Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1898 — COST SEVEN LIVES. [ARTICLE]

COST SEVEN LIVES.

An Explosion Causes Awful Havoc at Santa Cruz, Cal. BIG POWDER PLANT IS DESTROYED. Total Loss of Life as Yet Unknown— Seven Certainly Killed and Four Wounded—The Explosion Dne to an Accident. Santa Cruz, Cal., April 27. —Three explosions about 5:15 Tuesday afternoon at the California powder works caused a greater loss of life than any of the previous accidents in the history of these works. The wildest rumors are prevalent regarding the number of killed and injured, the exact number of which cannot be ascertained now. It is known that seven were killed and four seriously injured. The first heavy shock from the explosion was felt for many miles around and was separately followed by two lighter shocks. The smoke from the works arose in such dense volume that it was impossible for a time to perceive the extent of the damage that had been caused by the explosion. It was said that the fire was spreading and the main magazine was in imminent dangei. The Destruction. Not only the smokeless powder plant, but the nitroglycerin and gun cotton works were destroyed. The force of the explosion was so great that the shingles from the roofs of buildings were blown Into Santa Cruz, over two miles away. The worst feature of the disaster is that this was one of two smokeless powder works in the country and the government is anxious to get all of this powder possible. Only last week a big shipment of 100 tons was made to the east. It will take several months to rebuild the works. The exolosion was followed by fire, which spread to the surrounding shrubb* vy and timber on the hillside. A force of 100 employes was immediately called out to fight the fire, which was extinguished. The part of the works destroyed was situated on the opposite side of San Lorenzo river from the main plant. No powder, except that in process of making, is known to have been destroyed. There was probably about 600 pounds of that in the bnildings. Doubtless an Accident. No doubt is entertained among the officials of the works that the explosion was due to an accident. Extraordinary precaution had been taken to prevent treachery, and no well-infdrmed man entertains the opinion that the uccident was the work of a Spanish spy, as was a t first suggested. It is not thought the explosion will interfere with the manufacture of smokeless powder for the government While it is said there is no reason to believe that a Spanish spy had anything to, do with the fire and explosion, it is significant that precautions were immediately taken to guard the powder works at Point Pinole, across the bay from San Francisco. A Great Plant. The Santa Cruz powder works are the lurgest in this country next to the big Dgpont factories, and the largest by far for the manufacture of the brown prismatic powder for coast-defense guns and the smokeless for the guns on the warships. Since the war scare began such heavy orders have been received from the government for both these powders that the works have been more than crowded. The works were established in 1861 on the present site, on the line of the South Pacific Coast railroad. They comprise 21 powder mills, ten shops, six magazines and stores and 35 other buildings.