The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-03-13
HARBOR DISASTER
REMAINS MYSTERY
Investigations Started, But
Those Who Gould Give Facts
Perished BY Explosion.

Baltimore, Md, March 10.-The ex-
plosion Of 800 tons Of dynamite in Bal
timore harbor yesterday which caused
the death Of 40 or so men, and the in
jury OF as many others, seriously
crippled the coast defenses Of the har-
Dor, 1t 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,
$4,000.
Various Investigations of the expIo-
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
damage to the collier Jason. about to
be accepted by the wal department,
will inquire into the disaster and at
the same time 1t Is probable an in
vestigation will be undertaken by the
Interstate Commerce commission,
which has jurisdiction over the ship
msnt of explosives in American wa
ters. Because most Of the crew OF the
destroyed steamer Alum Chine were
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 earned because those who
could have given first hand information
are dead. The general theory is that
the coal In the vessels bunkers was set
d. IRE by spontaneous combustion. and
the flames were communicated 10 the
dynamite.
Early reports Of the extent of the
loss OF life aboard the destroyed steam
er and the other vessels lying in her
immediate vicinity materially differed.
1t is accepted, however, that the list
will total between 40 and 50-and al
most as many more who were either
dangerously or seriously injured.
1t 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 $500, 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
were annihilated. The tug Atlantic,
which twice had rushed into the rescue
before the crash, was racing away,
having gone pack to rescue two sailors,
when it IA caught in the rain OF
charred wood and red hot steel that
fell in a shower for II quarter Of a mile
around, killing some of the crew out
right and setting fire to the vessel.
Coming up the river at the time was
tho tug Britannia, which rushed to the
aid of the Atlantic, picking up many of
the wounded who a 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 n started up the river
with her, but the vessel sank before
the LazarettO lighthouse was reached.
For a time it was feared that the
revenue cutter Guthrie had shared the
fate OF the Alum Chine, out later 1t
was asCertained the cutter and crew
were safe.
Captain Van Dyke, of the Atlantic,
despite the knowledge he must have
had that a hail Of death soon would
be pouring yer the harbor, needed the
call Of the imperiled sailors. The en-
gines were 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 Atlantic's
nose had scarcely been turned toward
open water, when, with q roar like the
eruption OF a volcano, the death laden
vitals Of the Alum Chine exploded. The
conclusion hurled all before it. A dense
pail OF smoke enVeloped the water and
when II cleared away the ship and
barge had disappeared, and the Allan
tics. a dismantled hulk, helpless on the
surface OF the baV.
Death in dreadful form had descended
from the sky. The Alum Chine had
been torn into shreds r boxes of
dynamite, mingled with the flying frag-
ments OF steel and timber. filled the air.
These fell on the packed decks OF the
Atlantic, the dynamite exploding as 1t
fell and sweeping them like a rain of
sharpnel from field guns.
Mems heads and limbs were torn
from their bodies. Blood was every
where. Ships and launches nearby
watched d~ismembered bodies flung and
Captain Van Dyke gave his life for his
gallantry. His body. with n arm
severed, was among those recovered by
the rescuers and was n of the first
identified.
, Up to noon today there had been no
additional deaths among the injured,
but a number were reported TO be In n
va ~ AONo IN ] -
ords show at least 43 injured victims
were taken to those institutions. One
died last night, Is were discharged and
81 remain for treatment.
The hospitals and h morgue were
besieged. as on yesterday. by weeping
ONE 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 25 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
a buoy over the spot to warn ps3sing
vessels Of the danger lying beneath the
surface OF the water.