The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-11-01
h0RRielE EXPLOSION.
Gosrr0ment M.xaxtne at Indian Head
Destroyed otlsr Property Greatly
D@IaAsed lie CAass lnkno~a

Warrington, IL =. oct u At /,
= e!JcA this morning Admiral U'Selu,
-Liei " the y cuance bureau Nav
par HeAt. rec-!g.G Z \ Tel phone message
from lie Proving Grouud a. !nGtat
heaG FepoT ting that aoout ~ o'lIUl.
last hight, IKE and seYera! ca pluslUL.
ooc 4rrs q III one oI the hiIiLg houses
a-d mssa2ines No.OiLer damage was
dOLr AID Lo vuo Was Injured
L euteuaLt STRAUSS, comuaudsul a.
ihdIah head, came up OH q laval cox
add At once went To the navy depart
. Ment, where lie uade lengthy vrrpa!
rep RI 10 Admiral " NelI. IL- IsII r
then gave out The following details pre-
,en ed oy Lieutenant STRAUSS:
The rXpIosioL occurred IN = small
magazine vi the proving ground and
tLls In turn set nre 10 All hi lace uI bull
uinx ~Eer- AMMUNITION Was stored
ooth tie magazine and tie other build
ING belug destroyed. lie magaxin-
"as cp-ned al ~ o'clock yesterday
III Jrnius u take = quantity vi powder
Az tuat Liue It's temperature was taken
, IS degrees, which - quI. e low, the tenn
peralure in ship magazines beng q,
nigh 10 w degrees. IL WAS then closed
Iot The day. A. 30 y. H., "a watch
nlan made his usual rounds OF inspec-
tlon aud found everything about The
magaLtnes III proper order. AT 80 u.
III tue RaLchman aKain made his rounu
and turI ed IN repurt showing every
Thing III proper order. AT 10 40 u III.
tue explosion occurred without warn
ing and without the slIgulest ciew a.
- " hat OccasIOned Al. There was 30
900 pounds vi smoFeiess powder. After
he nj - klY n
way tO the ammunition, and this caused
successive explosions, lasting until al
Ter midnight. Most OF the pow er Wa,
destroyed. but some VI the smokeiess
pOa ader lies scattered about ia heaps,
hot having been ignlted. Many of The
shell, and smaller pro- jcctiles also are
lying about uIexplOdeu, although show
ink Ine effects OI heat. 1 he loss /, e.
tlnlated BY Admiral O'Nel.I a. between
f21,OuO and $4,000 on powder ana am
niInlLlUH. he loss To the buildings Is
connldered trlfling. A small photo
graphing plant a.sO was deslro, ed
/ he damage WAS Confiued 10 this spot
a LlCn Is \ raNlne, Isolated IrvIu Tile
mann buildings OH The high GROUNDS.
he Officers quarters and tnUse Used by
WurnIIIen ana their tamliIes were Coll
siderabiy shaken up, many Windows
being uroken and Tie p.as,eriugs OF
1t ings Deing sbahen down. There
MAS naturally much excitement, but AT
no Time like u panic. 1 Ae wives oil the
officers and wOrhmen We're assured that
there WAS no danger TO the dwelling
quarters, AID maintained their cumpu-
sure throughout the fire and explosion.
"Ihe cause OI tue explosion Is mys-
terry. Lleutenant STRAUSS reported
that there were no faUrICs III the mag
aZine except few powder bags, 80 that
uhe theory Oh Spontaneous combustion
Is not entertained. ihe low degree of
temperature during the morning also
Is All assurance that all Was rIgnC III
that part. he Magazine had all the
III uuern app.lances OF safety"
Admiral - Nclll directed Iieuuen Int
strauss ~ aose nbie a board of inquiry
rom among those at The station, vino
%lii con luct thorough investigation
and make d furmai report Oh The sub
tect. he admiral SAID that was the
usual and necessary course and luvo.v-
cd no reflection Oh those III cGarge.