Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-15
FOUR MAGAZINES EXPLODE
Powder Houses Are Demolished ny
Accident Monday Morning
in ConnAaticut.


BRIDGEPORT. Conn, May 4-Four
magazines in the testing grounds Of the
Union Metallic Cartridge company. in the
east side exploded at an early hour this
morning. the concussion shaking the whole
city and causing great alarm among many
persons. who believed that there had been
an earthquake windows were shattered
and in many houses crockery fell from the
shelves, but no serious damage was re-
ported There were two explosions, with
but a seconds interval between. and
large amount Of powder was destroyed.
None Of the company's buildings was dam
aged So far as known no person was
harmed.
Following the explosion many persons,
clad only in their night garments, fed to
the streets. believing that the earthquake
recently predicted had taken place. Many
women became hysterical and It was some
time before they were reassured
The four magazines which exploded con-
tanned 5000 pounds Of powder each. None
Of the other buildings of the cartridge COM
pany was damaged and the four adjacent
magazines were unharmed. The cause OF
the explosion is not known. Most OF the
plate glass windows in the city we're shat
tered and the isolation hospital, small
structure half mile away, was wrecked.
A panic occurred among the inmates of the
town farm but no one was hurt. The mag
azines were located on Success hill in the
northern part Of the city.
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.
The trouble seems to be confined entirely
| to broken glass and the Union Metallic Car
fridge company has given notice that prop
erty owners will be compensated for dam
| age of this nature.
| Immediately after the explosion the peo-
| pie of Bridgeport felt certain that an earth
quake had visited them and the scenes on
the streer were quite exciting, for hundreds
Of residents fled out of doors In their night
clothes. Carrying a few belongings. Mothers
carried their crying infants and men ran
| frantically about, making inquiries. The
| pAndemonium, however lasted but short
time, as word quickly went about that there
had been an explosion. People, however
continued in a nervous state for several
! hours being in fear OF further explosions
The city was early flooded with inquiries
| from other places tOr particulars OF tht
disturbance. which had even more resem
blsnce to an earthquake than locally
From all parts of the state came wore
that the shocks were felt with force enough
to awaken people from sound slumber.
NEW HAVEN. Conn, May 14-TwC
shocks from the Bridgeport powder ex
plosion were felt in this city very dis
tinctly Windows ratified and lin som,
houses dishes were shaken from shelves
II was at first thought here that the shocks
were caused by an earthquake. The fore,
Of the explosion was felt in many parts o
the state.
EASTPORT, L. l., May 1.-TWO distinc
shocks, coinciding in :. ~, With the Bridge
port explosions. and 50 violent as to sen,
almost the entire population OF this villag
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 an
fowl set up a racket which lasted half a.
hour.