The Washington times., 1906-05-14
POWDER EXPLOSION
SHOOK WHOLE CITY
Bridgeport People Thought
it Was Earthquake.
HOUSES ROCK, GLASS BROKEN
Five Big Magazines of Union Metallic
Cartridge Company Blow Up With
Terrific Force.

BRIDGEPORT. Conn. May l4.-This
city was thrown into a Wild panic short
ly after / o'clock this morning. when.
with three terrific reports. and causing
@ trembling Of the ground like an Garth
quake. five great powder ma gazInes OF
the Union Metallic Cartridge Company.
situated two miles from ;he center OF
the city. exploded
Hundreds of sleeping people were
thrown out II bed by the force of the
explosion. and ran into the streets in
their night clothing. fearing that there
had been "a earthquake.
Plate Glass windows Smashed.
Great windows IN the big stores in
the center Of the city were smashed
and small portions Of the fronts OF
structures fell out. Chimneys toppled
over. the plaster fell from the walls. Sev-
eral persons were slightly hurt
The magazines. which are I'm two
brick buildings. generally contain about
10000 kegs of powder. holding hfry
pounds each. The reports and the shak-
ing OF the earth could be felt for thirty
miles. In Derby. eighteen miles away.
windows were broken. and the interiors
or houses were damaged
Stone Hurled Through Hospital.
a stone Weighing fully 800 pounds was
carried mile and a Ealf. and crashed
through the frame building used as the
isolation hospital of Bridgeport. Their,
were no patients there, hut the keeper
ana his wife had "A narrow escape. The
stone crashed through a window. went
All the way through the building, I'D
came out the opposite wall.
Ia Co.
killed by the EXPLOSIONS. The mara.
zines are In an isolated portion of the
country. the nearest house being a hall
mile distant. This is occupied by John
Rooney, farmer.
Rooney and his wife were tossed out
81 bed and ran 10 the lawn in terror
The house shook 50 that they expected
II would fall Pictures We're thrown
down the doors were separated from
the jams. ana great cracks showed IL
the walls.
Surrounding Towns Shakea.
In the business section Of Bridgeport
not pane Of plate glass is left intact
Reports OF similar damages come from
SJratford. Fairfield. Westport. Lona
Hill, Seymour, and Ansonia.
In New Haven there was almost 2
panic, as the noise Of the explosion,
seemed 70 awaken nearly everyone IL
the city. People ran ont OF houses
a11 the streets were as crowded as the,
usually are at or o'clock IN tht
morning
There are ten magazines in all be
longing To the cartridge company. Fiv,
OF them are unharmed -. building.
are low brick ones and are separated
from each other by high mounds How
the il 81 explosion communicated to tn,
others is q mystery.
The cause Is not known At FIRST
Il ~as thought that an erlpIOye .-nov-f
as the powdcrman, who makes triI
TO the magazines shortly before o'clock
L. r-lnE supply Cf powder 10 the
works. might have been killed, but h,
was found at his home
OF the DESTROYED buildings hardly z
brick could be found remaining Where
each stood Was a hole in the ground
fully thirty-five feet deep These wer,
half flied with water.
City Almshouse Damaged.
The city almshOuse. about a mile way.
felt the explosion severely. 1t was one
of the nearest buildings. The plaster
was torn from the walls in places. and
the chimneys toppled. The inmates were
all aroused, and rushed out into the
grounds i'm scant attire. They were
greatly excited. and il was a long time
before they could be induced TO return
10 the building The almshOuSe barn. a
wooden structure. was wrecked by the
that il will have 10 be rebuilt.