The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-02-04
PROBING DISASTER
Five Separate Inquiries Into
Dynamite Explosion.
CLEARING AWAY THE RUINS
An Arrest May be Made in Effort to
Fix Blame For Explosion Which
Shook New York and
North Jersey.
CLEARING AWAY THE RUINS

New York, Feb. 3.--With five sepa'
rate authorities, including a United
States Official, conducting a rigid in
quiry into the explosion OF twenty
three tons Of dynamite on the Jersey
water front, fatal to at least thirty
persons, 1t was declared that an ar
rest would probably be made as the
result of efforts to fix blame for the
disaster.
A report heard by the Jersey City
police was that the Katherine W., the
dynamite boat, which was blown on.
the faos-of the-waters-by- me explo-
sion, had been partially loaded with
nitro-glycerine before any dynamite
was put on board Of her.
This previous loading was said not
to be from pier near the scene OF
the explosion. but from one further
up the river on the New Jersey side.
There was no verIfcation of this re
port, but the police Immediately start
ed an investigation.
After telephone interview with the
federal authorities in New York,
James Connolly, superintendent OF the
Jersey City bureau of combustibles.
declared that the Katherine w. was
not licensed to carry explosives. Mr..
Connolly said that he was informed
by the federal authorities that the
boat had a passenger license only.
A detective was sent to the home OF
Captain James Heiling, owner Of the
dynamite boat, TO ascertain If this In
formation were correct. The detective.
reported that Captain Heiling declared
that he had not thought II necessary
to procure such a license. His boat
displayed the red flag, Captain He'll
ing is reported TO have said. and this.
in his belief. was sufficient.
The seven men on the vessel we're
licensed by the New York bureau to
engage In the transportation of explo-
sives.
Mr.. Connolly said also that the Cen
trail Railroad OF New Jersey had pro
cured no permit to carry explosives
through Jersey City during the -four
years that he had held Office. He said
there was a city ordinance governing
such matters, which requires that ev'
cry shipment of explosives over 5000
pounds must be transferred at sea,
1000 feet or more from a pier He
said the custom formerly was to carry
the dynamite out to sea and then load
Il upon the boats.
Besides the announcement b. Pierre
P. Garven. public prosecutor of Hud-
son county. n. j.. that he was getting
information with the intention o, pre-
senting evidence OF criminal negll-
gence, II such were found. to the
grand jury at an early day. indepead
ent Investigations were Instituted BY
the coroner. the Jersey City police
and the head Of the bureau Of com.
bustibles OF that city.
A fifta and important party % the
Investigation Is the United States gov
eminent.
Meanwhile the process Of searching
the debris on the scene OF the explo-
sion at pier No. I. near the Commune
paw station Of the Central Railroad
of New Jersey, where twenty-three
tons OF exploding dynamite that was
being transferred from cars TO lighter
had wrought such tremendous havoc,
is being diligently prosecuted. No
bodies in addition to the five already
recovered were found, however. and
owing to the presence Of quantities OF
unexploded dynamite mixed with the
wreckage. the work proceeds carefully
and slowly
The list of identified dead stands at
nine, with nine known missing and a
score Of laborers, names unknown, not
accounted for. The death list will
probably exceed thirty.
Between 200 and 300 persons were
injured, being cut by glass broken by
the conclusion, in many cases far
from the scene Of the explosion.
The property loss is nearly $1,000
900 The heaviest sufferer is the Cen
trail Railroad of New Jersey, about
100000 The United States is loser,
with $4,000 damage at the Ellis
Island immigration station, $4,000 at
the army headquarters on Governors
Island and Bedloe's Island, where the
Statue of Liberty was shaken bare OF
many windows and big electric lights.