Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-25
NO ONE WAS INJURED
Explosions at the Indian Head Prov
ing Ground.
CAUSE OF THE DISASTER A MYSTERY
Loss Estimated to Be in the Neigh
borhood of $4,000.
LIEUT.. STRAUSS REPORT
LIEUT.. STRAUSS REPORT

Admiral O'Neil chief of the ordnance de-
partment Navy Department.. received a tel
ephonic message from the proving ground
at Indian Head Md. a s O'Clock this morn
ing reporting that about 10 o'clock last
night fire and explosion took place in one
of the filing houses and magazines. 1t was
stated that the cause of the explosion is
unknown al present. but It will be investi-
gated. No other damage was done. There
was no connection between this fire and the
powder factory. which is about two or three
miles distant. No one was injured.
This message was received by Admiral
O'Nei from Lieut.. FulIinwider. who is sec
ond in command at Indian Head. AT the
time he sent this message Lieut.. Strauss.
the commandant at the proving ground,
was on his way to Washington on the prov
ing ground dispatch boat Santa Barbara. to
make his report of the occurrence directly
to headquarters here.
As soon it became known officially that
no one had been injured great relief was
experienced at the Navy Department. Ad-
miTal O'Nel himself had been confident
from the first report that the extent of the
accident had been overeStimated, as IS al
most always the case where great eXplo-
sions and fire are connected.
Scene of the Explosion.
The building where the first explosion
took place is technically known car
tridgeS. being place where the brass
shells which are used in the small caliber
rapid-fire guns filled with powder. 1t IS
distant about half a mile from the wharf
where the boats land and from the point
where the armor plate tests occur. Run
ming from the wharf TO that building is a
line If railroad Within a hundred feet on
one side. and about three hundred On the
other, are two other buildings, one desig-
TaIed on the official map "Magaz.ne' and
the other marked Dark" These buildings
are used for powder storage, and it is not
yet positively known whether they have all
been destroyed or not. If they have. the
IIsS as far as the buildings are concerned
is very slight. They We're constructed very
lghtly. with a special view to avoiding con-
tinement of the powder contents IN case of
fire Within the three buildings We're stored
ali fifteen tons # brown powder and ten
tons Of Smukeless powder. The latter, when
not closely confined under pressure. is not
explosive. but creates a vast flame, and it
was probably the fierce blaze from the
burning smukeless powder. four miles
across the Potomac by the passengers on
tn Florida special. which gave rise to the
belief that great accident had occurred at
Indian Head.
Homes of Employees.
Not more than 1000 feet distant from
the powder houses stand the residences of
half dozen employees at the proving
grounds and their families. None of these
people was injured fact accounted for
ny 'i'e prudence "h'ch located 'He iiasa-
IN ray me-, aih0Talns Ins prolec'ioii 10 "
vicinity.
The big powder factory, representing a
large expenditure of government money.
was never once IN Danger from the nre ana
miles distant in a straight line from the
scene Of the fire and explosion, with hills
lying between.
Sn.cuI,ti,- "a. tn c,,s.
80 "
AoHifal y Nell was ABOUT TO order an IN
vestigatiOn. when he ascertained that that
had already begun at Indian Head II ts
,r-,..,-- 1feo,,r. - g. -, ;,t.. -,
60 - ~ - .'I 80
s"Ii cases. me aNiii!'ai Thought 'na' Soiiie
wUrhmen in the vicinity yesterday might
have been careless and left a burning ci-
garrett" or match which started a fire that
smoldered until nightfaH, when y com
VI n.fIsr bnnd ,bsrt - aTu-,ys ~ noss,
bi!itv which naval officers do not like to
Recognize. Of some chemical change having
.aken place IN the powder which resulted
AZ iie"ns ~ i.ol Ill ~ Ia
trv at The manufactories Of smolcIess now
der but The navy people have always CON
tended that their powder, made after the
fUrmuae developed a ANNAPOLIS and New
port. was absolutely safe against this dan
gerous chemical change
.,,,;ss;n, e., c-.,,1s u.su.oa
W.
AS soon as the 1act or the explosion be-
came known there was a rush of reporters
and others toward the proving ground
That IS point rather dif1cuit or access,
pelhg ABOUT 'hirty mics down the river
from Washington and also lying on the
Ane OF dlrect railroao communication. 10
add 10 the dirlcuiues OF the news satherers
'heS We're eAeiuoeo from the proving
S!"uHd proper ny tiie t!Slu Iuie ol the
-! D-ai ~ 'tiieitt. <1'iti' mn al vel MN
sell feIuseu |" suSpeilu me rune III 'nat IN
stance on the sroulu thdt the saiey OF
lhe N.Sliors. as wen as Ihs government
property anu the interest OF the govern
nlstl VOTE reiuireu ths exclusion OF OUT
S!oerS from 'he ground; ne souhteertd'
l4'HtEtr' 10 ascertain an tiie ifc's III me
ca J'at coulu pe U! interest 10 tne pup
'i'' anu 10 4IeelS give 'ieiii ou' winch
promise he redeemed
A Recent Accident.
Tho 1.,est nr.vinus accident or tho kind
Iri IIa. ,o,-.<, =, ,o,,, -, r-a
d '''uia'' iieo" o'C Gu ie" mon ms "so'
when the commandment, lieutenant Strauss,
injured Fire was discovered in the