Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-14
IT BRIDGEPORT, CT, TODAY
On Grounds of Union Metallic Car
fridge Company.
NO LIVES KNOWN TO BE LOST
Two Separate Reports With Earth
quake Effects - Property Damage
Confined to Shattered Windows.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn, May 14.--The ex-
plosion of four magazines containing about
100000 pounds of powder, situated on Sue
cess Hill, in the northern sectio nof Bridge
port, early today shook up this section as
II by an earthquake. but remarkable as 1t
may seem no person is thought to have
been injured. and the property damage is
chiefly limited to the demolition of windows
in houses and business buildings in the city
and suburban sections The magazines
were in the storage grounds Of the Union
Metallic Cartridge Company, and were
owned by the company. They were of frail
construction and were four of ten such
buildings used for the storage Of black
and smokeless powder. Two magazines
which were destroyed contained smokeless
and the other two black powder. fifth
magazine was practically demolished but
the cans of powder in it were not disturbed.
The cause of the explosion is not yet de-
termined by the company.
The demolition of the magazines came in
two separate explosions, the first and
heavier one at 4:30 am. and lasting about
thirty seconds, and the second one about a
minute later, which was not as pronounced
but which seemed to have complete the
shattering of windows which had been
broken by the first conclusion.
The storage grounds of the Union Metal
lie Company quite remote, the nearest
house being the town farm, a third of a
mile away. No one is known to have been
in the vicinity Of the magazines this morn
ing.
Panic at Almshouse.
When the explosion came a panic seized
the 25O inmates of the almshouse. and many
of them ran screaming into the field. and
several insane patients escaped. The CHM
nov on tho building was thrown down and
all the glass in the windows blown out. but
as heavy as the shock was, it was not felt
quite as severely there in the city prop
er. where. people. in belief that an earth
quake had come, were seized with a de-
sire to get out into the open.
The excitement in the afmshouse was end
ed In a few minutes and the frightened
people called back and the insane patients
rounded up by the attendants.
Z The full force of the explosion was felt
in the city proper, and apparently there Is
not a single large pane Of plate glass left
in business buildings. AS for private resi-
dences, few escaped without broken WIN
dowS.
Extent of the Damage.
The damage seems to be confined entirely
to broken glass, and already the Union Me-
tallic Cartridge Company has given notice
that property owners will be compensated
for damage of this nature. Immediately
seemed certain that an earthquake had WIS.,
tied them, and the scenes on the streets
were quite exciting. for hundreds of resi-
dents fled out of doors in their night Clothes
carrying few belongings. Mothers carried
their crying infants and men ran franti-
cally about making inquiries.
The pandemonium lasted but short
time. as word quicly went about that there
had been an explosion. The people, how
ever, continued in a nervous state for sew
eral hours, being In fear of further explo-
sicns. The city was early flooded with In
quiries from other places for particulars
of the disturbance which had even more
resemblance to an earthquake than locally.
From all parts of the state came word
that the shocks were felt with force enough
to awaken people from sound slumber.
Shcck Felt at Eastport.
EASTPORT, L. L., May 1.-two distinct
shocks, coinciding in time e-with the Bridge
port explosions, and so violent as to send
almost the entire population of this village
into the streets in their night clothing.
were felt here today. Houses were Jared
dishes ratified, beds shook and almost in
stantly every sort Of domestic animal and
fowl set UP a racket which lasted half an