The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-03-13
HARBOR DISASTER
REMAINS MYSTERY
Investigations Started, But
Those Who Could Give Facts
Perished BY Explosion.

Baltimore, Md, March 10.-The ex-
plosion of 500 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. I n many
instances the concrete foundations OF
the heavy guns in Forts Howard. Arm
lstead and Carroll were cracked, While
several of the guns themselves We're
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.
So 500.
Various Investigations of the explo-
sion are under way today. The
coroner of Arundel county viii empanel
a jury to begin consideration or the
case at once. The navy department at
Washington, appraised of the serious
damage to the collier Jason. about to
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
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
VII lbtStsSilG liz S4pioSioil. N
Decd 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
on lire 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
er and the other vessels lying in her
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.
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 $290,000.
In all the Catholic church tomorrow
prayers Will be offered for the repose
of the souls of those killed in the dis
aster n for the ~recover 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 in to the rescue
before the crash, was racing away,
having gone back to rescue two sailors,
when it was caught in the rain of
charred wood n red hot steel that
fell in a shower for a 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
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 a 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 harhor, 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 Atlantic's
nose had scarcely been turned toward
open water, when, with a roar like the
l VI vi q oI1ello tllS dNlS
vitals of the Alum Chine exploded. The
conclusion hurled all before it. A dense
pail of smoke e%nveloped the water and
when it cleared away the ship and
barge had disappeared, and the Allan
ties. a dismantled hulk, helpless on the
surface of the bay.
Death in dreadful form had descended
from the sky. The Alum thine had
been torn into shreds and boxes of
dynamite, mingled with the flying frag-
ments of steel and timber, filed the air.
These fell on the packed decks of the
Atlantic, the dynamite exploding as it
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 dismembered bodies flung and
tumbled about the Atlantic's decks.
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 a
p1ecarioTs condition. The hospital rec
ords show at least 43 injured victims
We're taken to those institutions. One
died last night, 10 were discharged and
81 remain for treatment.
The hospitals and the morgue were
besieged, as on yesterday, by weeping
women seeking their owed ones. The
death list, however. was around so.
Search is being made in the bay for
bodies.
Charles f. 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 20 tons of
dynamite remained uneXploded in one
of the. cars board the lighter along
side the Alum Chine. when she explod-
ed. The harbor authorities have placed
a buoy over the spot to warn passing
vessels Of the danger lying beneath the
| surface of the water.