Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-25

the Virginia side of the river expected THIS
morning to find all the structures at In
dian Head destroyed and were surprised
to see the towers and stacks still standing
No word had been received on his side OF
the river as to the character or cause of
the disaster when Mr.. Cockrell came to
Washington this morning.
Report of Lieut.. Strauss.
Lieutenant Strauss came up from Indian
Head on naval tug and at once went to
the Navy Department, where at II O'Clock
he made long oral report to Admiral
O'Neil The latter then supplemented his
earlier statement of the explosion by the
following details presented by Lieutenant
Strauss:
The explosion occurred In the small maga-
zine of the proving ground, and this In
turn set fire to an adjacent building, where
ammunition was stored, both the maga-
zine and the other building being destroyed
The magazine was opened at 10 CLOCK
yesterday morning to take out a quantity
of powder. AT that time its temperature
taken at 81 degrees, which is quite
low. the temperature in ship magazines be-
ing high as 80 degrees. 1t was then
closed for the day. AT 4:3o pm. watch
nan made his usual rounds of inspection,
and found everything about the magazine
in proper order. AT $40 pm. the watch
man again made his round and turned in
a report showing everything In proper or
der. At 1915 pm the explosion occurred
without warning and without the slightest
clew to what occasioned it.
The Ammunition Destroyed.
There were in the magazine at the time of
the exrlosion $3.50 pounds of black powder,
30 900 pounds Of smckeless powder and
lot of brown powder probably about 1909
pounds. These represented various sources
for inspection. test. etc. There was also
a considerable amount of ammunition in the
adjacent building which took fire. w:
Fifty six-pound shells 800 three-pound
shells and 5000 rounds of small ammuni-
tcn. After the first explosion the fire
found its way to the ammunition. and this
caused the successive explosions. lasting
until after midnight Most of the powder
was destroyed, but some of the smokeless
powder lies scattered about in heaps, not
having been ignited. Many of the shells
and smaller projectiles are also lying about
unexploded, although showing the effects
of heat.
Estimate of Loss.
The loss is estimated by Admiral ONeil
between $25 coo and $50 eco on powder and
ammunition. The loss to the buildings is
considered trifng. A small photographng
plant was also destroyed The damage was
confined to this spot. which is in a ravine
and thus isolated from the main buildings
on the high grounds.
The officers quarters and those used by
worlSmen and their families We're consider
ably shaken up. many windows being
broken and the plasterinS of ceilings beng
shaken down.
There was naturally much excitement,
but at no time anything like panic. The
wives Of the officers and workmen We're as
sured that there was no danger 10 the
dwelling quarters. and maintained their
composure throughout the fire and eNplO-
sion.
Cause of Disaster Unknown.
The cause of the explosion is a complete
mystery Lieut.. Strauss reported that
there were no fabrics in the magazine eX-
cept a few powder bags, that the theory
of spontaneous combustion is not enter
tanned The low degree of temperature dur
ing the morning is also an assurance that
all was right in that particular. The maga-
zine had all the modern appliances OF
safety
Admiral O'Neil directed Lieut.. Strauss to
assemble a beard of inquiry from among
those at the station. who will conduct
thorough investigation and make formal
report the subject. The admiral said
that this the usual and necessary
course and involved no reflection on those
in charge. Even under the best circum-
stances he pointed out, magazines are sub
ject to explosion, and only recently, as has
been stated, Lieut.. Strauss was himself in
jured in the shoulder as the result of an
explosion. the cause of which had never
been exactly determined.
Officers at Indian Head.
The following is an official list of the
naval officers stationed at the Indian Head
proving grounds: Lieut.. Jos. Strauss, in
speCtor of ordnance, in charge of station;
Lieut.. S. P. Fullinwider, Lieut.. r. w. Nc
Neely and Lieut.. w. S. Turpin, assistant in
spectors of ordnance; Assistant Surgeon H
A. Dunn. in charge of dispensary; Gunner
II. Sinclair, assistant to inspector; Pay
Clerk J. j. Gering, in charge of accounts. -
AMERICAN JOC;<EYs' STILL WIN,