The National tribune., 1900-11-01

| GARRISON Chapel, HALIFAX, n. s., W
| LOCO, of which 219 was due to injury and
| only 9.26 to disease. Diarrheal disease and
| typhoid fever were the prominent causes,
| the former having contributed 299 and
| the latter 2.6J to the rate Of mortality per
| LOCO. There was only one death from
yellow fever among the S,0S2 volunteers
in Cuba last year, and 80 among the II,
500 Regulars. Typhoid and malariaI fe-
vers were more deadly.
About 10 p. M, Oct "a, terrific ex-
| p!osion occurred at the naval proving
| grounds at Indian Head, Md, on the Po-
| tomac, few miles below Washington.
The explosion occurred i'll the small
magazine Of the proving ground and this
| in turn set fire to an adjacent building
| where ammunition was stored, both the
magazine ana the other building being de-
| stroyCd.
There were in the magazine at the time
| of the explosion 5000 pounds of black
| powder, 10000 pounds of smokeless pow
der and a lot of brown powder, probably
about 1000 pounds. These represented
various sOurces-fOr inspection, tests, etc.
There was also a considerable amount of
ammunition in the adjacent building
which took fire, viz, 80 six-pOund shells,
800 three-pOund shells and 2j000 pounds
Of small ammunition. After the first ex-
plosion the fire found its way to the am
munition, and this caused the successive
explosions, lasting until after midnight.
Most of the powder was destroyed, but
some of the smOkeless powder lay seat
tered about in heaps, not having been ig
nited. Many Of the shells and smaller
projectiles were also lying about unex-
ploded, although showing the effects of
heat The loss is estimated by Admiral
O'Neil between $4,000 and 100000 in
powder and ammunition. The loss to the
phOtOgraphing plant was also destroyed.
The damage was confined to this spot,
which is in ravine, and thus isolated
from the main buildings on the high
grounds. The officers quarters and those
used by workmen and their families were
considerably shaken up, many windows be-
ing broken and the plaStering of ceilings
being shaken down. There was naturally
much excitement, but at no time anything
like n panic. The wives of the officers
and wOrkmen were assured that there
was no danger to the dwelling quarters,
and maintained their composure through
out the fire and explosion.
The cause OF the explosion is complete
mystery. A Board of Inquiry has been
ordered to investigate the matter.
Admiral O'Neil in his annual report
praises the double turret system. He says
the turrets successfully stood their gun
HIcS, were uIutI perfect COllTOi, anu were
strong, and, in fact, no unfavorable re-
ports of the battery have been received.
The Admiral says the turrets are without
doubt an unqualified success, and that
while there has been Il difference of opin-
ion among naval officers as to the merits,
many officers who originally opposed the
supcrimposed turrets have changed their
views since they have seen them complete,
and that the ships equipped with them are
valuable addition to the naval service.
Gen. Greely has received cablegram
from Maj. Scriven, commanding the Sig
nal Corps detachment in China, saying
that there is only one complete and Sc
cure telegraph line between Peking and
Taku, and that is the line of the United
States Signal Corps. 1t is working regu-
larly and satisfactorily. A permanent line
has been rebuilt by the corps since Peking
was occupied by the troops.
The Naval Academy authorities are
guarding the design and construction of
the submarine boat Holland with great
care. No visitors are allowed inside the
craft, and the very crews are sworn to
secrecy in the matter.