New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-21
THREE KILLED THIS TINE.
POWDER MILL EXPLOSION.
Heard and Felt for Many Miles
Prerious Fatalities There.

Wayne " J.. Feb 2O-Three men were killed
and a number injured IN explosion that de-
stroyed two buildings and damaged several
others at the plant Of the Latin & Rand Powder
COMPANY. about a mile from here. this morning.
A carload Of powder on the railroad track near
by was blown up. The explosion was heard and
felt for many miles around here and chimneys
were knocked down. doors blown in, windows
scattered and other damage done. The dead
are: Frederick weiner. Of Wayne; Albert Jack
son. OF Lincoln Park. and James Weir, of Pc
quanno-k.
George Morgan. bookkeeper for the powder
company. was hit by piece Of flying glass and
the end OF his nose cut completely off. Mrs.
David Willis. who lives I'm cottage not far
from the powder works. made uncon-
scious by the shock Of the explosion and is in
a serious condition.
About one hundred men were at york when
the explosion occurred, a number being hit by
flying glass and splinjers of wood. but none
were seriously hurt
It IS not known positively what caused the
accident, a powder expert here says that If the
powder made at the plant becomes too wet or
too dry IN process Of manufacture it may eX-
pIode and great care has TO be exercised TO
keep it in the proper condition The first ex-
plosion occurred in the press mill. and "A theory
IS that small stone gritty substance be
came mixed with the powder and generated a
spark while passing through the grinder. There
were eleven mill buildings and two magazines
in the plant. The magazines are far from the
buildings and the latter are widely separated.
ONE MANS NARROW ESCAPE.
Weir and Jackson were at work in the press
mill when it blown Up. Another man,
Charles Schuman. had left the mill only short
time before and thus escaped the fate Of the
others. Weir and Jackson were blown to pieces.
Weiner was foreman Of the corning mill and
was alone in that building when it went up a
few seconds after the first explosion. He was
alive when found, hut his body was badly lacer-
at-d. After a hour he died.
The explosion in the corning mill was followed
by the blowing up Of the car II was standing
on the tracks OF the Greenwood Lake Railroad.
The ton Of powder in the car was ignited by
spark or set or 10y conclusion and went up
with tremendous roar The volume Of smoke
in the air could be seen for many miles.
The shock from the successive explosions was
felt in Newark. Paterson. Passaic. Little Falls
and other distant places. and messages soon
began 10 pour in asking Tor particulars Of the
accident.
In this place chimueys were topr-ed over.
doors and windows wrecked and the whole vii
lage thrown into panic. Women and children
ran screaming into the streets and the widest
excitement prevailed. a FIRE resulting from the
explosions added 10 the uproar The whole
glass front Of Youugelsou.s store was blown iu
and the conclusion set FIRE 70 several crates
OF matches in the store. There was lively
blaze for "a time. but a bucket brigade was
formed and the flames were soon extiugulshed.
Across the river from Wayne is the poultry
farm Of Alfred Castle. iu Lincoln Park All the
doors and windows IN the house on the farm
were blown IN and part OF the roof was ripped
OF. Similar damage was done TO other houses
within mile OF the plant.
The first explosion occurred at $50 a. m. At
first all information was refused by the officials
at the works and the widest rumors were soon
a-ioat Women who had relatives working az
the plant hurried 20 the scene and demanded
10 know their fate. but the man on guard said
he had uo information 20 give. At last the
names OF the dead were made known. but fur
Their information was refused. Il IS even said
that two Catholic priests who hurried 10 the
works 10 administer the last rites o. the church.
could not at first get 81. They Father
Joseph, OF ST. BOHayeuture's Church ~ Pater-
son. and Father McIIenry, pastor 81 a church
near here. Because Of the protests OF angry
citizens the priests were admitted
a PITIFUL SCENE.
A pitiful scene was witnessed when tho wife
Of Weir. one Of the men killed. and her eldest
child. girl OF thirteen. arrived. The widow
has FIVE other children the youngest two months
old. When they asked 20 see the body no one
had the courage 10 tell them they could not
have even this poor satisfaction. Both the other
victims were married. and Weimer. besides his
widow, leaves six children.
There has been number Of explosions at the
Latin & Rand plant here and at Pompton
Lakes. on June ,. 1901. two men We're injured
when 40 pounds Of powder were blown up. on
August II. 1902. several tons Of powder OK
rlodod bat no was injured. In an explosion
AT Pompton Lakes. July u, 1895 nine men
were killed and eleven injured. and February
-. 1901. one man lost his life and five were in
1ured in an explosion at the same plant
The officials OF the Latin & Rand company
would not give any figures to-day's loss but
the damage Is estimated at about $4,000 The
buildings destroyed. like the others the plant
were Of frame and were lightly constructed to
nffer leaEt unssiIIa resistance ~ q