Evening journal., 1898-12-10
Mr.. DUPONT'S OPINION
Sparks From a Runaway Car
Ignite the Powder.
AMOUNT OF LOSS NOT YET KNOWN

CONDITION OF THE INJURED.
CORONER'S JURY ENlPANEIMED.
RELIC HUNTERS ON THE SCENE.
In speaking Of the cause Of the fatal
explosion which occurred yesterday at
the DUPONT powder works on the Bran
dywine, Eugene 1. DUPONT, president OF
the firm, made the following state
ment
"The explosion undoubtedly was the
result Of the runaway Of the car; 50 far
as we know three men were killed ana
at least three seriously hurt. Some OF
the injured have been sent to the hos
pital, and others are being cared for at
their homes. The car was loaded with
black rife powder; it was loose, and
when the sparks STRUCK and II was
ignited it caused the press room TO ex-
piOde The press room was demo.ish-
ed, but the damage TO the grinding
mills was not so great. as they have
roofs that slide off in an explosion
leaving the wallis intact. There were
about $500 pounds Of powder in the
explosion, 100 pounds in each OF the
grinding mills and the remainder mi
the press room. The damage cannot
be stated"
Alfred l. DUPONT, one Of the firm,
had a narrow escape. He was on his
way to the press mill when he turned
back afser something, and this saved
his life.
People in the vicinity OF Bdsing Sun
have not yet recovered from the effects
OF yesterdays awful explosion in the
DUPONT powder works, and still speak
OF the disaster which hurled three Of
their feliCwl5ownsmen into eternity
and injured half a dozen more, some Of
whom may die. All yesterday afternoon
and this morning the vicinity OF the
works was flied with relic hunters
bent upon securing some reminder OF
the expulsion.
Beside the body of Wright was found
piece Of wrench. which was pick
ed up by one young man, and several
pieces Of clothing which came across
the creek, and pieces OF stone from
the wrecked buildings were picked up
in the same way by relic hunters.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE MILLS,
The wrecked mills were similar IN
construction, and were all low stone
structures with the side toward the
creek open. Men work in the press
mill, but the grinding mills are set go
ing and then stopped from the outside.
Usually when an explosion occurs the
force is expended IN Blowing out the
open side Of the mill or in lifting the
roof, but the explosion yesterday was
different and the buildings were practl-
cally wrecked. The mills were at least
seventy-five feet from each other, but
those who work in the powder Mills
2 say that the shock is sufficient to ex-
plode the other mil.s, and that even
if the force was not sufficient the hot
stones flying in the air would Get of
the other mills.
EFFECTS IN THE CITY.
Every window in Judge Bradford 3
residence was shattered by the force OF
yesterdays explosion, and many
houses in the vicinity suffered similar
injury.
AT school No. 4 the Plaster In room
No. was cracked. and is said to be in
2 danger Of falling.
3 Az East Lake school the walls OF the
building were cracked and the black
boards were broken. The scholars
we're so frightened that the sshool ses-
sion was closed and the children per
I mitted to go to their homes.
The women OF the New-Century Club
d when they first heard the explosion
thought the boiler in the cellar had ex
e ploded.
- A pane Of glass in house at Mint
= and Adams streets was broken by tn
q cOutucoluns anu az o~AJ'A w " lH'i
k was considerable excitement 70
, awhile.
n The shcok was felt at MarshalltoT
& and houses were swayed by the cor
" cussion.
II AT st0eck.e's brewery, Fifth an
Adams streets, the emp15yes Of th
IF office Thought one Of the boilers in tn
10 brewery had exploded, and they a
IT rushed into the street.
to Many clocks in the vicinity Of II
Iv powder mills were stopped as a resu
e. Of the concussion.
n JURY SWORN IN.
el Deputy Coroner Chandler yesterde
We afternoon swore in jury to hold 4;
ly inquest On the remains OF the de-
men. The jury, composed Of Foremi
ed Charles +. Sparks, w. II. Moysten,
li- p. Ratledge. Charles Whann, Har
lis Giles and Warren Martin were swo
I'd IN over the mans.ed bodies. The da
II. for the inquest has not yet been fixt