:
 II think we have plainly proved that the explosion began in the guncotton drying room; also that no human being was there at the time. I admis that spontaneous explosion in this place seems absolutely impossible, and that a man skilled in chemistry and eXplo- sives might have set a fuse with a de- tonating cap in such a way as to cause the disaster. I disagree with my son and others, however, who hold some such theory"
 Colonel Peyton says that about a hundred new men were working on the grounds at the time of the explosion. Some of them, he says, were probably killed and unidentified. There is a ru- nor that some of the new men were very careless and that one of them re- gently frightened old hands by upset ting two cans of nitro -glycerine from a wheelbarrow, a terrible explosion being averted only by the fact that the cans struck soft earth. The accident theory as these-green men handling danger ous explosives in careless way.
 In view of recent developments let ter which Lieutenant Governor Jeter sent to Governor Budd at 8 o'clock Sunday night becomes very rett telephoned to Lieutenant Governor Jeter on Saturday that the Governor desired him to call on Superintendent Peyton and ask whether Colonel Peyton believed the powder mills needed protection. MT. mitted that the interests involved were very important. Lieutenant-Govern Jeters letter was as follows:
 SANTA CRUZ, Cal, April 23. 1898.
 My Dear Governor: Al your request, through General Barrett, I went to the California Powder Works this morning and talking with Colonel Peyton, the superintendent, as to the advisability of having military protection for the plant. The superintendent says that he does not apprehend any trouble, but whilst the
 
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