These men were, it is. thought, drying some powder which had become damp, us they had been Assigned to this task, but whether foul play of some kind caused the explosion or whether the heat used the drying process was the ea was not known, according to a Hionalist officer' interviewed by representative of this journal at Tannghua on. Thursday.
At about 8:20 the first report was heard, and was almost immediately followed by a second. The combined oar lasted only about two or three minutes, Dut, according to the ofoer interviewed it. cerned to the frightened soldiers, who began running on: of barracks, the beginning fof an enemy cannonade. This ter-Fife blast was followed by clouds fof smoke while debris was scattered far und wide. Bits of glass from shattered window-panes in practically all the surrounding. buildings, pieces of brick and mortar settled flown. with the. smoke. Shortly afterwards a huge blaze rose which could not be controlled until. the arrival of the fire. brigade, Even then the work was impeded through the" Knowledge that unexploded powder might possibly stilt remain buildings near at hand. The building pointed out as the "powder factory," lay, fortunately a little! apart from the other buildings in a walled portion of Lunghua. Guards were stationed inside the main gate of this compound late yesterday afternoon and entrance was barred. From a distance it Jeould be seen that the building in question was a total wreck. Adjaceut buildings showed scattered tiles and broken windows, with] lumps of broken plaster inside. Seareely any among the whole Group incide the large area comprising the Arsenal escaped losing 4 portion of their window-panes,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.