The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-03-08
Caused by Explosion of
Over 300 Tons of Dyna-
mite in Steamer
AS MANY MORE MEN
ARE SERIOUSLY HURT
Many Investigations Started
at Baltimore To-day to
Determine Cause

|. are under way to-day TO ascertain thu
cause and fix the blame for the disast
rous explosion of more than three hun
dred tons of dynamite in the hold ol
the British tramp steamer Alum Chine
lying at anchor in the lower harbor
which yesterday killed over forty per.
sons, seriously injured sixty more and
! caused property loss of $25O,000.
One investigation already has been
completed by the authorities of this city
but no definite conclusions were reached
because the accident occursed outside OF
the city limits. The federal authorities
will inquire into the damage to the new
collier Jason, which was lying near the
dynamite ship and which was about to
be accepted by the navy department; /;
and it is probable that an investiga-
tion will be undertaken by the inter-
state commerce commission, which has
jurisdiction over the shipment of ex-
plosives in American waters.
Because most of the crew of the Alum
Chine were British citizens, the British
consul here also will inquire into the
/ explosion with view to protecting the
| interests of the families of the killed
and wounded and to make report to
J the British admiralty The county cor
oner will at once impanel a jury, and
| this probably will complete the number
of the inquiries to attempt to fix the
blame for the disaster.
The authorities, who have made par
tial examination, express the opinion
that the real cause of the explosion
never will be known definitely because
those who might give the information
were either killed or so seriously manned
that they never will be in a position
to make a statement. The general
theory is that coal in the vessels bunk
ers was set atire by spontaneous com
buston and the flames were eommuni-
Gated to the dynamite.
Definite knowledge as to the fatal
tiles is still lacking, but the casualties
probably will total between forty and
fifty dead and as many more seriously
injured.
Death Fate of Hero
For radius of scores of miles, the
shock of the explosion was felt. Re-
ports came early from many cities aud
towns where windows were shattered |
and it was at first rumored that dis
astrous earthquake had done much dam !
dRe III htIplto diso NaHtt I
from neighboring states, and it was said |
that the entire state of Delaware had /
felt the shock.
William 4. Van Dyke of Baltimore,
captain Of the wrecked tug Atlantic, /
lost his life in heroically rushing to the
aid Of the imperilled British seamen on
the doomed Alum Chine, and his vain
effort carried with him to death many
members of his crew.
When curling smoke from the bow of
the Alum Chine warned members of
her crew, the stevedores engaged in load
ing her. and the crew of the Atlantic
alongside, that fire was raging in the
coal bunkers. there was instant realiza
tion that flames soon would reach the
800 tons of dynamite stored in the Alum
Chimes hold and the barge roped beside
her
Instantly there was a rush to the
ships side Fourteen members of the
,rew and four of the stevedores leaped
over the rail and tumbed pell nell into
the launch Jerome, that had a moment ,
before brought two fremen aboard the
ll-fated ship. All of the other members
If the crew and stevedores who could
each the deck leaped for the decks OF ,
he Atlantic. The tug and launch cut /
ing their hawsers, sped away from the |
Gene of the impending catastrophe, the
Jerome picking up speed and rushing to c
afety. 0
The Atlantic had proceeded few hun a
Ired feet when two frantic figures were ;
cen clambering from the Alum Chimes I
'old. They were sailors who had been n
eft behind Reaching the sides of the
essel they shouted pteous appeals for +
escue b
Captain Van Dyke. despite the knowl- o
dge he must have had that hail of \
cath soon would be pouring over the Z
arbor, needed the call of the imperiled \
ailors. +
The engines were stopped. the Atlantic +
rheeled and rushed again to the fire. \
oomed vessels side. The two sailors
lmped aboard. n
Again the Atlantic wheeled. Captain
an Dyke standing in the pilot house v
ave hurried orders which again sent the
lg toward safety.
But il was too late. The Atlantic's
ose had scarcely been turned toward a.
pen water. when. with roar like the u
-uption of a volcano. the desth-laden q
Itsls Of the Alum Chine exploded The 81
hurled all before IT, A dense oi
all Of smoke enveloped the waters and "
hen il cleared the ship and the barge A
ad disappeared. and the Atlantic. a dis b.
antled hulk, helpless on the surface in
the bay. had become a human sham Il
es. tf
Death in a dreadful form had de- to
ended from the sky The Alum Chine at
IA been torn into shreds and boxes OF OF
rnamite. mingled with the fiying frag- pa
cnts of steel and timber. filed the air. co
hese fell on the packed decks OF the At
ntic. the dynamite exploding as il fell in
IA sweeping them as charge OF shrap- az
J leaves charging troops. al
Mems heads and limbs were torn from til
cir bodies. From ships and launches %
'arbv were seen dismembered bodies
ing across and tumbled about the At
mites dccks.
One Story of Explosion IN
Those who escaped death in the ex- lpe
Osion brOught vivid but disconnected vi