Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-03-13
.AARBoR DISASTER
REMAINS MYSTERY
Investigations Started, But
Those Who Could Give Facts
Perished By Explosion.


timore harbor yesterday which caused
the death OF 40 or SO men, and the in
jury or as many others. seriously
-crippled the coast defenses of the har-
Dor, it was learned today. In many
instances the concrete foundations OF
the heavy guns in Forts Howard, Arm
istead and Carroll were cracked. while
several of the guns themselves were
damaged by falling pieces of steel from
the wrecked steamer. AT Fort Armis--
tead the damage will reach several
thousand dollars and at Fort Carroll.
$500.
Various Investigations OF the eNplo-
sion are under way today. The
coroner of Arundel county will empanel
a jury to begin consideration OF the
case at once. The navy department at
Washington, apprised of the serious
be accepted by the war department,
will inquire into the disaster and at
the same time it is probable an in
vestigation will be undertaken by the
Interstate Commerce commission,
which has jurisdiction over the ship
ment of explosives in American wa
tiers. Because most of the crew of the
destroyed steamer Alum Chine We're
subjects of Great Britain, British con-
sui at Baltimore Gilbert Frazier, also
will investigate the explosion.
Dead Only Know Cause.
Authorities, however, say the real
cause of the disaster will never be
definitely learned because those who
could have given first hand information
are dead. The general theory Is that
the coal in the vessels bunkers was set
or Are by spontaneous combustion, and
the flames We're communicated to the
dynamite.
Early reports Of the extent of the
loss of life aboard the destroyed steam
af mud t1Vn or a,y, tHyiyC
immediate vicinity materially differed.
1t is accepted, however. that the list
will total between 40 and 5O-and al
most as many more who were either
dangerously or seriously injured.
II is regarded as almost certain that
all of the bodies have not been re-
covered from the waters of the harbor.
while others may never be recovered.
The financial loss was about $3.50, 900.
In all the Catholic church tomorrow
prayers Will be offered for the repose
of the souls of those killed in the dis
aster and for the recovery of the in
jured.
Loss Of the Atlantic.
Both the steamers Alum Chine and
the tug from which she was loading
We're annihilated. The tug Atlantic,
which twice had rushed in to the rescue
before the crash, was racing away,
having gone back to rescue two sailors,
charred wood and red hot steel that
fell in asshower for quarter of mile
around, killing some of the crew out
right and setting fire to the vessel.
Coming up the river at the time was
the tug Britannia, which rushed to the
aid of the Atlantic, picking up many OF
the wounded who had leaped into the
water. Some of them are said to have
persisted before the Britannia could get
to them.
The Britannia ran a line to the
burning tug and started up the river
with her, but the vessel sank before
the Lazaretto lighthouse was reached.
For time it was feared that the
revenue cutter Guthrie had shared the
fate of the Alum Chine. but later it
We're safe.
Captain Van Dyke, of the Atlantic.
despite the knowledge he must have
had that a hail of death soon would
be pouring over the harbor, needed the
call of the imperiled sailors. The en-
gines We're stopped, the Atlantic
wheeled and rushed again to the fire.
doomed vessels side. She reached it in
safety. The two sailors jumped aboard
Again the Atlantic wheeled. Too late
Captain Van Dyke, standing in the pilot
house. gave hurried orders which sent
the tug toward safety. The Atlantfc's
nose had scarcely been turned toward
open water, when, with a roar like the
eruption OF volcano, the death laden
vitals of the Alum Chine exploded. The
concussion hurled all before it. A dense
pail of smoke enveloped the water and
barge had disappeared, and the Allan
tics. dismantled hulk, helpless on the
surface of the bay.
Death in dreadful form had descended
from the sky. The Alum Chine had
been torn into shreds and boxes Of
RI Sfo
ments OF steel and timber, filled the air.
These fell on the packed decks Of the
Atlantic, the dynamite exploding as it
fell and sweeping them like rain of
sharpnel from field guns.
Mems heads and limbs We're torn
where. Ships and launches nearby
watched disnembered bodies flung and
tumbled about the Atlantic's decks.
Captain Van Dyke gave his life for his
gallantry. His body, with one arm
severed was among those recovered by
the reScuers and was one of the first
identified
Up to noon today there had been no
additional deaths among the injured.
but a number We're reported to be In n
pl ecarious condition. The hospital rec
ords show at least 43 injured victims
were taken to those Institutions. One
died hst night, Is were discharged and
q remain for treatment.
The hospitals and the morgue were
besieged, as on yesterday by weeping
women seeking their loved ones. The
death list, however. was around so
Search is being made in the bay for
bodies.
Charles E. Munroe and Clarence
Hall. government inspectors, from the
bureau of mines at Washington, ar
rived here today. 1t is understood they
will begin the federal investigation.
1t was learned today that % tons Of
dynamite remained unexploded in one
! of the cars aboard the lighter along :
| side the Alum Chine when she explod-
ed. The harbOr authorities have placed
buoy over the spot to warn passing
vessels of the danger lying beneath the
surface Of the water.
MRS. LETTER DIES.
Washington. March 1O.--Mrs. Levi z.