The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-17
SOME THEORIES.
Hard to Explain How nm Accident
Could Occur.


Gould Occur.
Washington, February 16.--There was
no smokeless powder on board the ship
and the ten-inch ammunition was made up
of brown prismadic powder Not only is
this powder most carefully packed in her
metically sealed copper cases but It's heat
resisting qualities are so great 1t can not
be ignited by the flames of a match. GOO
degrees Fahrenheit being the heat that
must be applied for some time TO set off
the powder On the other hand, 1t is
readily ignited, as in the case of the charge
In a gun, by the explosion of good guam
tity of fulminato.
Every precaution is adopted aboard shin
to safeguard the magazine. In its vicinity
sentry stands on duty continuously. At
S o'clock every night the temperature is
taken and the keys of the locked doors are
placed in the captains hands for the night.
The records OF the navy department show
that 81 degrees was the maximum temper
ature in tho Names magazine during the
past month, a very low and safe temporal
ture.
These facts make it extremely difficult 10
account for the explosion, particularly as no
visitors are allowed under any circums'anc
az TO go near the magazine. OF course IL Is
nossible that there was spontaneous com"
bnstion OF some illuminate or gun cotton IN
| tended for use in torpedoes. There Mele
| no steam pipes or furnaces near enough 10
| tho magazine To cause the belief tuat they
| might have exploded the powder. The cot,'
| bunkers there were in the neiSnpornoou,
and it is Just possible that in them misn'
| he found the origin of the accident IL We
| ponds on whether they were empty vi w. -
| tained coal TO some depth. 1t was saiu ~
| he tho practice OF commanders to empty inc
| fore hunkers of the ship first, in winch case
| IN, Names bunkers in that Quarter Wei.
| probably emptied. owing TO the iehs.h VI
her stay in Havana harbor H. howetei,
TIE bunkers were not entirely empty ,ney
mechanically contained within themselves
| elements OF danger that iuisne
the explosion. Inc
| The department within recent years mas
heen troubled by complaints OF spon'an-
eous combustion of coal in the ships pank
| ers which have endangered the hVes W
the crews and the safety OF sailors. lne
| Cincinnati twice at least, mas oesl
Obliged to flood her magazine TO preven'
her blowing up during fires OF this kinu
and the cruiser Boston hasrbeen IN nc
same condition In some OF these cases
shelving in the magazines which separate
the powder charges have been charred by
the intense heat caused by the burning Goa
in the adjacent bunkers. Although the
bunkers are inspected under the regula'
tions at frequent intervals, so numerous
have been these cases of spontaneous com
buston that the navy dSaartment onli
recently had the special board examine tht
subject with view of applying preventive
measures.
Unfortunately the board was prevente'
from making the investigation because ~
funds were available for the purtose. Eve
empty bunkers have exploded. In the nas
Of the Atlanta, some years ago, the bunker
exploded with great violence. and the ON
explanation that could be given was ina
IL was probably caused by the ignition
The yapors arising from the new PANT ap
njied TO the lining of the bunkers.
The theory advanced by the Spanish au
tborfties that the accident might nave pee
caused by the explosion OF the boiler IS az
J cepted at the navy department as withi
,he bounds OF credibility. The Maine
boiler was separated from the powder ma
gazine at the nearest point by a space o
I about four feet, usually filled with coai. q
Ieast one boiler was undoubtedly kept unds
: full steam in order to run the dynamo an
move tho vessel in case OF necessity. IN
exnlosion If such boiler might easii
, drive through the bulkhead and fire IN
| I'M