The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 2, 1896, Page 1

VOLUME LXXX.—N SAN FRANCISCO, WEDNESDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 2, 1896. ICE FIVE CENTS {PLOSION Tvyelve Lives Lost at the California Powder Works. F/UR WHITE MEN, EIGHT CHINESE. Tere Was a Blinding Flash, Followed by a Shock Felt Miles Away. ITEOUS SCENES AROUND THE DEAD. he Catastrophe Attributed to Spon- taneous Combustion—Heroic Flame-Fighters. THE DEAD. JAMES McNULTY. W. W. CRATER. MANUEL GARCIA MOR- TIRZO. JOHN FREITAS. EIGHT CHINAMEN, NAMES UNKNOWN. OAKLAND, CaL., Sept. 1.—This after- noon grief was hurled into four happy families at Pinole. James McNulty, W. W. Crater, Manuel Garcia Mortirzo and John Freitas went to their workin the early morning and in the afternoon their disfigured bodics lay side by side in the acid-house that for many successive years has done auty at the California Powder Works as a morgue. In another part of the big charnel-house, in small boxes, were the remains of eight Chinamen. Around them a small group of their countrymen were chattering, though whether their excitement was due to grief or congratulation over their own fate no white man can judge. A tongue of flame had shot into the air about an hour after noon. Bright as was the sun it was not bright enough to eclipse the view of the curling fire from being seen for miles around. A few seconds after the flash there was a long, low rumbling sound that shook the eartn, and again, after the lapse of a few seconds, there was another flash and an- other sound like distant thunder. Under ordinary circumstances it would be thought that a summer storm was pass- ing over the Berkeley hills, But the wives and mothers who live near Pinole Point know by sad experience just what such artificial lightning and thunder mean. They rush at once to the gate and down the dusty road to learn who is left father- less and what homes are bereft of the bread-winner. A dozen men were at work in the nitro- glycerine house. They had just returned from their mia-day meal and were going about their dangerous duties, though with no thougnt of danger to themselves. ‘With a confidence, the result of being ac- customed to handle deadly material, they passed their jokes and carried on their conversation with as much apparent care- lessness as though they were at a picnic. Suddenly there was a shout. One of the most experienced men thought he saw something unnatural hovering over a bucket of the deadly acid. He looked again and experience told him instantly that he and his fellow workmen were on the verge of eternity. He did not let a moment pass, but rushing to the doors he yelled, “Foliow me boys, she’s going.” Men in powder factories do mot cry ““Wolf” when there is no wild beast in sight, and the companions of Gus Shreider, who made the discovery, did not hesitate or “reason why.” They flew, and as they flew they shouted. They had gone about a thousand feet when there was 2 flash of lightning, in- stantly followed by a deafening crasning louder than any thunder. The ground trembled beneath them, and those who were not tnrown down quickly sought a prostrate position as the safest way to avoid the flying missles. Any one observing them would have thought that they were killed, as not one moved. Not so, however. There was a method in their act. They knew that their late workshop was connected with anotber deadly place—the mixing-house— with a pipe through which the ignited acid would surely travel at fearful speed. Whaen the flames should reach the mix- ing-house, then— But before they had time to think their fear was realized, another flash came; which they did not see, as their faces were on the ground. They heard the harrow- ing explosion and crash that foilowed, and then they arose, and a little later were working hard with others in subduing the fires kindied by the two explosions. Although the men in the nitro-glycerine house escaped uninjured, far different was the fate of the poor f-liows who were in the mixing-house. Eight Chinamen, who were at work in the house, James Mc- Nulty, the foreman of the glycerine-house, and W. W. Crater, wino was in the fatal territory, were sacrificed instantly. Very hard was the fate of McNulty. His work was with the men who escaped, and had he not just made a call at the mixing- house he would in all human probability have still been alive. Manuel Garcia Mortirzo and John Freitas were working in a car that was on a railroad track on the bank above the mixing-house. Whetheror not they tried to save themselves aiter the first explosion will never be known, but their dead bodies were picked up about twenty ‘eet from the track in such condition that nobody but :gtir intimate acquaintances would know em. Wien the fact was realized that there Was no danger of any further explosions SCENES OF DEVASTATION AT THE DYNAMITE EXPLOSION NEAR PINOLE, CAL., confidence returned, and the more