Year: 1869

FTancisco-Ten Men Killed and Wounded.


Intelligence was received a few days since oy
telegraph OF terrific gunpowder explosion In Cali
fornia The San Francisco Aha OF the 80th ult, just
received, gives the following particulars OF the sad
AFFAIR."


terrible accident occurred about 645 O'Clock
last evening" at the Grant Powder Works situated
about five miles from the CITY Hal: The works OF
started over year since. The grounds, lying
between two hills consist OF about an acre OF land,
around the whole OF which was an eght-foot fence.
on the place we're five frame buildings The factory,
building about 25X60 feet, was on the east side, on
Level ground, In the centre was building th IN Wne9 nsd
On the west side was the large stable; above this
was shantY, occupied by eight Cinnamon employed
there, and at an elevation OF about forty feet was
the depository for the nitro-gycerine and acids
used in manufacturing the powder.


Yesterday afternoon truck load o. OF acids s,ia was
At O'Clock last evening work was suspended as
usua After supper the foreman. driver and laborer,
who were in their building, sat down to play game
Of cards. About quarter before one OF them
locked out of the window and noticed fire on the
hill where the acids were stored He had Just called
sudden explosion took place on the hill, at once
shattering all the buildings setting fire to the build
ing in which the three men were, and the foreman
Mr.. Parsenius and the driver, whose name could not
be ascertained, were burned to a crisp, while the
laborer, Mr., Wallerweier, was knocked senseess on
the floor. After lying there for several minutes he
sufficiently recovered himself to be able to
crawl out OF the burning building





seriously injured, one OF them having his eyes
nearly burned out Every one OF the buildings on
the place was torn to pieces, the whole fence sur
rounding the premises was torn down, not plank
being left on the place. In short, the entire works
are wreck. The sudden crash OF the explosion
fairly shook the hills in the vicinity and plainly
heard distance OF several miles. About 500 yards
distant from the wreck is the rancho OF Jacob Rick
Every pane of glass in the house was broken. All
rushed out excitedy not knowing at first the cause
Of the violent shaking OF the house, as though was
being raised from its foundation by electricity.
The first one out Of the house was Mrs.
Rick, who saw the house on fire at
the works. She was soon followed by the
men, who at once ran up 70 the place, rendering
such assistance they could to MIR. Wallerwe;ler,
who was lying groaning on the ground. On eXaml-
nation found that he had three severe cuts on
the left hip and two on the head The six injured
Cinnamon, who also managed to crawl out or their
building were next attended to, and as soon as pes
sibe an express wagon was procured, in which they
were conveyed to town.


When the building in which the white men were
had burned down, the hands from the rancho hooked
out from the cinders the two dead bodies, which
were burned to crisp, the legs and heads being
entirely taken Off, and the only way they could be
distinguished from each other was by portion OF
Mr.. Parsenus' watch chain, which was still hanging
to his body.


The windows OF house 200 yards to the west o.
the works were also smashed and the inmates o.
st. Mary's College, nearly mile of, were also
startled, the building shaking from top to bottom
Whether the accident resulted from the explosion
nitro-gycerine or some acid could not be ascer
tanned last evening, as the only one OF those EN-
poyed at the works the laborer who could give an
| Information was In such state that he was hardly
| able TO speak.