The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-24

two conclusions at different times except from
what people told you?
Mr. Pnlsbury-wer. from your inspection as
10 these-as to this locality and these two cir
cumsta nces-what would be your opinion to
whether or not there were two explosions?
A. 1 should be inclined to think that there
would be two; it would be almost impossible
for those thlngs-they separated say by
about ten feet vertically-elght feet; guess,
would be better estimate. and possibly twelve
fifteen feet horizontally; ii would be almost
impossible to get them TO go at exactly the
O. Now state what other extraneous circum
stances. if any you found showing an ex-
about you spoke of this fuse that was shown
A. Well. I don't think quite understand the
question: that was my eason for believing
that was the best reason Ihaye for believing that
in the first place from my knowledge of the
position OF things, an explosion was very i'm
probable, very unlikely, and yet we know that
an explosion took place, and the fuse was
simply a matter of foul play. Though think
J might state that this was during the war
ters had been seen around the works
Mr.. Powers.Well, you did not see any of
them yourself?
A Yes. 1 did. I beg your pardon
Q. Well, that is all right but l intend to
object to anything anybody told you about it,
that you did not see yourself
MIR. Pnlsbury state what you know of
your own knowledge in regard TO that. captain.
A. Well I had my attention called TO rather
odd-looking character. Spanish IN appearance,
one morning at the station. by a railroad
brakeman. 1t is pretty hard, Mr.. Pillsbury,
to say-of course there a good many
things that man knows positively. and yet
he cannot say. Now had only this brake
mans story 10 call my attention to the man.
but II l am to be headed off in regard to
what the brakeman told me, why then you
might say that there was nothing suspicious
in the circumstance
O. Well there any other person?
A. Well, we found after the explosion in go
ing around the works. found a place where
wire fence, which had been put up to keep
the entrances-I found the wire fence cut with
nippers at a certain point
Q. Well how could you account for that ex-
cept that 1t was done by some intruder?
Our own men would have object in cutting
the wire fence. because they could go out and
in without any trouble.
@. Well, please state whether there was anv
occasion, If you know, for the workmen going
through there.
A. No. sir.
Q. Now as to the material in those tubs:
state whether or not in your opinion and from
your experience as a powder an explosion
could take place from those eXtraneous causes.
A. ! consider it perfectly safe: there was a
large amount of water in H. the amount Of
nirto-glycerln small and there was moth
ing dangerous In IL.
So it will be seen that II is the opinion
of the witness none other than "extran-
eous influences" caused the explosion. and
be the acts OF either traitor or Spanish
spy. Conclusive proof of this theory re
mains to be produced AS the theory must
be proved by truths much has to be done
and ii might be said that as truth is
stranger than fiction the matters sur
rounding the explosion are stranger than
both.