The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-04-19
SEVEN BLOWN T0AT0MS
A Tremendous Explosion in a Large
Powder Factory.
FLESH AND BONES SCATTERED
The Awful Shock Was Felt for Miles
Around-The Fragments Of tho Victims
Gathered Up I'm Boxes - A Panic In
Neighboring MineA

MOUNT ARLINGTON, N. J.. April f9.-
The works of the American Forcite Pow.
der Co. on the shore of Lake Hopatcong,
about mile below here, blew up yester-
day afternoon and seven men were blown
to atoms. The names of i've Of the men
killed are ~ follows: j. d. Smith, super
intendent of the works, married and
leaves q widow and one child; Jacob
Carlson, married and leaves Ave children; |;
VIM. Pierce, married and leaves . widow
and two children; James Vagh, unmar-
ried; A. johnson, unmarried.
Another body has been recognized ~
that of Swede whose name 10 unknown.
more is terribly burned and mangled
and will probably die.
The explosion occurred . few minutes
after O'Clock and
Five Buildings Were Shattered.
What caused the explosion, viii never
be known.
The works Of the company consist Of
number of small buildings, scattered at
about distance of 300 feet from each
other. Most of the buildings were used
was employed in each. The other build
ings are used for storage Of dynamite, nj
ro-glycerine and detonators.
The nitro -glycerine building was the
first to blow up and explosions In four
other building speedily followed. The
main building Of the works was torn
asunder. Huge pieces OF timber were
hurled hundreds OF feet through the air.
The works have been frequently the
scenes OF explosions, but never to such
an extent as yesterday. The explosion
occurred while all the men were at work
and
Created . Panic.
The men In buildings distant from
those blown up hrst heard . roar and the
buildings in which they were working
shook and trembled for fully q minute;
then came an explosion which sounded
far louder than the simultaneous explo-
sion of half dozen Of the largest cam
non. The startled men rushed out and
saw cloud OF dust and smoke flying
through the air near the lower part OF the
company's grounds. Fearing that the
concussion might set OF the explosives
in the other buildings, the men ran for
the mountain side. After few moments,
when they saw there was no further dan
ger, they advanced to the scene OF the
explosion. The
wreckage Burned Fiercely.
inr incu Wchb w WIN w 0Nohheui tho
wreckage and soon found two men badly
injured. These were removed to the COM
pany's Office and doctor was sent for.
Meanwhile the company's fre apparatus
was run out and water from the lake was
used to fight the fire. When the flames
were under control the roll of employees
was called and IL was found that seven
were missing. A search for their bodies
was then begun. The searchers found
fragments of flesh and bones scattered
over several acres.
They secured $50 pounds OF flesh and
bone, which is all that remains Of the
bodies OF the victims.
The fragments were
Gathered mp In Boxes.
The explosion shattered all the win
dows within two miles OF the scene Of the
explosion. The glasses in the barroom OF
scleeffer's hotel were broken and the
guests in the house were greatly startled.
Al Landing, the railroad depot was
shaken until the beams cracked and every
pane OF glass in the building, ~ we'll as
those in the houses around, were blown
out.
The Atlantic Giant Powder Company 10
at Kenville, three miles away, and the
United States storage department station
is at Dover, about seven miles distant.
The explosion was plainly felt at both
the above places and crested alarm. At
Mount Hope the men At work In the
mines thought an earthquake had 90
currsd and left the ,iuee