The sun., 1903-11-05

explosion came just in time to escape a
large piece of rock, weighing many pounds,
which came crashing down into the bed he
had just left, smashing II into klndIihg
wood. In another case the blankets ana
the mattress of another bed were blown
out the window and went sailing over TO-
ward the railroad tracks.
Between the two shell houses wrecked
and the fixed ammunition houses 1t was
estimated that fully 1000 shells lay scat
tered In all directions, some of them with
the powder burned out but the shell not
exploded, and some that were intact. Sheils
of the one-pounder type we're iound Ia! lar
away on the mountain side, and II is Wholly
within the possibilities that shells ana
fragments Of shells will be found on the
eastern side of g. he river,
Just exactly how he first explosion
took place is not definitely known. what
Is known positively is that the men VINO
we're at work when the trouble began were
drawing the loads from lot of shells that
we're recently brought to the island from
the battleship Massachusetts. 1t was old
ammunition and was regarded as having
more or less deteriorated. In such cases
the shells are bored, and this is dangerous
process.
One rumor has it that this process was
going on within the building, that it was
big l3-inch shell that was being operated
upon, thG> it burst in the. hands Of the
men who we're at work on II, that lot OF
loose black powder instantly. exploded,
setting fire to the building. which started
the bombardment among the thousands
Of other shells, followed three minutes
later by the explosion of the contiguous
shell house, No. g.
just how many shells we're in the two
shell houses could not be ascertain ned this
evening, but a former officer Of marines,
who visited the island few days ago, said
that there were 400 or 500 tons of powder IN
the two shell houses. and in house No; 8
thoro 12-irfh shells for the hattIe-
ship Illinois. He estimated the number OF
shells. a very large number of which were
Of the l3-inch and s-inch type, at away up
In the thousands.
reached Peekskill and Haverstraw, physi-
clans and nurses started for the scene
From Peekskill tug took over to the
island seven doctors and four nurses. all
from the Peekskll General Hospital, From
West Point came the post physician, DR.
Havard, with three doctors and nine other
assistants from the cadet hospital. Ihe
physicians had little TO do, as most Of the in
turiee were comparatively slight and were
quickly dressed.
/. The doctors describe the scene OF the
explosion as something frightful TO behold
In addition to the wreckage there were torn
and mangled bits of human bodies scattered
all about. Six shoes were found at wide
distances apart. each one with a foot in it.,
torn eouarely off at the ankle.
k1t was not until 6 o'clock in the evening
that the fire was subdued and word was
sent to those who had fed from the island
that all danger of another explosion was
over ITp to g and o'clock in the evening
the fugitives came struggling back, but
some went away so far that they will not
return until tomorrow morning.
Very soon after the second and heaviest
explosion all had left the island save the
eleven marines, Commanding Officer Field
and Sergt. Dillon. On them fell the perilous
toclr Of, cl,ipr ha burning shall hnllaea
with the fire apparatus with which the
island is supplied Lines Of hose were run
close UP to the buildings, and the marines,
with the shells bursting al! about them and
and flying masses of brick and mortar
carried the nozzles close up TO the build
ings and drenched the blazing, exploding
mass for nearly two hours before the bonn.
bardment had dwindled down to now and
then shot. Several Of the men were cut
and bruised by the debris which rained down
all around them.
At the time Of the explosion, Gunner
Fries and Foreman Dillon were standing
at the open door of the house wher e the
down, and Dillon was rather badly but not
seriously injured Fries escaped with a
few cuts about the head.
Michael Locke, who is anon the killed
of Manila Bay and had one Of the medals
given by Congress to all who took part in
that engagement.
The shock Of the explosion was felt for
miles up and down the Hudson, and win
dows in places twelve miles away we're shat
tered. At Ossining, which Is eleven miles
away, q section of the wall of Trow d Will
liams's grain elevator. alongside the rail-
road track, fell out, and two men were par
TALLY buried in the ruins. They were
dug out and taken to the hospital. The
railroad tracks were blocked for short
time bv the ruins.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4.-Acting Secretary
OF the Navy Darling received a telegram
tonight from Gunner Otto W. Fries in
forming him of the explosion on Iona
Island Gunner Fries. who is a warrant
officer Of the navy. was in charge Of the
naval magazines on the island. Officers
of the Naval Bureau Of Ordnance say that
there were about eghty-flve men employed
there, some Of them in the magazines and
others in building operations. There we're
about fifteen buildings on the island. The
exact amount Of powder and other eXplo-
sives that was in the magazines has not
yet been ascertained by the Navy Depart
ment.