Evening journal., 1913-03-08


sizes we're riding at anchor; then a
flame followed shortly afterward by
an explosion that was heard for miles
around and which carried men and
tons Of steel and wood high into the
air; then the opening of the waters
of the Patapsco Ind the swallowing
OF a giant freighter Then again a
placid sea.
This is the record of events on the
Patapsco yesterday afternoon when
the Alum Chine OF the Munson Line,
was blow up. The vessel was loaded
with nearly 500 tons OF dynamite to
be taken to Panama and was at an
chor receiving its cargo near Hawkins
Point half mile distant the collier
Jason, was at anchor and further up
the river the steamer Vauxhall from
resting on the calm water awaiting
a berth at one of the docks i'm Canton.
On the Alum Chine several score OF
men were busy loading the deadly
cargo into the hold Some we're
whistiing while others jokingly
shouted watch hayvy" to one another
as the cases of explosives were passed
from one to another to be stored in
the hold. Suddenly there was a burst
Of flame The vessel was aire. A
Wild scramble for safety followed. as
all knew an explosion was inevitable
With a roar that could be heard for
many miles. the waters opened The
hull of the vessel was carried TO the
bottom of the river and the part above
water was sent hurting into the air
in fragments.
Pieces Of steel bent and turned in
queer shapes whirled through the air
Splintered woodwork also shot sky
ward, intermingled with fragments OF
men. Eyewitnesses declared the ex-
plosion looked like a combustion OF
aerial fireworks Some of the dyna-
mite in boxes was carried into the
air and exploded while more than a
thousand feet above the water-a
marvellous spectacle.
A dense cloud of heavy black smoke
spread over the waters after the
debris had fallen. Heavy waves. some
10 feet high. spread over the waters
tearing loose hawsers that held small
craft to their mornings and tossing
other boats about the waters Before
the dense smoke cleared. however, the
water had quieted and the placidity oi
10 minutes previous prevailed.
A Dreadful Picture.
The water was filed with wreck
age and bodies foated here and there
Some were headless; some leglesi
or armless and others had been mutt
etI 10
tugs and small boats were hcadel
toward the scene OF the catastroph
to lend What aid was possible to tn
injured. The tug Atlantic, of the Al
lantic transport Company. which ha
seen the flames on the 7essel befor
ii had been discovered by the me-
who we're at work on Is deck an
which had made quick time to tn
side of the Alum Chine to save a
many lives as possible was thel
discovered to be afre. Tie rcscuini
boats headed toward the tuS ant
took h.any from her decks. TIT
tug went to the bottom.
Many of the stevedores and other
working on the vessel were trans
ferred to the deck OF the tug ard th'
start away from the Alum Chine wa
quickly made The fire was thei
burning briskly anu it was know
to IL that the explosion cou b.
looked for at any minute Suddenl.
some oae on the tug shouted "Ther'
are other mel on the vessel.
All eyes were upon the decks Of tn
Alum { line and a half-scOre or NOR
Ct men were seen there shouting ant
pleading that they not be left behind
Their cries reached the ears OF Cap
tan Van Dyke. and he gave the sig
nails that turned his vessel ar0unl
and again made for the vessel.
Martyrs Death.
When the Atlantic was severa
hundred yards from the Alum Chin
the explosion occurred and the mel
Who had been left behind were blow
to eternity. Bits of iron from tn
steel sides of the vessel struck o
fell on the Atlantic. Captain Va
Dyke was struck by one Of thes
pieces and killed He gave his lif
in an attempt to save the lives Q
those left on the doomed ship.
The concussion caused by the ex
plosion went down into the funnel
+ Of the Atlantic and blew the fire frcr
b her boilers into the engine room an
. as the tug rocked or the heavy Sc
J caused by the explosion the vessC
caught fire in several places.
, Cries of helm them arose from tn
decks OF the Atlantic. A number c
b ats we're headed toward her. TIL
/ fire on the Atlantic was principal
b amidships and the terrified men wer
, gathered fore and aft looking eage-
; I TO the boats which we're speedin
J to their rescue.
Two Men In Peril.
The tug Mary p. Reihl Of Bait
more. was the first to reach the sid
of the Atlantic. II was headed int
Sparroys Point at the time of IN
: explosion and had turned back to Nh
scene to lend what aid was possible
The crew of the Reihl trasferred 3
> men from the Atlantic to its deck
Some we're injured seriously. other
3 bruised or slightly cut and some ur
injured. All we're taken to Brown
wharf. at the foot Of Broadway. wheT
police ambulances carried the iniure
to hospitals.
- When the Reihl reached the side {
e the Atlantic there was a mad cramble
for safety Some fought in their e,
I citement and fear Of death to get
. the deck of vessel that would carr