Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-03-11
People Of Pleasant Prairie and
KenoSha Up in Arms as Re-
suit Of Disastrous Du Pont
Explosion,
WILL APPEAL TO THE
WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE
Women Leave Stricken District
and Food Problem Assumes
Serious Aspect Only One
Death Positively Confirmed,
IBy Morning journal Special Leased Wire

tBy Morning journal Special Leased wire]
Pleasant Prairie, Wis, March 10
With the vicinity of the wrecked Du
Pont powder mill waste of dis
manteled homes, the first action today
of the residents was toward elimina-
ton of the menace of powder works
from the county. Indignation meet
ines at which this demand was voiced,
were held here and at Kenosha.
The question of liability for tne
damages inflicted is serious one
with the victims. The destruction OF
their homes in most instances is an
overwhelming calamity. No attempt
was made today to accomplish any
thing, but temporary PATCHWORK OF
the shattered homes. Few women re-
mained in the town and not one stoVe
was in working order. Lack OF 1000
had already become a pressing pro-
blem.
There have been nine explosions IN
ten years at the powder works, put
no disaster has compared with the
present one in the extent of damages
inflicted. although more lives nave
been lost. In the explosion of 1906
seven men were killed, while two dled
later of their injuries
Fragments of the body OF f. ,.
Thompson the one man killed IN last
nights explosion were FOUND TINS
morning in a pond half a mile from
the glaze mill where he met death.
The body was identified by super
intendent Clarence Brady of the pow
der works and others. jury was
empannelled by Coroner James stan
ton of Kenosha and the preliminary
hearing was continued until tomorrow
to obtain attendance OF enough
witnesses to fix the cause of the ex-
plosion.
That the explosion started in the
glaze mill and that its cause was de-
fective working of the machinery IN
the delicate process OF putting the
last high explosive finish on giant
powder was indicated today by the
statement Of Engineer Josph Flynn
himself seriously injured who was an
eye witness of the initial explosion.
A section of one of the shattered
glazing cylinders, steel missile more
than three feet in diameter and six
feet long was hurled two miles and
crashed through the roof of the two
story building.
The cylinder made an eight foot
gap in the roof and passing through
the structure was buried in the cell
lar.
Ii was generally believed tonight
after communication had been estab-
lished with the farm houses In the
danger zone, and after physicians had
made records of the cases treated,
that Engineer Flynn is the only per-
son seriously injured.
Superintendent Brady said he had
accounted for every person who might
have been at work in the danger zone
and that only one. Thompson, was
dead. This was confirmed by EN-
ployes of the powder company after
they had taken stock of their COM
rades.
The financial loss to the company is
roughly estimated at 100000. but
the total loss due to the explosion is
too widely distributed to be estimated.
Householders in Pleasant Prairie say
their houses had been weakened by
previous explosions.
Powder men today began flooding
the ruins with water to safeguard the
community against further explo-
sions. Contradictory estimates were
given as to the quantity of powder left
in the danger zone. Western Super
intendent Bumstead said there is a
quantity in the process of manufac-
ture in several of the small buildings.
Superintendent Brady said that one
small magazine still is standing.
A store house standing about hall
mile from the main group is filled
with dynamite detonators. Sheriff
Stahl insists that from five to eight
carloads of loose black powder re-
main in building unroofed by the
explosion.
| Smoulderlng OF the wet powder
gave rise to reports that fire again
had broken out. but powdermen said
the steam was due only to the water
on the powder.
District Attorney II. ]. Hastings oi
Kenosha county announced tonight h'
would conduct the coroner's inquiry
| into the cause OF the disaster ant
would ask that the officials OF tn
Du Pont company testify. These Of