Flashlight powder explosions are the newspaper cameraman's chief hazard according to Herman Bryant, the news' head photographer. The photographer's job involves many incidental risk such as going into the thick or any disaster where news is hot. But to avoid careless loading of flashlight gun when you are in a hurry calls for always keeping your wits about you.
"Flashlight guns heat up after each shot," he explained. "They should be allowed to cool off before another load of powder is poured in, but when things are breaking fast, there isn't time for that. Cameramen run constant risk of getting hand or face burns, with the use of the ordinary cap flash gun. Flashlight powder itself is composed of magnesium and potash, which is more explosive than dynamite. George Sheldon is injured in the Hearst blast, is known as careful in handling flash powder. He had a similar experience in 1913 in Los Angeles.
San Francisco News
October 17th 1930
Accidental explosion of a bottle of flashlight powder injured George Sheldon Examiner photographer just at the close of the reception to William Randolph Hearst in the rotunda of the city Hall yesterday noon. Sheldon's right hand was badly lacerated. Several judges and city officials seated nearby received slight cuts and burns
Although the rotunda was jammed at the time the crowd was calm. With presence of mind supervisor Andrew J. Callagher chairman of the reception committee motioned to Phil Sapero, leader of the municipal Band and the band began playing. The other all of them slightly injured were:
John W Preston associate justice of the state supreme court, cut hand slight burns.
Timothy I Fitzpatrick Superior Judge, cut hand. Joseph M. Golden, municipal judge, cut hand and leg. Frank Deasy, municipal judge, cut leg. William P. Stanton, supervisor, cut chin. Edward Rainy, secretary to Mayor Rolph, cut arm. Matthew Brady, district attorney, cut arm. Mrs. K. H. Russel, 443 Ralston Street, slight shock. Mrs. M. Jasper McDonald, 2101 Van Ness Avenue, slight burns on the ankle. Captain John Haywood, Fire department, cut leg. Neil Gordon, city employee, cut hand.
George E. Sheldon, Press Photographer and Photographic Editor for the San Francisco Examiner from 1928 to his death in 1947, lost his thumb when his bottle of flash powder exploded while he was covering a story at the San Francisco City Hall on October the 16th in 1930. He was a well known photographer. Photo and newspaper clippings courtesy Mr. Philip Sheldon-San Francisco,
