Gilpin observer., 1911-07-20
NITRoGLYcERIN STORED IN DU
POINT POWDER PLANT AT
LoUvlERs ExPLoDEs.
SEVERAL ARE INJURED
DENVER 20 MILES AWAY, "a
SHAKEN BY TERRIFIC
CONCLUSION.
western Newspaper Union New. Service.


known to have been killed and many
others injured at the plant Of the E. l.
Dupont de Nemours Powder Com
pany, when two nitroglycerin build
ings blew up.
The explosion was followed immedi-
ately by fire, and the death list may be
much larger than was at first reported.
The detonation was heard for miles In
every direction and was distinctly felt
in Denver. eigheen miles from the
scene of the accident. The bodies Of
the three men killed were torn into
shreds and no trace of them has yet
been found.
It was thought by many that the
terrific noise, followed by vibrations of
the earth's crust, was caused by an
earthquake, and panic ensued in Lit
Teton and other nearby points, many
persons leaving their homes in early
morning negligee.
The men who met their deaths in
the explosion are: Augustus Hoppe,
William Humple and Hans Lervig.
Lervig leaves wife and six children,
while Hoppe and Humple are single.
This is the second explosion which
the Dupont people have had at this
plant. The last one, in which one man
was killed, occurred about three years
ago.
The force of the explosion wrecked
some of the smaller buildings near the
nitroglycerin building and broke win
dows in structures for miles around. 1t
hot he a
would cause other buildings. stored
with powder to blow up also. The
greatest danger, after it became appar-
ent that the vibrations had not set off
any of the other storage houses or
mixing buildings, was from fire.
In spite of the danger, employees OF
the company Immediately began to
fight the fire in order to keep it from
spreading The main buildings are
separated from one another SO far
that the flames could not spread d.
rectly from one to the other. but it
was feared that sparks and burning
brands would set off more of the ex-
plosives scattered around.
Cars stored with soda and other
combustible materials used in the
manufacture of giant powder and nj
troglycerin were moved away from the
scenes as soon as possible.
A. D. Chambers, superintendent OF
the plant. was at the scene directly
after the explosion and superintended
operations. He was unable to ascribe
cause for the setting off Of the dan
gerous explosives in the nitroglycerin
building. but said it might have been
caused from any one OF dozen
things.
The men killed were the only en-
ployes in the building at the time. Be-
cause of the always constant danger.
only 4 few men are employed IN any
of the buildings at any one time. and
these men are selected for their work
because of their known carefulness.
They wear felt shoes, and every pre-
caution is taken to prevent the explo'
sives from being set off by accidental
concussion. None of the employees is
allowed to carry matches, or smoke
within the danger zone. They are paid
from SO to $25 per day.
The manager. William C. Howard,
whose office is in Denver. is out Of
the city at present and the offices are
in charge of ]. E. Havens. The first
intimation Mr. Havens had of the ac-
cident was when he was notified by
phone. Later he received a report
from the plant.
"The accident is not as serious as 1t
might be-" said he. "Of course, an
accident in which three men are killed
Is serious enough, but we are glad that
more men did not lose their lives.
Every possible precaution is taken to
prevent such accidents.
"Three men only were killed. accord
ing to the report received. The diff
ferent buildings of the plant are widely
scattered. In order to prevent an acci'
dent in one building from spreading
to the other buildings in which explos.
ives are manufactured or kept. The
storehouses are located in hollows,
separated by hill. don't know aov
much glycerin was stored IN the
building which went up. as tue guam
tty varies at different Zines
After making an investigation of the
ruins, Superintendent Chambers gave
out statement saying that only 5000
pounds of nitroglycerin were in the
building destroyed by the explosion.
Coroner Pike Of Douglas county re.
ceived telephone message to rush
to Louviers. where the mixing build
ing was reported to have been de
stroyed. Although one of the reports
is that the mixing building was the
one to go up. the report received al
the offices OF the powder company in
Denver is that 1t was the nitroglycerir
storehouse.
The corners information was that
sixv men were killed. but he received
no further details of the accident
He left at once for Louviers In an auto