Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1883 — CHINESE IN FRAGMENTS. [ARTICLE]

CHINESE IN FRAGMENTS.

Eight Tons of Blasting Material Explode with Terrific Force Near San Francisco. « Fifty Chinese Workmen Blown to Atfims. Gel'gram f r om PerVel v, Cal.] The mixing- house and six packing-houses of the giant-powder works at Point Clement, near West Berkeley, exploded at 4 this afternoon. The shocks of seven explosions were felt in this town. One white man, the foreman, named Conk, and between forty ahd fifty Chinese are known to have been blown to atoms. Nearly the entire plant was destroyed by fire, which began immediately after the explosion. The superintendent was thrown a long distance, but was not hurt. Physicians went down from Berkeley and West Berkeley The fire still raging. A large magazine, containing over -00 tons, is still safe About eight tons exploded. The dwelling-houses on the east side of the hill are safe, but all the glass is shattered. • It is now known that the number of Chinese killed Is not as great as at first reported. Not over thirty are missing. The fire is still raging, and more explosions are expected momentarily. "The scene in the vicinity is terrible. Bodies can be seen lying near the mine of fire, but the men d;ire not rescue them for fear of their own lives The assistant superintendent is missing, and is supposed to be killed. The sup- rintendent was not at the work& A workman, named Oscar Forguffskv was pulled from the ruins, soon after the explosion, seriously hurt Seven, Chinese have been taken from the debris, all badly hurt All the houses in a radius of haft a mile are completely shattered. The doors and windows of the dwelling houses of the employes on the opposite hill were blown in and most of the occupants dashed to the floor. end barn 1 - were laid flat Tne buildings of the Judsou works, on the side of the hill where the blasting powder is manufactured, were thrown over, and the mill will probably have to be rebuilt Tlie cause of The first explosion in the mixing house is yet unknown. The other explosion followed fin the space of .two minuter ~