The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-11-11
THE TIMES DISASTER AS
REPORTED BY s. F. OfL.

atmosphere sufficiently to break win
dow panes at long distance. The OPP
posite is true of dynamite. Had The
Times been destroyed by dynamite ev
cry outside pane in every building for
blocks around would have been shiv-
cred into bits.
As to the employees smelling gas, we
have considerable evidence to add to
what The Examiner printed October
first, before the word went about to
hush up the evidence pointing to a
gas explosion. Said The Examiner on
that fatal morning:
"There were a number of theories
by those familiar with the geography
of The Times building to account for
the explosion Tn addition to the dec
laration that the building had been
dynamited, there was the theory that
the explosion came from an ignition
of the stock of ink, oils, and other
highly inflammable and explosive ma
terials used in the printing and kin
bred processes. They were kept in the
alley separating the tall Times build
ing from the main structure on the
corner This was known by some of
those familiar with the building as
Ink Alley" There was also the re
port that the explosion had been
caused by gas, which several in the
building smeled during the evening"
The theory has been advanced that
Il dynamite explosion occurred near a
gas main, broke the gas main and
thereby caused an explosion of gas
which fired the building. But gas does
Gas gnited from broken gas main
burns as a gas jet burns; there is no
explosion. The gas may escape and
disseminate into the surrounding at
mosphere and then be exploded. But
this could not have been the case in
The Times disaster, since fire and the
explosion were simultaneous.
Gas could not have entered into The
Times disaster unless the gas had al
ready escaped and was diffused more
or less throughout the building. This
must have been the case for the sudden
enveloping of the entire building in
flames cannot be accounted for in any
other way. The only tenable theory
so far advanced is that leaks in The
Times building let loose so much gas
that, by coming in contact with an open
fire Such as a lighted match or the
fires of the printing Experimentation
was a disastrous explosion.
1t may be imagined that gas will not
explode when it is not so strong as to
cause suffocation. This is mistake
An example in point is that of the
Tucson saloon which was totally de
stroyed in 1894. All night the poker
games went on. Gas was smelled, but
it was not strong enough to stop the
games. The saloon was lighted b.
electricity. Just before dawn the
games broke up and the saloon was
closed A few minutes later the day
bartender arrived. He entered, lighted
candle, and an explosion followed
which wrecked the building.
There are two powerful reasons why
General Otis, knowing the disaster to
have been the result of accident, might
insist that the cause was dynamite, and
attempt to fasten the guilt upon mem
bers Of labor organizations. Monstrous
as it appears, the past record of Gen
eral Otis proves him capable of such
a crime.
First, he would strike a blow at
unionism.
Second, he would be acting in self
defense.
Surprising it We're shown that The
Times building was destroyed by an
explosion of gas, which ordinarily care
would have prevented, in what position
would that place General Otis?
He would be unable to collect in
surance. He would be liable for tens
of thousands of dollars damages for
the deaths of his employees. He would
be in danger of prosecution for erimi-
nal carelessness Public opinion would
turn violently against him. He would
lose his commanding influence in the
business world of Los Angeles. Los
Angeles would be unionized Otis life
dream would be shattered
These are the apparent reasons why
Otis is charging that dynamite was