The herald., 1898-07-13
EIGHT WORKMFN KILLED
WINDOWS MILES FROM THE
SCENE ARE BROKEN
TROOPS PLACED ON GUARD
Heartrending Scene About the Works.
Soldiers Control the Crowd With
Fixed Bayonets
Associated Press Special Wire

NEW YORK, July 1.-TWO explosions,
which killed eight men, wounded about
twenty others and wrecked two buildings.
occurred at the plant of the Lafiin-Rand
powder works at Pompton, N. j., today.
The first explosion was in the house where
euncotton was being made and the second.
presumably superinduced by conclusion.
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
Jelly in the wreckage Of the engine house,
the side of which was blown out. John
Phillips was standing near tree some dis
lance from the mixing house. His head
was blown from his body and was picked up
eighty feet away. His body was fright
fully torn by the force of the explosion and
his clothing was whipped from his body.
Blown to Pieces
The foreman of the drying room was also
blown to pieces and number of Italians
who were digging trench in the rear OF the
building were killed. The most seriously
injured was William Emmons, private of
Company M, New Jersey volunteers. He
was horribly torn by flying splinters. 1t Is
Il died away there was second, louder and
Lukes of Butler was also probably fatally
injured. The first explosion was at about
1890 o'clock Before the noise and roar of
l tdied away there was a second. louder and
more terrific than the first.
Broke Windows Miles Away
The roar was heard for miles and the con-
cussion broke windows In all directions. The
explosion was followed by fire which
threatened to spread to the other buildings
of the plant In which tons Of high explosives
were stored.
Five companies of the Third New Jersey
volunteers have been stationed at the plant
since the war with Spain began, and they
were ordered under arms, and they went to
the scene Of the explosion on doublequick
time. At 1921 the soldiers had formed
Gordon around the fire and the firemen were
at work trying to quench the flames. Al
most Immediately after the explosion the
anxious relatives of the men working at
the mill congregated near the scene. The
soldiers tried every means of keeping the
crowd back, telling them of the danger of
further explosions and the impossibility of
their passing the line. Women, frantic with
anxiety. tried to rush through and the SOL
d,ars varo oo,one,ied 70 tix havonets IN ho,d
~. crowd hocL
.r..
Hu'"e No1 VIZ H11s'S
AS the injured came through the lines Oh
soldiers the scenes Oh excltement were re-
doubled. Every one OIL the worKlhgmen
who came out was Immediately surrounded
and begged for word Of those who had been
iel. penihu many Vi whom are s,il. iasslns.
,,,anohad Tha search for othar dsaa ana
,s-,. ,os,...,-. 49,, .a Iii,
~ anasoo,ted d,,,nant,,.
70
AanAS u dynamite
During the nre TWO tanks, each or which
contained a ton OF nitro-glycerne, were In
constant danger OF being exploded by flying
sparks. Inc Lanin-Rand company had been
engaged In the manufacture of brown pow
der, nitro-glycerine, guncotton and smoke
less powder under contract for the govern
ment The loss to the company will be
great but 1t is said reconstruction of the
wrecked buildings will begin at daylight to-
morrow and the plant will be In full running
order in two weeks.
No Spanish Spv
of Spanish spy being implicated in the at
Temp. 20 tes'poy ,me % ou. Inc