foriu- nate employes under Superintendent Pol- lock commenced to subdue the flames. The explosion set fire to the ruins of the mixing-house and over a hundred acres of tall grass was soon ablaze. The men seemed to have a task in hand greater than they could accomplish. The burning building was soon subdued, but blazing grass arouna a powder factory is ominous, and while some men worked with hoses and sacks others searched for the missing bodies. Considerable doubt and as much anxiety existed fora time as to who had failen victims and who were left. There wasa rollcall of the living and then a search for the missing. As soon as the battle against the flames had fairly commenced help came from an unexpected source. The United States vessel Gedney is lying at anchor off Pino’e Point, and while the powder-works employes were wishing for assistance a boat was landed at the pier from the war- ship and fifty of Uncle Sam’s sailors rushed to the relief of the hard-working fire-fighters. The increased force soon had the flames under control and before 5 o'clock they returned to their floating home after haying accomplished some heroic work. ‘When the flames were put out everybody searched for the missing bodies. The first one found was that of James McNulty, who had been thrown a short distance down the bank. He had evi- dently been killed instantly and on his body were enough marks of violence to have caused death many times. McNulty was for seven years a deputy in the County Clerk's office in San Diego. He was a single man, about 40 years old. Near the bulkhead which formed one side of the mixing-house the remains of W. W. Crater were found. He was fore- man of the packing-house, which was also totally wrecked. He resided in Oakland and was a bright young fellow, about 30 years of age. Crater’s death brings gloom to two households. In a short time it is believed that he was to bave led a very worthy young woman to the altar, but now pros- pective joy has been blasted by cruel mourning. Some distanceabove the little railroad track on which nitre is trans- ported from its storehouse to the mixing- room were found the bodies of M. Garcia Mortirzo and John Freitas. Garcia was an assistant engineer and 'single, but Freitas was several years older and is the father of eight children. While the white employes were engaged in the task of finding their dead, the Chinese were hunting for their country- men. The remains in many instances were so charred and blackened that it was impossible to determine whether they were white or Chinese. When they were gathered in the dark, damp niter-house, which 1s sunk into the side of a hill, the Chinese did not follow their usual custom of setting up a paper joss and of lighting a number of punks, Tkey explained this by saying that they were not certain that some of the remains were not those of white men, and under no circumstances would they invoke the joss when such doubt existed. A walk over the smoking ruins gave ample evidence of the awful and unreli- able results of a nitro-glycerine explosion. The small group of eucalyptus trees growing to the west of the mixing-house, which have just had time to grow green since the explosion of last year, were stripped of every leaf ana small twig, but not a single trunk was either broken or laid 1ow, while fences 200 yards away were transformed into tiny splinters. The force that blew up tons of earth at the foot of a biz log spared itand a little insulator fastened to it with a small screw was also left unharmed. Two of the men, Freitas and Mortirzo, were working on a small car just above the mixing-house and both men and the horse used for pulling it were blown partly up the bank aund torn to pieces. The car is still on the track but is burned and does not appear to have feltin the smallest degree the awful force of the explosion. To the west of the mix- ing-nouse where all the lives were lost is the packing-house, which is a total wreck, the blast seeming to have fairly gone through the center of it. In the grove of trees referred to among the wee bits of leaves was a generous cov- ering of splintered wood and small parti- cles of glass glistening like diamonds which had come many yards from the frames where a few minutes previously they had done duty as windows. It was in this forlorn-looking place that a Chinaman was seen with a small box under one arm and a stick in his right band, intently searchinz for something. **What are you looking for, John?” he was asked. In a sullen tone he replied, “‘Pieces,” and 1n his box were black, gory, unrecognizable remains of human bodies, Emerging from the trees a man was met with a human foot in his hand walking YESTERDAY had suck keen sight. “Was it a piece?” had just been found. had been scattered about. from the battered ceiling. his chair tilted back a* all about him. his eyes he rushed out for assistance, thinking ne was badly cut, but upon in- spection was found to