West Berkeley, CA Powder Explosion, Aug 1887

BADLY SHAKEN UP.

TERRIFIC EXPLOSION AT THE GIANT POWDER WORKS NEAR SAN FRANCISCO -- ELEVEN PERSONS HURT.

San Francisco, Aug. 12. -- The giant powder works, located at West Berkeley, six miles from this city across San Francisco bay, exploded at two o'clock yesterday afternoon. The force of the explosion was such that windows along the battery front here were smashed, and buildings throughout the entire business portion of the city quivered to such an extent that it was believed the city had sustained a heavy earthquake shock. There were four shocks, the second and third almost simultaneous and occurring shortly after the first. The fourth shock was felt about a minute after the third. The first explosion occurred in the nitroglycerine (or mixing) house, and the others in the magazines, resulting from the concussion produced by the first. The first report from the scene of the disaster was to the effect that thirty Chinamen had been killed, but later reports showed that only one Chinaman was fatally injured, and four white men and six Chinamen were severely injured.

Waterloo Courier Iowa 1887-08-24
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!