Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-05-05
NONE is RESPONSIBLE.
Fatal Accident at Dupont's
Powder Mills Investigated.
CAUSE OF EXPLOSION A MYSTERY
WHICH THE OPTICIANS OF THE
COMPANY AND THE CORONER's S
JURY ARE UNABLE TO SOLVE.
VERDICT OF DEATH FROM
CAUSES UNKNOWN.

VERDICT OF DEATH FROM
CAUSES UNKNOWN.
Pennsgrove. n. j.. May 5.-The inquest
on the bodies of the four victims OF the
explosion at DuPonts powder mills was
held yesterday afternoon and was con-
Quoted by Coroner Torton ana Prosecutor
of the pleas Acton. A large crowd Of
citizens listened to the witnesses. who
told of the dreadful explosion and the
l scenes OF death and ruin.
Prosecutor Acton. in opening the ex-
animation, informed the jury that if they
found from the evidence that the victims
Of the explosion were working In q
building where an extra hazardous ex-
pertinent was being conducted without
their knowledge, they would be justified
in finding a verdict of criminal response
bnity. The examination was largely pur-
sued On this line, each witness being
closely questioned as to the warnings
they had been given Of the experiment,
or whether it was regarded as an un-
usually dangerous operation The
Messrs. DuPont--Francis I. and Alexis
took an active interest in the proceed
ings. They explained the workings OF
guncotton, and disclaimed any knowl-
edge of unusual danger in the expert
ment which was being conducted.
Francis Dupont stated that St was the
first explosion Of the kind IN this coun-
try. and its cause would never be known
TO anyone. He insisted that the expert
ment was not extra hazardous. and said
that the firm did not consider the expert
ment dangerous one.
THE TESTIMONY.
Alexis DUPONT, the first witness sworn,
testified that he was at the works until
"a short time before the explosion, and
the experiment was being successfully
conducted. In answer to question from
the prosecutor the witness said the ex-
pertinent had never been conducted be-
fore, but that they did not regard It as
unusually hazardous.
The four men who were in The building
and killed had received no notice that
the experiment was particularly danger
Gus. The witness said that It was neces-
sary for about six men TO assist in the
. operation.
When asked for his opinion on the ex-
u plosion. Mr.. Dupont said the men wer,
COMPRISING gun cotton into torpedo
T. shell. and from the position of the presses
and she'll witness believed that the ex
plosion occurred when the pressure was
being applied.
NOT CONSIDERED DANGEROUS.
= Witness said no Drecaution had beel
taken to warn employees of the DANCE
= because they did not anticipate any
from the fact that the men were expert
~ in the business.
= When asked for an explanation Of tn
cause Of the accident, he said the shel
might have broken under the pressure
q or IL might have been caused by some
q. | thing of which they have no knowledge
n. NARROW ESCAPE OF THE DUPONT
o. Witness had just left the building 4
so which the experiment was being con
= Quoted to respond to call from anothe
part of the mills, and before he returne
/, the explosion occurred.
Francis I. Dupont, a member of tn
4 firm. testified that he watched the es
y. pertinent during the morning and kne
u that Captain Stuart was personally 81
70 pervising the work.
l. At the time of the explosion men wei
70 working in THE other end of the building
20 The firm had nothing to do with the e.
=, pertinent, which was entirely under II
"a control of the United States Ordnans
-, Department Witness said the elemel
of danger had been discussed by hir
IN self and Captain Stuart, and they hs
90 decided that there was no none dang
m. in COMPRISING the gun cotton in a sh'
~ than there was in a block. Witness sa
IN. he did not think the application Of pre-
,ut sure alone to the gun cotton would ha
re- caused the explosion. He said CAPITA
,es Stuart was considered a high authori
No on explosives. and their firm was Wilt
to permit any work under his direction
for THE ONLY LIVING WITNESS.
his Edward Danser the only workman VI
by escaped from the building. testified tn
,ity he was about twenty feet from the sh
the when the explosion occurred, and all
the knew was that the building was torn
pieces and he got out somehow. i
ion companion, Harvey Smith one %
nm victims, had inquired about the dams
ign Of the experiment a few minutes befC
Ne the explosion. Witness believed that
De- the firm had thought there was any I
ck- usual danger they would have Motif
re- the employees. Witness said Il
city about one minute before the
plosion he saw Captain Stuart talk
tied with Smith at the other end of the bui
MIS- ing from where the shell was being To-
fire ed. Mr.. DUPONT said that with all def
use ence to the witness. it was physical
tier possibility, from the position Of his b'
after the explosion and the nature Of
lvor wounds fer him to have been anywh
for else except at the mouth of the she'll
orge THE GUNCOTTON SOAKED
WATER.
49, Superintendent Daniel Roche, the n
Milk witness called, was examined at SC
he length by Foreman ClaypOole. Of
and jury, as to whether the guncotton
'ctor wet. He said they dipped the block;
ant water as a precaution, but on further
-otal animation he explained that the weti
Of the hard blocks was always thou
tory the safest, in order to mOisten the
urn side CT the blocks. Edward Munyan,
d in of the men who assisted in the loa'