Evening journal., 1909-01-20
DYNAMITE
INJURIES TWO
conl.- J, rrem r1rst Page.


Immediately afterward.
Wilmington. Chester Eddystone, Fol-
croft and score of other towns al.
most across the river from Gibbstown,
possibly felt the explosion as much as
any other places within the radius az
fected. Folcroft people, many OF
whom were just getting up, rushed To
their windows at the first crash, ana
as the location OF tho town Is higher
than the river they saw the burst OF
flame which some said scared 500 feei
into the air. and then their homes
shook with the second crash.
The shock was felt all over this
vicinity. especially in the section ad.
iacent 20 the Delaware river, as IL
seems TO have followed the river ana
to have been more clearly felt IN the
sections along its banks.
Omcials of the DUPONT Company an
nounce that the explosion was due -
a fire which started in miNins
apparatus. The blaze communicated TO
two store houses containing partially
finished explosive
one of the passengers on p. b. ana
w train from Isssington, about s
o'clock this morning. was Louis j.
Elselo. lie lives IN Essington, ana
said that as he was about TO board tho
accommodation, which left there at 7.2i
o'clock. he heard loud detonatlon.
SHEET OF FIRE 100 FEET HIGH.
Looking toward the Delaware river,
which IS at least a mile from the station
hc saws he saw a puff OF smoke rise In an
instant. he declares. n sheet OF fire rose
more than a hundred feet into the air. As
he got on the train another blazing ball
sought the sky. going even higher.
'Tho traln," he said, "awnyed from Side
TO side, and the passengers were greatly
frightened. The engineer, who had start
cd the locomotive, stopped It again, and
we were at standstin for several min
utes. expecting another shock But there
was no further disturbance"
AS soon as word of tile explosion reach.
cd tho headquarters of the DUPONT Com.
pany in Wilmington, the tug Emily was
dispatched to Gibbstown TO remove the
Injured. Effort was made TO establish
communication with the New Jersey plant
but this was difficult. as the telephone
connection at the works had been broker
by the shock. It was several hours be-
fore the extent Of the damage was knowr
at the Wilmington offices.
CONSIDERATION AT GIBBsTowN
Gibbstown is about one-half mile from
the mill. and is only a small settlement
The houses rocked ana swayed Window
fell in, and dishes fell crashing from th,
cupboards. There was CONSERVATION
among the people as a number or Gibbs
/ town men are employed at the mill. an,
/ the town started almost ia a body to thl
scene Of the disaster TO learn its extent
/ Paulsboro about two miles away. wal
also panic stricken. as a number OF a.
I citizens are DUPONT company emlloyes
and many people started walking o
driving 20 the mill TO find out whethe
their friends and relatives were still
4 alive. Everyone in this section ot
New Jersey knew at once what the de
donations were. as they have eXper
fenced powder explosions before, bu
the lack Of Information and the uncer
tainty only served TO increase thei
terror.
The mill is enclosed with a higl
fence and the company had guard
hvHN'N an alouhos SO lnhi no peisol
scould approach, and oni the most mca
SIRE information was allowed to get L
the throngs Of people who stood shiv
oring with fear lest friends or rela
tives had been killed. The mill fenc
showed no trace of the explosion. bu
the ground all round was strewed wit
bits of wood and parts Of building
wiped out by the explosion. Inside tn
fence the work Of enacine all traces q
the accident proceeded rapidly. put $
we'll had the explosion done its wor
that there was really little to do.