be without a scratch. When he told of his experience to a reporter he said that he fully-expected to find his head resembling a church along with no unpleasant expression on his face, but rather a proud look that he Here was a mass coyered with blood. No; only clay which marked the spot where the body of a man The carpenter-shop was an untidy sight, An old carpenter would have turned sick to see the ruthless way in which the tools The walls leaned in different directions ana parts ot the machinery of the planing-mill, which is in the same building, hung helplessly The chemist sat in the laboratory with a comfortable angle with his head leaning against the window pane—suddenly the glass formed itself to the shape of his head in quick style while there was a glittering shower With a terrible expression of fright in AFTERNOON. gL The PRyiNG HovsE The NeTR0 GLy CERINE WORKS window. On the east side of the mixing- house was a sirong bulkhead which acted as the wall for that side. It is still stand- g there almost as firm as it was before the explosion, while buildings a hundred yards from it were completely shattered. The former site of the mixing-house presented a desolate appearance. The ground was torn up, and mixed with it ‘were splinters, chemicals, pieces of human bodies, sacks, and occasionally pieces of Chinamen’s clothing. Above and to both sides are tall bare limbs of trees, betwean which can be seen the wrecks of buildings near by. And all this desolation was broucht about in the brief period of a few seconds. The damage caused by the explosion while naturally great is decidedly small when compared with the feartul catastro- phes that are periodically experienced in the various powder works along the shore at Flemmings Point and Pinole. It has long been noticed that;the effect of nitro-glycerine when exploded is ter- | ribly disastrous in the immediate locality | of the explosion, but that its force is not | far-reaching. The accident ot to-day is no exception. The nitro-glycerine house, the packing- house, the mixing-house, the carpenter- shop and planing-mill were badly wrecked, but several buildings that were in what might be called the track of the explosion escaped without injury. The packing-house presents a peculiar sight. 1t looks as though a cyclone had passed clean through the middle of it. The roof is quite close to the founda- tion, but the middle is gutted and torn asunder 1n a manner thatclearly indicates the force of the explosion. Several buildings are only shaken, and, although no one can tell exactly what is the total damage, one of theold employes said that $10,000 would go a long way toward enabling the works to start up. The California Powder Works employ about 110 men, of whom eighty are whites. The value of the builaings alone is stated by the officials of the company to be about $6000. There was no need to look for wounded, for experience has taught the men only too well that if there is no answer to the rolicall no hope need be entertained of finding any of their comrades wounded in the debris, A cut finger and bruised spot or two usually constitute the only “wounds.” A workman looking for pieces of his fel- low workmen was asked what they did with the wounded. ‘“Wounded!” said he, looking up surprised, “we don’t have any wounded.”” This afternoon as the clear stars and stripes floated out against the smoky back- ground a man walked briskly past, but he did not fail to notice it. He looked aloft and then quickened his steps toward home. He walked at such a lively gait that he was able to keep up with the somewhat tired horses that were return- ing after taking a party to the scene of the explosion. As he approached a little red cottage on the left-hand side of the road a pleasant- looking young woman rushed to the gate to meet him, followed by a pretuy little tot about 2 years old. His face was blackened and so were his clothes and hands, but happiness and thankfulness pierce deeper tnan the sur- face. and the earnestness of the embrace needed no interpretation. It called to my mind the remark made by one of the men who was helping to find the bodies in the ruins. “Well, Jonn,” he said, “'it may be our turn next.” And it is this feartul uncertainty thatis daily borne by the wives and mothers at Pinole. The following complete account of the four white men who lost their lives was col- lected: Winheld S. Crater, foreman of the packing- house, 32 years of age, single, a native of New Jersey, and one of the most experienced pow- der-makers in the country, having served in various branches of the business from boy- Scene at the California Powder Works as Viewed pagie o From the Deck of the Spreckels Tug Fearless, At the Moment of the Explosion Chief Engineer Lennis Was Looking Out of the Engine-Room, and the Accompanying Picture Is From a Sketch Made by Him. hood. His parents live at Succasunna, near Lake Hopatcong, N. J. A brother is employed in