Evening journal., 1898-07-13
TERRIDLEoACCIDENT
Pompton IN. J.) Powder Mills
Blown Up.
THE EXPLOSION KILLS NINE MEN.
Twenty Others Badly Injured, One a Sol
dier In the Company Which Guard
ed the MiIIs-PIaEt Almost
Entirely Destroyed.

ed the AIfIIs-PIaEt Almost
Entirely Destroyed.
POMPTON LAKES, N. J., July 1S.-
Two explosions, which killed nine men,
wounded about 20 others and wrecked
two buildings. occurred at the plant OF
the Laflin-Rand Powder works, Pomp-
ton, n. J., yesterday. The first explo-
sion was in the house where gun cotton
was being made, and the second, pre-
sumably superinduced by coneussion'
was in the drying house close by Three
men were in the mixing room when the
explosion occurred and they were blown
to atoms. Chief Engineer Craig, who
Was in the engine room. had his head
crushed to a jelly in the wreckage Of
the boiler house. the side Of which was
blown out. John Phillips was standing
near a tree some distance from the mix
ing house. His head was blown from
his body and was picked up so feet
away. His body was frightfully torn
by the force Of the explosion and his
clothes were whipped from his body.
The foreman OF the drying room was
also blown TO pieces, and a number OF
Italians who were digging a trench In
the rear OF the building were also killed.
II. Emmons, p.Avate Of Company I,
Third New JERSEY Volunteers. He was
horribly torn by ffiylng splinters. on
one side OF his head the scalp was torn
away and from the other his ear was
severed. Splinters were driven into his
body and legs. ai1 It is not likely that
he will recover.
Charles Lukes OF Butler was also
probably fatally injured. being cut and
torn in many places.
The FIRST explosion was at about 10:St
o'clock. Before the noise and roar Of It
died away there was second, louder
and more terrific than the first The
detonations were separated by perhaps
a second I'm time. The roar was hearo
FOR miles and the conclusion broke win
dows in all directions. The explosion
was followed by fire which threatened
TO spread to the other buildings of the
plant. in which tons OF the highest ex.
ploslves were stored.
Five companies of the Third New Jer.
Rey volunteers have been stationed al
the plant since the war with Spain be.
gan, and they were ordered under arms
and went TO the scene OF the explosion
at double quick time. Within ten min
utes the soldiers had formed a cordo
about the wrecked buildings and entire
works. and shortly, the fremen were a
work trying to quehch the flames.
Almost Immediately after the explo
sion the frightened relatives OF the mer
working at the mill congregated nea'
the scene The soldiers tried everl
means Of keeping the crowd back tell
ting them OF the danger OF further ex
plosions and the impossibility Of thel
passing the line Women frantic will
anxiety tried TO rush. through, and tn
soldiers were compelled 10 fix bayonet
and hold the crowd back AS the in
glired came through the lines of soldier
the scenes OF excitement were redou
bied. Every one OF the workme
who came out was Immediately sur
rounded and begged for word of thos
who had been left behind, many o
whom are still missing.
The fire was soon got under contro
and finally quenched. The search fc
other dead and missing was immediate
iy commenced and VIII be prosecrte
diligently. During the fire two tank,
each OF which contained a ton OF nitro
eiycerin, were in constant danger &
being exploded by flying sparks.
The Lafiin-Rand company has bee
powder. nitroglycerin, gun cotton an
enokeless powder under contract to tn
government. The loss to the compan
win be great. but 1t Is said that re
construction Of the wrecked building
will begin at daylight today and tina
the plant will be in full running order
two weeks.
After the explosion there was som
talk OF a Spanish spy being dmplicate
in the attempt TO destroy the powde
mill, but the theory of the men cor
nected with the works Is that a grain {
gravel or sand got into some pOwde
which was in process Of handling in th
mixing room and that as IL wef
through the machinery the foreign sui
stance came In contact with a met'
surface and threw out a spark whic
ignited the explosive,
The following is a list of the dead:
John Craig. 35 years old. chief eng
neer Of the works; lived at Wyneke.
William Brennan, S5 years old. cal
driver: Lived at Butler
James Phillips, as years old marie G
and leaves a family; lived at Pompto
lakes
Daniel Freeman. 80 years old, boss
the drying room.
Unidentified man. supposed TO be a
inside worker named Fisher.
John Bonatta. lRborer, of Butler.
Casper Coggine. so years old, Italia
laboreT. married: lived at Pompto
Lakes.
- Marino. fragment OF body foun
In q pocket OF the clothing on It we
found a due slip for>work done for Il
company
Jose Casenno. italian laborer, killed
the ditch.
A canvass OF Pompton Plains SHOW
that G. ]. Garrigan. an employee OF Il
company. is missing. Fishers son
also unuccounted for
Weather Probabilities.
Rain; northeriy winds.