Vallejo, CA Mare Island Navy Yard Explosion, Nov 1918

BLAST WRECKS U.S. NAVY YARD

Powder Magazine at Mare Island Blown Up by Terrific Explosion

6 DEAD AND 31 HURT

Department of Justice Aiding Naval Authorities In Investigation.

Vallejo, Calif. -- Six persons are dead as the result of a terrific explosion which destroyed the black powder storehouse of the magazine at the Mare Island navy yard early Monday. Thirty-one injured persons have been taken to the navy yard hospital.

The dead are ALLEN F. MACKENZIE, chief gunner, his wife and two daughters, DOROTHY, aged 12, and MILDRED, 8; GEORGE STANTON, a gardener employed by MACKENZIE, and N. C. DAMSTEADT, a civilian employe[sic] in the Ordnance Department.

The list of wounded includes non-commissioned officers, enlisted men of the United States navy and civilian laborers.

The explosion occurred at 7:45 a. m. Eye witnesses said a column of black smoke arose 300 feet. Shells, parts of steel plates, huge splinters of wood and debris were hurled in all directions.

The bungalow occupied by the MACKENZIES and the family of Gunner JAMES L. MCKENNA, was demolished.

Vallejo is separated from Mare Island by a narrow channel, which accounts for the damage in this city.
A few minutes after the explosion all the naval officers at Mare Island and about 1,000 marines and other recruits were hurried to the scene to fight the fire, which was soon under control.

The first men reported injured were three on the Southern Pacific ferryboat El Capitan. The ferryboat was in the stream about two miles from the scene of the explosion, and was damaged considerably, all the windows and doors of the boat being blown out.

At the Southern Pacific freight sheds in Vallejo, about two miles from the scene of the explosion, the doors of the buildings were torn from their hinges.

Santa Rosa, about forty miles northwest of Mare Island, reported that the explosion was felt there. Residents thought it was an earthquake.

San Francisco – Agents of the Department of Justice were sent to Mare Island by United States District Attorney John W. Preston to co-operate with the naval authorities in determining the cause of Monday's fatal powder explosion.

Fairplay Flume Colorado 1918-11-08
__________________

Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!