The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-10-30
The LOSS ABOUT $50, 900
Successive Explosions Take Place from
10:30to Midnight.
MUCH GUN POWDER WAS DESTROYED
The Theory Of Spontaneous Combustion is No.
Entertained as There We're no fabrics
in The Building al The Tic7e
Of Explosion.
Of explosion.
(By the Associated Prees)

Washington, D.. q. Get. -. VI :
o'clock this morning admiral ONciI.
chief of the ordnance burcau. Navy de-
partment, received 4 telephone mes
sage from the Proving Ground mt In
dian Head, reporting that about ii
O'Clock last night, 4 tire and several
explosions occurred in one ~ the Till
ing houses and magazines. No other
damage was done and no one Was IN
jured.
Lieutenant Strauss. commandant at
Indian Head, came up on Il nasal tug
and at once Went to the navy depart
ment. where he made Il lengthy YER
bal report TO Admiral O'Neill. The lat
ter then gave out the following de-
tallS presented by Lieutenant Strauss:
n explosion occurred in Il small
magazine OF the proving ground and
TINS IN turn set fire to an adjacent
building where ammunition Was St0r-
ed. both the magazine and the other
building being destroyed. The mag
azlne was opened at 10 O'Clock veStcr-
day morning to take n quantity Of
powder. At that time its
ture was taken 4S degrees. which is
quite low. the temperature in shin
magazines being as high as 80 de
2reeS. 1t wa then closed for the day.
At 4:3O p. M, a Waterman made his
usual rounds of inspection and found
everything about the magazines in
proper order. At $50 p. m, the
Waterman again made his round and
turned in 4 report showing everything
in proper order. At 1915 y. m, the
| pxn1nSinn 1naIr,raJ VII bout ,,.,;,,r
and without the slightest clew as 10
what occasioned it. There was 10000
pounds Of smokeless powder. After
the first explosion the fire found lis
way to the ammunition. and this caus-
ed successive explosions. lasting until
after midnight. Most of the powder
was destroyed. but some of the smoke
less powder lies scattered about in
heaps, not having been ionited. Many
Of the shells and smaller p~rojectiles
also are lying about uneNploded, al
though showing the effects OF heat.
The loss is estimated by Admiral
O'Neill at between $4,000 and $4,000
on powder and ammunition. The loss
to the buildings is considered tritiing.
\ small photographing plant also vas
destroyed. The damage was confined
to this spot, which is a ravine, $50
lated from the mann DulldIn9S on the
high grounds. The officers quarters
and those used by workmen and their
families We're considerably shaken up
many windows being broken and the
plasterings of ceilings being shaken
down. There was naturally much cX
element, but at no time like a panic.
The wives of the officers and WOrkmen
We're assured that there was no dan
ger to the dwelling quarters. and
maintained ,heir compoSure through
out the fire and explosion.
"The cause of the explosion is a
mystery. Lieutenant Strauss reported
that there were no fabrics in the mag
azine except q few powder bags, 50
that the theory of spontaneous com
bustion is not entertained. The low
degree of temperature during tho
morning also is an assurance that al
was right in that part. The magazine
had al the modern appliances of safe
ty."
Admiral O'Ncil directed Lieutenant
Strauss to assemble 4 board of inquiry
from among those at the station. who
will conduct a thorough investigation
and make q formal report IN the sub
iect. The admiral said that was the
usual and necessary course and IN
yOlved no reflection On those II
i chorua