Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-11

hree of the magazines had stood. Inc
holes were each more than fifty feet
across and as deep. One had broken
! into spring and was half full OF
water Part of the engine house and
the hundred foot brick chimney OF the
plant still stands.
| First Explosion in Glaze House. :
tits believed the first explosion took
place in the glaze house where more
than LOO kegs Of powder are dried AT
time in steel cylinders. Each cyl
inder holds 1875 kegs Of powder. me
cylinders are about II feet long ana
1871 feet in diameter. They are en-
closed in steel jackets through which
live steam is forced and as the GYM
ders revolve: the powder is dried and
brought to high heat. There were
nine of these cylinders.
The extent of the glaze on the grains
of powder determines its degree OF eX-
plosiveness. When the powder IS
nearly polished and is dry and hot II
is in dangerous condition. The mi
tial explosion was followed by the ex-
plosions Of the dynamite magazines.
The property occupied by the powder
company is approximately 100 acres.
There were forty buildings according
to Superintendent Clarence Brady
Brady said there were five main
magazines, two lesser magazines and
four other, buildings which the process
of manufacture is carried on ana IN
which the preparations are highly ex-
plosive. or these eleven buildings
but one, a small corrugated IRON
magazine for dynamite, now STANDS
about half mile from where the main
we're.
Danger Of New Explosion.
There are still five buildings con-
tanning blasting powder, needing only
the slightest spark to cause an expio-
sion, with repetition of last nights
damage, according to the officials. THIS
spark might come from some outside,
human influence or might be caused
by sudden shifting Of the fallen walls
or by settling of the powder itself.
The roads and fields in the vicinity
are strewn with boulders, some OF
which weigh several hundred pounds
A canvass of physicians here and IN
Kenosha shows that, except for Engl-
neer Finn, no one is dangerously hurt.
Phil Hess, a farmer living near Trus-
lale, over two miles from the factory,
will lose his right ear. which
vas nearly severed by a piece OF n.y.
ng glass which struck him just about
IS he was to enter his home.
Local Officials Told to Keep Mum.
The main offices of the Dupont Pow
Ter Co. are in Wilmington, Del, and as
oon as telepragh communication
opened today, the local officers re-
.eived positive orders to make no state
nent as to the cause or nature OF tho
explosion, the amount Of powder des-
royed or the amount still in the maya
ines. Two years ago, a suit brought
,gainst the company on the ground 1T
vas public menace, was won by the
ompany.
Chicago Shaken by Explosion.
Chicago, March 10.-Further damage |
aused by the explosion in Pleasant
'rairie was reported from various
arts Of Chicago today. Three hundred
men, attending a political meeting in
south Chicago, fled to the street, be-
ieving that a bomb had been thrown
nto the hall by political opponents. All !
he windows in the building were shat
cred.
Six persons were injured in the rush
Or the exits by the audience at thea
er in Evanston. None of the victims,
owever, required more than temper
ry medical attention.