The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-05-17
Ten Pound Bolt Dropping
In Powder Container
Caused Explosion.
ALMOST A TRAGEDY
WOrkmen Were Preparing to
Take Up a Heavy Charge of
Powder When Bolt Fell.

Workmen at the Hercules Powder
company's plant at Pleasant Prairie
were counting themselves lucky today
as investigations carried into the cause
of the explosion there on Monday after
noon, when four buildings were des-
troyed, revealed how near a real trag-
edy has occurred. A minute later and
the explosion would have taken death
toll in all probability as workmen were
on the way to the wheel mill where the
first blast occurred to take up charge
of powder when the blast halted their
plans.
Searching in the ruins of the first
mill house to be destroyed by the ex-
plosion, workmen found broken bolt
from one of the mills, and it is be-
lieved that this caused the explosion.
The bolt breaking off the shaft prob
ably fell into a container of black pow
der; the weight of the bolt-probably
ten pounds-was sufficient to ignite the
powder and cause the explosion.
Spread to Other Buildings.
A more detailed account of the ex-
plosion was given by workmen at the
plant today. 1t was stated that at the
first blast those proceeding to the mill
realized the danger and ran for safety.
The force of the explosion detonated
1876 kegs of powder in a charge about
800 feet away and this in turn caused
third explosion wrecking another
wheel mill house. Sparks from. the fire
which followed the explosions set fire
to a watch house and destroyed it as
we'll.
A strange angle of the explosion was
that only few windows in the build
ings adjoining the wrecked houses were
broken. In the village no windows were
broken and only a few of the houses
shaken by the shock In other explos-
ions in past years there has always
been trail of broken glass within
several miles of the powder plant.
1880 Pounds of Powder.
R. H. Veale, superintendent of the
plant, and one Of the first to risk his
life in rushing to the scene in order
to be on hand to aid any who might be
injured, classed the explosion as a
Small one" 1t was stated that about
1900 pounds of black powder had prob
ably exploded. In the big explosion
which occurred there in 1911 more than
million pounds of powder exploded.
Every precaution was taken to safe
guard the lives of ali workmen and of
those living in the neighborhood of the
( plant. For hours no one was allowed
to go near the scene except those who
we're experienced in rescue work of
this kind. Work of cleaning up was
started at four o'clock but only slowly
so that every precsuticn could be taken.
Buildings Comparatively Small.
| The two mill houses destroyed were
each about IL feet square, interior d.
! mansions; the charge house and the
watch house were small structures. It
was stated that the probable property
loss was more than $4,000.
The company will rebuild the struc-
lures Immediately. Men employed by
the company will be given work re-
building the plant until the structures
are again ready to be used fer the
manufacture Of powder.
| This is the first explosion which has
occurred at the plant in eight years.
A small quantity Of "green powder
exploded at that time, blowing hole
in the roof Of one Of the buildings.
That was the only explosion which had
/ occurred since the big blast in 1911
when all Kenosha was shook by the
force of the blast which virtually
wrecked the plant.