New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-30
A FACTORY BLOWN UP.
MAKERS OF NIrRo.GLYCERINE KILLED.
AwARNING, WHICH MIGHT HAVE SAVED SIX LIVES,
IrI.I.I

AwARNING, WHICH MIGHT HAVE SAVED SIX LIVES,
NOT HEEDED.
CHESTER. Penn. March 29-The nitro-glycerlne
house of the RepaunO Chemical Works at Thomp-
sons Point exploded at 1890 o'clock this morning
and six men were killed; among them Lamott
Dupont, vice president of the company. work
man standing on trestlework not more than 100
feet from the building when 1T blew up was thrown
several feet into field several large stones alight
ing all around him. He says he saw the men rush
ing to the door, and heard the report The men
were jammed in the doorway when the explosion
occurred. They were instantly killed, their bones
being broken and twisted and their heads crushed
III a frightful manner. The report was distinctly
heard in this city, and many houses were shaken as
by an earthquake.
FAINT PREMoNITIoNs OF THE DISASTER.
The disaster is supposed TO have been caused by
too much heat being generated by the nitric acid
This suppOstion is based partly on the rush for the
door, But it further appears that Norcross the
compounder, had said during the morning that he
did not like the way the dynamite had been work
ing and that he could not keep the heat down.
SURGEONS OF LITTLE AVAIL.
Surgeons were summoned from this city, and
tug was promptly dispatched with them Others
were urgently asked for from Philadelphia, and
arrived later. The doctors were however, of little
service.
Nothing remains of the building, which was
two-story frame structure. An excavation suti-
cient to bury a good-sized house made in the
ground where the building stood, and houses for
half mile around were badly shattered The works
which are largely owned by the DupOnts OF Della
ware have been in operation for about four years,
and this is the first accident that has happened
there. They among the largest in the country
A LIST THE KILLED
The victims of the explosion were Lamott Du-
pont vice-presdcnt of the company, and con-
nected with the Dupont Powder Works in Della
ware w. n. Hill, superintendent of the works }
Edward Norcross, compounder of nitro-gycerine !;
George Norton, an empoye; Lewis Lay, also an
empoye, and stranger. For time 1T was
difficult to ascertain his name. for he was unknown
to any one left living about the works. He was
seen the day before with Mr.. Dupont, and was be-
ieved 10 he a merchant dealing III Atlas pow der or
the materials that enter into IT. lie was we'll
dressed, wore diamond rinI and stud and was
tall and fine looking. His pOcketbOOk contained
large sum of money.
Subsequently it was ascertaned that the stranger
was A. 8 AckersOn, a chemist, of st. Louis. Mr.
AckersOn arrived in Philadelphia late last night,
and stopped at the Continental Hotel IN that CITY,
This morning he inquired Of the hotel clerk the way
to reach ThOmpSon's Point and upon being directed
left the hotel about $50 AS nothing has since
been heard of Mr.. AckersOn there IS scarcely
doubt but that he is among the victims OF the terri
bic explosion.
The bodies of the dead were placed in boxes and
the Deputy Coroner of the county began an inquest