the Union Iron Works in this City, Crater was considered an invaluable man at the works and was very popular. John McNulty, foreman of the mixing-house, 87 yeers of age, single, a native of Massachu- setts, and an employe of the works since the last explosion fourteen months ago. He was formerly a resident of San Diego, where he was & man of some prominence in s political way. At one time he was Deputy County Surveyor and at another Deputy County Clerk at San Diego. He was also journal clerk in the State Senate during one or two sessions. John Freitas, carman, 47 years of age, mar- ried and the father of several children, & Por- tuguese-American, resident of Pinole, and an employe of the works for the last eight or ten years. One of his sons is also employed in the works. Manuel Garcia Mortirzo, carman, 55 years of age, married and the father of severai children, native of Portugal ana an employe at the works for the last five years. He lives in Pinole with his family and one of his sons had employment with his father. Superintendent Alexander Pollock, speaking of the probable loss, said: It is impossible even to estimate the finan- cial loss. Say $25,000 and you will not be far off. The damage includes ¢he value of the buildings destroyed, all the minor damages to qutlying buildings, the value of the expen- sive epparatus in the buildings and the loss in business from the deiay. However, I think we shall be running again in two weeks. The buildings cost about $4000. The nitro-glycerine house was a mew plant erected since the last explosion. Probably $1000 worth of stuff was on hand in the mixing-house when it was torn to bits and two white men and eight Chinamen killed in it, while Garcia and Freitas, the carmen, were killed just outside, along with the horse— best one on the ranch—that was drawing the car. In the nitro-glycerine house there were 3600 pounds of nitro-glycerine, worth about $850. Over 1000 acres of grass was burned, and ‘even more would have gone ana greater dam- age been done had 1t not been for the skillful back-firing of Mumsey. Asic was the fire ex- tended way up as far as Rodeo, and it took over 100 mea to sulsiue it. The men at the Mare Island Navy-yard were particularly courteous in coming to our assist- ance and in offering medical aid to any that might be wounded. The survey-boat Gedney was lying out in the bay, and she landed part of her crew in charge of naval lieutenants. They volunteered at once to help fight fire in the fleids. Then the Thetis came down from the yard— about five or six miles from here—and her men landed at 4 o’clock and two launches ar- rived with other volunteers. The yard sur- geon, Heber I think his name is, came with his assistant, carrying his field chest of medi- cines and oil and banaages, and offered any assistance possible. A few of the men had slight injuries from | fiying debris and broken glass, but nothing serious. Captain Johp Bermingham, president of | the California Powder Works, which in- cludes the dynamite plant near Pinole, and the black powder plant near Santa Cruz. arrived upon the scene early in the afternoon by special train from the Oak- land mole. He was accompanied by Jack ‘Wallace of the main office. Atter viewing the damage and seeing that everything had been arranged for the unfortunates, he returned to this City. DENVER'S WUSICAL FESTIVAL. Thousands of People Attend the Opening Contests—Mormon Tabernacle Choir a Great Feature. DENVER, Ccro., Sept.1.—The first ses- sion of the National Eisteddfod was held this afternoon in the paviiion at Arling- ton Park, an aundaience of 2000 being in at- tendance. The great musical festival was opened by the singing of *‘America” by the audience, assisted by all the compet- ing bands, PresidentJoaquin Hugles de- livered the salutatory address, which was followed by the address of Hon. Henry M. Edwards of Scranton, Pa., master of ceremonies. Governor Mclntyre and Mayor McMurray made welcoming speeches closing the formal opening of the festival. The contests of military bands, male quartet and the soprano soloists occupied the afternoon session. Mrs. Emily Ellis Woodward of Boston was the sole artist of the afternoon programme. G. H. Phillips of Chicago received first prize for the Welsh essay. The Tabernacle choir of Salt Lake City was a feature of the ses- sion, their singing being received with tu- muituous applause. Over 5000 people at- tended the evening session. T PR Sudden Death of Mrs. Fargo. NEW YORK, N. Y., Sept. 1.—Mrs. Stuart Fargo, wife of James C. Fargo, president of the American Express Com- pany, died of apoplexy Sunday night near Ruquette Lake, in the Adirondacks. She had been at her camp at Loon Lake for several weeks and was on her way to Raquette Luke to visit some friends when death occurred. — ZTwo Children Suffocated at @ Fire. LAWRENCEBURG, Ky, Sept. 1.