Norwich bulletin., 1913-03-08

1 OI IH6 Alum Cnlne warned neInDeFS 1 Of her crew, the SteVedores engag- l ed in loading her and the c1eW of 1 the Atlantic alongside, that fire was l raging in the coal bunkers, there was 1 instant realization that flames would 1 soon reach the 300 tons of dynamite stored in the Alum Chimes hold and l the barge roped beside her. Two Sailors Left Behind. Instantly there was a rush to the ships side. Fourteen members of the crew and four of the stevedores leap ed over the rail and tunlbIed peIl mell into the launch Jerome that had moment before brought two firemen aboard the ill-fated ship. All of her other members of the crew and steve dores who could reach the deck leap ed for the decks of the Atlantic. The tug and launch, cutting haWSers were sped away from the scene of the inn pending catastrophe, the Jerome pick ing up speed first and rushing to safety.
 The Atlantic had proceeded a few hundred feet when two frantic figures were seen clambering from the Alum chimes hold. They were sailors who had been left behind. Reaching the sides of the vessel. they souted piteous appeals for rescue.
 Sailors Saved, But Too Late.
 Captain Van Dyke despite the knowledge he must have had that a hail of death would be pouring over the harbor. needed the can of tie inn per1lled sailors The engines were stopped, the Atlantic wheeled and rushed again to the fire doomed Ves- sePs side She reached it in safety. The two sailors jumped aboard.
 Again the Atlantic wheeled Cap- tain Van Dyke, standing in the pilot house, gave hurried orders which again sent the tug toward safety. But it was too late. The Atlanties nose had scarcely been turned toward open water when, with road like the, erup- tion of a volcano, the death-laden vii tals of the Alum Chine exploited. The concussion hurled all before it. 4 dense pail of smoke enveloped the waters and when it cleared away the ship and barge had disappeared and the Atlantic, a dismantled hulk, help less on the surface of the bay had become a. human shambles.
 Limbs Tore From Bodies.
 Death in dreadful form lad des- cended from the sky. The Alum Chine had been torn into shreds and i boxes of dynamite mingled with the | flying fragments of steel and timber l filled the air These fell on the pack | ed decks of the Atlantic, the dynamite l explodinf as it fell and sweeping them | as charge of shrapnel levels charg- | ing troops.
 Mems heads and limbs were torn l from their bodies. From ships and ] launches nearby were seen dismember- | ed bodies across and tumbIed about 1 the Atlantic's decks.
 Captain Van Dyke gave his life for his gallantry. His body, with one | arm severed, was among those recov- cred by the rescuers and was one of | the first identified when brought to -his city. With him died Joseph T. first rescued, and Robert Diggs, a member of his crew had stood beside lfm when the explosion occurred.
 Collier Had. Narrow Escape.
 Those who escaped death in the ex- r 0losion brought vivid but disconnect- ed accounts of the explosion when they cached this city with the dead and wounded.
 Captain J. R. Thompson, captain of he new collier Jason, which tomorrow l vas to have taken her trial trip, had | narrow escape, when hurled boxes l lecks and exploded with death deal- ng fury. He had seen the smoke is- iuing from the Alum Chimes hold.
 T was warning my men of the ianger," said Captain Thompson to- light "because 1 knew the ship was Iure to blow up. I had already gone below and instructed the chif en- sineer to get up steam and get un- ng this while I had other men at york pulling up the anchor. I was tanding near a ventilator when I was ossed into the air fully six or seven
 
 aults. I threw out my arms and .rabbed a railing. This kept me from -oing overheard.
 Shower of Iron Fragments
 Tn another instant 8 terrific shower # pieces of iron of all sizes, some 'eces as large as my fist and others IS big as IT. head, were flying straight 1 Town from the air. l saw these pieces 70 straight through our heavy plate The huge smokestacks of the collier were filled full of holes, and by the oncussion alone were smashed almost lat.
 Around me on all sides were the nen who had been tossed into the air nd thrown back Many men were cut md injured by the pieces of iron. Some we're killed instantly. The dynamite hip was an iron ship throughout and hat made the damage to our ship all he greater. The Chine was about 500 eet away, but the force of the exp1o- ion was so great that our ship was lfted high upon the waves.
 Iron Goes Through Plate.
 Our fremen. who were shoveling oa1, got the full force of the explo ion in their faces Many of them ' ere burned. I expected to have 150 nen in the crew by tonight and about l % men were on board.'' Immediately after the first shock of he accident, Cantafn Thompson order d his men to make a. close inspection I the entire ship. They found many 1 Ioles In her side. Pieces of iron went traight through her plate, which in ] pots was 3-4 to 7-8 of an Inch thick 1 One hole was big enough for a man c put his head through. This hole Is fight feet above the water line. Other oles are near the water line.
 Chief Engineers Story. J. c. Reese of Cardiffs Vale, chief ] ngineer Of the Alum Chine, gave a ' raphie description of the scramble for afety from the ship and the explosion l hat followed. f T was in the engine room when I card on deck the cry The ship is fre.' looked around and saw smoke | orning from the hold in the bow and | ,ade a dash for the stern. realizing z