Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-03-30

By the explosion of 5000 pounds Of
smokeless powder in the dryhouse of
the du Point powder works at Carney's
Point, N. j., across the river from this
city, at / o'clock yesterday week
three men were killed and three small
buildings wrecked. The killed were :
Isaac Layton, married, leaves wife
and five children.
Frank McGill, aged 20 years, I'M
married.
Charles Ford, aged As, married !;
leaves wife and four children.
The following persons were injured f.:
Francis G. du Pont, cut about head
and face.
Francis du Pont, cut about face and
head.
Alexis du Pont, lacerated wounds Of
the face.
William Shewbrooks, cut about head
and face, and probably internally in
jured. /.
Frederick Gentieu, cut about face
and body. n
Charles II. Mupyan, cut about head
and severely bruised.
William Facemire, cut about face
George Workman, cut about head
and face.
Francis G. du Pont, his son and q
nephew were working in a laboratory
near the scene of the explosion, and
were scratched by flying glass, but
their injuries were not sufficient to
need a DOCTORS care Workmen about
the yards were also struck by flying
glass and debris, but no others were
seriously hurt.
When the accident happened work
was going on rs usual when suddenly,
from some unknown cause, there was a
terrific explosion, and the dryhouse
was torn asunder. The shock set off
two small storehouses nearby. making
altogether four explosions and shocks
in rapid succession. Glass was broken
in all the buildings about and iron
sheets were torn from some of the roofs
of other buildings in the powder yards.
The dryhouse. where the first ex-
plosion occurred, is a small building,
one story high and 16 by 20 feet.
Layton and McGill were working in
4 the building and Ford was short dis
lance away. Ford was killed by being
| struck on the head by piece of flying
i hut little mangled. The explosion was
felt in the entire surrounding country
for miles and caused considerable
| alarm.
Layton and Ford were old workmen
. Of the company and had been employed
i in the dryhouse for some time. Both
were regarded as very careful workmen.
4 and it is supposed that the explosion
was caused by powder coming in con
tact with radiator. McGill had moi
been employed long at the works.
At PENIS Grove houses shook and
rocked from the trembling of the earth
windows were shattered all over the
town and few minutes after the noise
had subsidized, the streets we're filed with
men, women and children, many o
whom had loved ones at the scene O
death and inIn, their anguish beinf
most pitiable. Mothers and wives raj
4 aimlessly about the streets crying ant
4 wripging their handle, and for quarte
4 of an hour everybody in the villag,
seemed dazed, waiting for the reception
4 of news from the mills. Finally, on,
of the workmen was sighted cominl
7 from the mills on bicycle, and b,
was quickly surrounded by anxiou
ones DESTROYS of knowing who wer
\ killed. The man was in such an ex
cited condition that he could onl
X exclaim, ''It's awful; it's awful, ,
which only served to increase tn
mental distress Of the people. In tn
meantime another messenger reache,
the town in search of physicians. an,
in a few minutes Drs. Garrison, Sum
merrill, Croft and Barnart were bein
hurried to the scene to alleviate th
sufferings Of the injured.
At the entrance TO the company
grounds large crowd gathered 70
admission, but strong guard wa
placed around the grounds, and no one
save employees, officials and physician
we're permitted to pass through tn
a gates.
Charles II. Munyan, who was anon
the injured, had narrow escape fror
death. He was blown out of one of tn
mixing houses in: which he was worl
ing, and landed among a pile of debri
about 40 feet from the building. Mo:
If the injured, as far as can be learned
wore employed about the niixin
houses. Coroner Torton took charge {
the remains of the killed.
The buildings on the thirty calibi
line,u which were destroyed, containe
gun cotton. One of the buildings @
this line blew up last May, killing
workman named Brown. Near the mi,
ing houses was stored about four tot
Of powder, which did not explod
although the building was wrecked.
The money loss to the company
estimated at So, 000.
Soon after tho explosion represents
tives of the company in this city wei
TO the scene Of the disaster, and at s.
O'Clock the du Points and several worl
men living here arrived home. Tho
in the party who had been injured we
treated at Penn's Grove. Francis {
du Pont told the story to those who il
INJURED after he reached this city.