—By the burning of the Hanks block this morn- ing two children of John Grey lost their lives. By the heroic efforts of their mother and father two other children were rescued. The two lost were suffocated be- fore assistance reac ed them. Mrs. Grey is still in a critical condition. The property loss is estimated at $10,000. —_——— Deadly Powder-Mill Faplosion SAN DIEGO'S BIG RALLY, Five Thousand People Ad- dressed by Hon. S. M. Shortridge. MENTION OF MKINLEY LOUDLY CHEERED. Caustic Arraignment of the De- mocracy for Its Failures of the Past. COMPARED WITH THE PARTY OF PROGRESS. Voters Urged to Cast Their Ballots for the Revival of American Industry. SAN DIEGO, CaL., Sept. 1.—The largest political gathering ever seen in San Diego was the McKinley audience addressed in the plaza to-night by Hon. S. M. Short- ridge. There were fully 5000 people pres- ent, large numbers standing in the streets and lining the pavements in all directions for fully 1000 feet. The meeting was preceded by a band concert. The McKinley Clubof 800 men marched with banners and flags amid a blaze of fireworks and Grecian lights. The following vice-presidents oc- cupied the platform, a raised stage beneath fully an acreof canvas: Simon Levi, S. L. Ward, Captain James Keith, L. A. Blochman, Samuel Pine, Chester Gunn, W. M. Herbert, George Hazzard, R. E. Chapman, Judge D. L. Murdock, Dr. H. P. Woodward, T. J. Jones, C. M. Hall, Charles A. Rossier, William H. Fisher, John Conroy, M. Bruschi, D. C. Reed, 8. ‘W. Craigue, James Wells, John G. Hinkel, James Russell, Marcus Schiller, Guy P. Hawley, George N. Ballou, Samuel Brust, L. A. Chandler, D. C. Collier Jr., N. Mc- Kie, D. L. Withington, George Foster, Henry G. Crocker. The meeting was called to order by Chairman A. G. Nason of the Republican Central Committee, who introduced Con- gressman W. W. Bowers as president of the evening. Back of the president sat Rev. Anna Shaw and Mrs. Anna B. Sloan, guests of the evening. Congressman Bowers introduced Mr. Shortridge in a graceful speech, saying: “This grand rally reminds one of old times—of the times of Lincoln. I am glad to preside at such a gathering and to introduce theé distinguished orator of the evening,” The speaker dwelt for some time on the failure of the Cleveland administration, and said the people werg about to banish the incompetont Democrats from power forever. At the conclusion of the speech, Mr. Shortridge arose and said: “Ladies and gentlemen: 1 have been grossly deceived. When I was up among the fogs of San Francisco bay, 1 was toid that the Republicans south of the Te- hachapi were apathetic. 1f so, I wish there were more of such apathy through- out the State. This audience indicates in language more eloquent than can fall from my lips that you of San Diego are resolved to do all you can to elect every man on the ticket, from the lowest candi- date up to the matchless and incompara~ ble statesman, William McKinley.” The mention of McKinley’s name was the signal for such applause as has seldom been heard at a political meeting here, Continuing, the speaker said: “I come here in the spirit of the old Roman, who held to the maxim that every man ought to write on his brow his thoughts concerning the republic. [ want to speak for the welfare of the coun- try and to address you in the spirit of fairness and of truth, whether you be Democrats, Populists or Republicans. “Idonot believe there has ever been a time when the Republican party needed the allegiance of its members more than now, and I beg you to remember that we are marching under the glorious banner of Liacoln and of Grant, of Garfield and of Biaine. [Applause.] The banner of that great party which has made the country free. ° +-And it is this banner which Major Mec- Kinley is carrying on to victory to-day. It is under that flag that Congressman Bowers [cheers] is marching, and you know he will stand bravely and help Wil- liam McKinley restore a genuine Ameri- can tariff.”” [Great applause.] The speaker pleaded for a judgment on the Republican party by reason of its record. «“Judge it,”” he said, “as you would judge a man. Its record is glorious, and you are all anxious to see it in power again. The night of Democratic disaster is almost over and the glorious morning of Republicanism is about to dawn again, We are all anxicus to see business re- vived. The past is dead. “All of itsexperiences have gone, and its only value can be to teach us how to gov- ern the future. Judging by the recent past, I ask you: Where is the man who wou'd not rather have the administration of Harrison than that of Clevelana? It Take Hood’s Sarsaparilia to puniy your blood and tone up your system and then yod zan enjoy the pleasures of vacation. FHoods ST. LOUIS, Mo., Sept. 1.—This morning the Equitable Company’s powder-mill, near Eust Alton, Ill., exploded, and three employes were killed. They were blown 1o atoms. The cause of the explosion is | unknown, Sarsaparilla Is the best—In fact the Une True Blood Purifier, Hood’s Pills & dosicie 25 senia