The San Francisco call., 1906-07-20

OAKLAND. July I9.-Positive proof
that the engine and hoisting plant of
the Berkeley Rock Company, which
was destroyed yesterday by an explo-
sion. were deliberately blown up in an
attempt 70 force the company to sus-
pend operations, was furnished today
BY Charles Kessler, an expert engineer
IN the employ of the Best Manufactur-
ing Company Of San Leandro. Kessler
declared that q large quantity Of some
high explosive had been used TO destroy
the engtine and cripple the plant
Frederick Hoffman, superintendent OF
the quarry. who was seriously injured
IN the explosion. IS confined to his bed.
and IL is not yet known by DR.. D. d.
Crowley. who is attending him. how
serious his injuries are. Hoffman was
suffering great pain today, especially
IN his back and left leg. It is thought
he is suffering from internal injuries.
II is feared that the unfortunate su-
perintendent may be deprived Of his
sight as a result of the flendish attempt
70 destroy the property Of the com
pany. Since the accident he has been
unable 10 see, even when the room in
which he lies has been brilliantly
lighted. From the moment that he was
hurled from the engine-room by the
force OF the explosion he has been
blind.
HOFFMAN RAN FOR LIFE.
If any further proof than that of the
expert Kessler. were required to show
that the engine had been blown up, IL
was furnished this morning by an ex-
animation OF the face Of the injured
man. The flesh is badly burned and the
physician removed many particles Of
the explosive from the skin. The cloth
ing worn by Hoffman when he went
into the engine-roOm is badly powder
marked.
It is the opinion Of the injured su-
perintendent that the explosive used TO
wreck the engine and plant was intro
duced into the engine through the ex-
haust pipe. having been poured in from
the roof OF the engine-room. In no
other way can he account for the pres
ence OF the explosive in the cylinder.
Hoffman declares that as he started
the flame used TO generate gas for the
engine he saw the explosive ignite,
and TO this he owes his life, for when
the fash came he started on q run for
the door, and was running when the
explosion occurred
The building in which the engine was
housed was badly wrecked. a jagged
hole more than 6 feet across being torn
IN the wall. Workmen began early this
morning 10 clear away the wreckage,
and by noon little remained 10 show the
force Of the explosion except the shat
tered walls of the engine-room, which
had been roughly patched up Every
wall Of the building bulges at the base,
showing that the force Of the concus-
sion was outward rather than upward
or downward.
SAW THE EXPLOSIVE.
Hoffman, although suffering keenly
told the following story Of the explo-
sion this afternoon:
I told Theodore Schurr, the regular
engineer Of the quarry, to feed my
horse, and I went myself to start the
engine after lunch. AS il is a crude
oil engine, It is necessary to fire up"
in order TO generate gas enough to
start IT, For this purpose we used a
bunch of waste soaked in OIL
j lighted the waste and as l thrust
Il into the firebOx of the engine I saw
a few particles Of the powder. or other
explosive that was used, flash up, and
! knew something was wrong. Whether
Il was instinct or not. I don't know,
but I started for the door on a run.
Then ] felt heavy shock and the next
thing ] remember / was here in the
house.
Something made me run toward the
BACK door Of the engine room, and this
saved my life. had I run for the front
door ] would have caught the full
force Of the explosion and been blown
to bits.
There is no doubt that some expIo-
sive was placed in the engine, for
saw il fash when I started the fire