The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-03-14
TO PROBE DISASTER
TERRIBLE STORY TOLD BY SUR.
VIVCRS OF DYNAMITE
EXPLOSION.
DEATH RAIN OF HOT METAL
After Blowing Up of Cargo in Lower
Harbor Of Ealtinore-Many Lives
Lost in Attempt to Save the Crew
Of !Ii-Fated British Vessel.

Baltimore, March 11.-Inyestigation
have been begun to ascertain the cause
and fix the blame for the disastrous eX-
plosion of dynamite in the hold Of the
British tramp steamer Alum Chine,
lying at anchor in the lower harbor,
which brought death to more than for
ty persons and serious injury to three
score more and caused property loss
Of more than S250,G00. One investiga-
ton already has been completed by the
city authorities but no definite conclu-
sion reached because the accident oc-
Cured outside the city limits.
Federal Authorities Apprised.
Immediately after the accident the
federal authorities at Washington
were apprised of the serious damage
to the new collier Jason, which was
near tie anchorage of the Inflated
Alum Chine and was about to be ac-
cepted by the navy department. Word
was received that the department
would inquire into the disaster. At
the same time it is probable an inves-
tigation will be undertaken by the in
terstate commerce commission which
has jurisdiction over the shipment of
explosives in American waters.
Because most Of the crew of the de-
strOyed steamer were subjects Of
Great Britain. the British consul at
Baltimore. Gilbert Fraser, also will
inquire into the explosion with the
view of protecting the interests of the
families Of the killed and wounded
Welshmen, and to make a report to
the British admiralty, The coroner of
Anne Arundel county will at once i'm
panel a jury and this probably will
complete the number Of inquiries to at
tempt the fixing of blame for the dis
aster.
Authorities who have made a partial
examination express the opinion. how
ever, that the real cause of the explO~
sion will never be definitely learned,
chiefly because those who might give
information either are among the dead
or are so seriously MANNED and in
jured they will eve be in a position
to make q statement regarding the &C
cident. The general theory. which
seems to be borne ont by the state
ment of eye witnesses to the tragedy,
is that the coal in the vessels bunEers
was set afire by spontaneous combus-
ton and the flames were communicate
ed to the dynamite.
Early reports of the extent of the
loss of life aboard the destroyed steam
or and the other vessels lying in her
i'm iatn Sffinitv ea.nriaJJv ,1iTnrnJ
and even yet no accurate list OF those
who lost their lives has been compiled.
1t is accepted, however, that the list
Will total between forty and fifty dead
and almost as MANY more were in
iured. Several of the former died at
the hospitals here.
1t is regarded as almost certain that
all the bodies nave not yet been recov-
cred from the waters OF the harbor.
Those who escaped death in the ex-
plosion broUeht vivid but disconnected
accounts Of the explosion when they
reached the city with the dead and
wounded.
Captain ]. r. Thompson. captain OF
the new collier Jason, which was to
have taken its trial trip, had a mar
row escape, when hurled boxes of dy.
Mantle crashed onto the Jason's decks
and exploded with death-dealing fury.
He had seen the smoke issuing from
the Alum Chimes hold.
Immediately after the first shock OF
the accident. Capt. Thompson ordered
his men to make a close inspection
of the entire ship, They found many
holes in it's side. Pieces of iron went
straight through the plate, which in
spots was three-fourths to seven
Fights Of an inch thick.
One hole was big enough for a man
to put his head through. This hole is
eight feet above the water line. Other
holes are near the water line.
William E. Van Dyke of Baltimore.
captain of the wrecked tug Atlantic.
lost his life in %heroically rushing to
the aid of the imperiled British sea-
men in the doomed Alum Chine, and
his vain effort carried with him ia
death many members of his crew.
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