Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-05
SHARE DEAD.
Terrible Explosion on Iona
Island, in the Hudson.
Six Lives Wiped Out and Six Govern
ment Employees Injured.
No Explanation Of the Disaster Can
Be Given.

Iona Island, New York, Nov. Ask
men were killed and 10 slightly injured,
this afternoon, by an explosion at the
United States naval arsenal at this
place, one OF the largest magazines in
the United States. The explosion &C.
Cured while men were drawing the ex-
plosive charges from a consignment of
old shells sent here from the battleship
Massachusetts, and destroyed complete
ly three massive shell houses, hurting a
rain Of fragments of projectiles of all
sizes up to 13-inch shells in every di-
rectiOn. The force of the explosion, or
series of explosions. broke windows at
Peekskill, three miles distant on the
opposite side of the Hudson, and the
defamation was heard for many miles.
Adjacent buildings, including two store
houses for fixed ammunition We're rid
died with the fragments and the quar-
tiers of the II marines composing the
garrison We're completely demolished.
The dead. all of whom We're workmen,
employed by the naval ordinance de-
partment are: Fred Ward, Stony Point;
George Morehead, Tomkirs Cove; Fred
G. Locke. Peeksl:ill Patrick Curran.
West Havarstraw: Fred Prown, Haver-
straw; James Connolly, Peekskill.
The bodies were frightfully mangled,
fragments being hurled in every direc-
ton for hundreds Of feet. The island
which has been used as an arsenal for
n year. is in the Hudson river. 40 miles
from New York. and shells and am
munition Of all kinds were stored there.
The detonation of part of the charge of
a shell being unloaded in shell house
IN al "a Chl11 n
the house and the fragments of shells
hurled into the adjoining houses ex-
plode their contents. 86
There were two main explosions. with,
IN interval Of several minutes between
and succession of minor ones as in,
diyidual shells went off. Fire followaa
and for several hours the ma
rines fought the flames in immi-
ploding shells Physicians and nurs-
es from West Point, Peekskill
and Haverstraw hurried to the island
whom was seriously hurt.
No statement of the amount of ex-
plosives on the island could be obtained
from Gunner Fries, in command, but it
is said that.a large consignment of
SiltIS HUN Tie LtltpitIIEt, NpdfScISc,
Massachusetts and Illinois We're in the
buildings destroyed. About 4SO 13-inch
shells were on hand. tits said. A large
amount of fixed communion stored in
two buildings from. which the roofs
were blown did not explode and the two
main powder ma gazines were at the
either end of the island out of danger.
On the island. besides Gunner Fries, in
command. and the guard of marines. 10
or u magazine tenders and attendants
lived with their families. The hundred or
more workmen lived in >adjacent, towns
and villages. The women and Children
were in great danger. during the explosion
and, with ,nanys-of the workmen fed
panic stricken. other workmen remaining
sto assist tlaes marines In fighting the fire.
Wv Gunner Fries was standing near the
shell house when the first explosion oc-
curF1gs hat his injuries. like those Of the
others consisted only of cuts and bruises.
A woFbs Frederick Danielson, had an
!. even .;sil1tAs miraculous escane, He was
sactuaNgs inside the shell house when the
xpi6sfon occurred and, though dazed
and Utmost sepseless, managed to crawl
from the buildings