The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-09-14
SPARK .....
CAUSE Of BLAST
1NStsN J. - :
Forbes SO Finds In Case Of Fatal
Explosion At Standard
, oil Works
rIant Officials Accept It and
Promise They Will Accept
Recommendations

An electric spark caused the explo-
sion Of the tank of distilate at the
Standard Oil Works in Iwilei, in which
three men-Anton Schpher. Ralph B.,
Harrub and @. Eirich-lost their lives,
according to the finding Of Superin.
tendent Of Public Works Forbes. This
agrees with the cause suggested the
morning after the explosion by The
| Advertiser.
Superintendent Forbes made his re-
port 10 Governor Pinkham Yesterday.
Standard Oil officials present made no
criticism Of IL, and IL was declared cor
| rect.
One recommendation was made in the
report. 1t was for the erection of an
iron or concrete stairway to be con-
structed on the distillate tank. The
company had agreed to do this, 1t was
| announced
Inside Explosion, Forbes Says
1.-The condition Of - the tank" Mr..
Forbes report says, "indicates that
an explosion took place inside the tank
and the explosion was caused by the
ignition of the gas in the tank.
From the plans in the possession
of the superintendent of public works,
it is Indicated that electricity is re-
CURED to operate the apparatus in the
foam tower (the apparatus which was
being installed by the three men who
lost their lives). 1885,.
"The presence Of foam on the sur
face of the liquid In the tank and the
short duration of the fire (Which fol.
lowed the explosion) indicate that the
foam system was in working order. -.
Force Of Explosion Cited
Then the report gives a technical de-
scription of the electrical part of the
system and continues as follows in part:
"Mr. Harrub was found forty six
feet from the hatch. To throw a man
this distance would require considerable
' force and to receive this force he would
have to be directly over the hatch.
1.-THE fact that his clothing was
burned almost from him within a very
few minutes, indicates that he was in
very close proximity to the explosion
hence, presumably, directly over the
hatch.
1.-THE clothing Of Erich being burned
from the waist up would indicate that
he was leaning over the hatch at the
] VI VAplOhlOil.
"'The clothes of Schieber not being
burned would indicate that he was
not near enough to the hatch at thf
time of the explosion for the fire that
followed to reach him, and he may
have jumped.
Cause Of The Explosion
"In some way or another an electri
cal contact between two plates was
completed, and the completion of the
circuit Immediately set in operation
the foam system When the contact
between the plates was broken spark
was the result, consequently the gas
was ignited, causing the explosion ant
FIRE. ..y.
1.-TWO pieces of wire were found
which evidently were used for connect
ing up to battery, and there can b,
no other conclusion but that this wa,
the cause Of the explosions:
1.-THE foreman electrician for tn,
Hawaiian Electric Company also statei
that the manhole was taken off thu
tank, and had the same not been tight
ly closed there is no question but tina
there was an escape of gas and any at
tempt to test out the circuit at tina
time and on top of the tank, would, II
my mind, result in an explosion.
1.-THE department of public work,
has an inspector Of explosives at work
and it is my intention to compel deal
ers and handlers of such explosives t
comply with the law.
elm addition to the precautionary
measures taken by the oil companies
[ will direct that each tank be plainly
marked with gOod-sized letters desig
uating its contents.