Evening journal., 1909-11-12
BLOW-UP CAUSE
is UNKNOWN
Funerals Of Two Ofthe Victims
Of Powder Blow Up TO Take
Place Tomorrow
CORONER HASN'T
FIXED INQUEST DATE

Although the officers Of the DUPONT
Powder Company are conducting rigid
investigation into the cause OF the eN-
plosion which yesterday killed three men.
and wrecked a number OF houses, the
cause Of the tragedy will probably never
be known. Walter McDermott, a work.
man who was blown to pieces, was tho
only one who knew.
Despite every precaution which the Of
fcials OF the powder company prescribe
to prevent explosions. the blow ups at
intervals baffe the most expert powder
makers. II is evident that the eNplo-
sion was due to friction or conclusion in
the slxin-packing house in charge Of Nc
Dermott. This Is about all that viii ever
be known. No smoking Is permitted In
the mills. the employees wear rubber-soled
and heeled shoes, and every other precau-
tion is taken to safeguard employees.
The funeral Of Darragh and Dinesto Will
take place tomorrow. Darragh's body
will be inferred at Newark Union Gene
terry and Dinesto's In Cathedral Ceme-
terry. Mass will be said over the dead
Italian In ST. Thomas Church.
No arrangements have been made for
the funeral Of McDermott.
No arrangements have been made by
Coroner Gaynor for holding the inquest
WorlSmen in the employ Of the company
had the yard cleared OF the wreckage this
afternoon and work was again progress
ing there as usual.
The damage to the home OF l.. Scott
Townsend. on the Rockland road and
about a mile from the powder works,
will amount TO nearly $500. The prin-
cipai damage was the smashing in Of
doors and the breaking OF windows,
hinges and locks on doors and windows.
The force Of the explosion through
Brandywine hundred seemed to be
much greater than south of Whining
ton. In fact the dwellings north OF
the Brandywine were chaken mp more
more seriously than those south OF the
stream. This condition frequently has
been observed when explosions occur.
1t really is no wonder that the shock
was so great. as six tons Of black
smokeless powder were I'm the packing
house and the prismatio press room
and the frame magazine that were
destroyed. The greater part of this
WAS Al AAN ItAAAAhh HNAaNfH Ah NNA"N
AfcDermott was working and blown q
bits. Aside from the quantity gener
ally IN the glazing mill, that IN th'
packing house was said to be the larg
est in any one building.
One of the condolences OF the ex-
plosion was observed in the overturning
Of the car on which Darrah was riding.
This car contained some powder, and
while the force of the explosion killed
Darrah. Dinesto and the horse, the
powder in the little car was not set Off,
but was dumped over the ground.
Harry Biddle. tho one-year- old son
of Mr.. and Mrs Preston Biddle, who
was hurt by a door falling upon him
when the Biddle house was twsited into
grotesque shapes, was greatly improv-
ed today and no serious results are now
looked for. The baby Of Mr.. and Mrs
Bankson T. Holcomb, Jr.. who was hurt
by plaster falling upon him in the
Holcomb residence, has practically re
covered from the effects, although cut
and bruised.
Mrs. Alfred T. DUPONT hurried 20 the
houses Of those who had lost their loved
ones. As soon as she was notified Of the
catastrophe she ordered her big imported
green automobile that is such a familiar
sight in Wilmington, and hurried 10
Walkers Bank, where Darragh boarded
with Mrs Hahn. a relative.
Darragh's body had been taken at once
to the morgue. so Mrs. Hahn was hur-
ried there and arrangements were made
to take care Of the remains.
Mrs. dupont then visited the other
houses whose inmates had suffered. and
spent the rest Of the day in relieving them
and assisting them in every way IN her
power. She was tireless in her efforts in
their behalf, and grateful and admiflng
eyes followed her wherever she went.