The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-10-26
THE LOSS ABOUT $4,000
Successive Explosions Take Place from
10:30to Midnight.
MUCH GUN POWDER WAS DESTROYED
Ihe Theory Of Spontaneous Combustion is Not
Entertained as There Were no Fabrics
in The Building at the Tire
of FvnIoe;on
Of Explosion.
(By The Associated Press. }

Washington, ID. c., Oct. 25.-At
O'Clock TINS morning Admiral O'NciIl,
chlet OF the ordnance bureau, NAVY de-
partment, received a telephone mes
sage from the Proving Ground at In
dlan Head, reporting that about 10
O'Clock last night, fire and several
explosions occurred in one of the fill
ing houses and magazines. No o+bar
oanage was done and no one was in
jured.
Lieutenant Strauss, commandant at
indian Head, came up on a naval tu0
ana at once went to the navy depart
nleht' where he made lengthy YER
pal report TO Admiral O'Nein. The lat
Ter then gave out the following de-
talls presented by Lieutenant Strauss:
Ihe explosion occurred in a small
magazine of the proving ground and
this in turn set fire to an adjacent
building where ammunition was stor-
ed, both the magazine and the other
building being destroyed. The mao-
azine was opened at 10 o'clock yester-
day morning to take a quantity of
powder. At that time its tempera-
ture was taken 4S degrees. which is
quite low, the temperature in shin
magazines being as high as 90 de-
grees. 1t was then closed for the day.
At 4:30 p. M, "a watchman made his
usual rounds of inspection and found
everything about the magazines i'm
proper order. At $3.50 D. m, the
watchman again made his round and
turned in a report showing everything
in proper order. At 1915 D. m. the
explosion occurred without warning
and without the slightest clew as to
what occasioned it. There was 10000
pounds of smokeless powder. After
the first explosion the fire found its
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 ignited Many
of the shells and smaller proiectiles
also are lying about unexploded, al
though showing the effects of heat.
The loss is estimated by Admiral
ONeill at between $4,000 and $4,000
on powder and ammunition. The loss
to the buildings is considered trifiihg.
A small photographing plant also was
destroyed. The damage was confined
to this spot. which is a ravine, iso-
lated from the main buildings on the
high grounds. The officers quarters
and those used by worltmen and their
families were considerably shaken up
many windows being broken and the
plasterings of ceilings being shaken
down. There was naturally much ex-
element, but at no time like a panic.
The wives of the officers and workmen
were assured that there was no dam
ger to the dwelling quarters, and
maintained their composure through
out the fire and explosion.
'The cause Of the explosion is n
mystery. Lieutenant Strauss reported
that there were no fabrics in the mag
azine except a few powder bags, so
that the theory of spontaneous com
bustion is not entertained. The low
degree of temperature during the
morning also is an assurance that all
was right in that part. The magazine
had all the modern appliances of safe
ty."
Admiral O'Neil directed Lieutenant
Strauss to assemble board of inquiry
from among those at the station, who
will conduct a thorough investigation
and make formal report on the sub
ject. The admiral said that was the
usual and necessary course and in
volved no reflection on those in
charge.