Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1913-03-13
EsT|GAIIOh o.
BIG BOAT DISASTER.
TERRIBLE STORY TOLD ~ SUR.
vlvoRs OF DYNAMITE
EXPLOSION.
DEATH RAIN OF HOT METAL !: Al

Rrter BLOWING Op u cargo ~ loWST
Harbor Of Baltimore Many Lives
Lost In Attempt to Save the Grew
Of Inflated British Vessel.
Baltimore, March ADMINISTRATIONS
nave 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 $250,O00. One investiga.
ion 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 appraised of the serious damage
to the new collier Jason, which was
near the anchorage of the Inflated
Alum Chine and was about to be ac-.
copied 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 We're 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 report to
1.-THE British admiralty The coroner Of
Anne Arundel county will at once i'm
panel 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 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
iured they will never be in position
to make statement regarding the ac-
cident The general theory, which
seems to be borne out by the state
sment of eye witnesses to the tragedy,
is that the coal in the vessels bunkers
was set afire by spontaneous combus-
ton and the flames were. communicate
ed to the dynamite.
Early reports of the extent of the
F, loss of life aboard the destroyed steam
er and the other vessels lying in her
immediate vicinity materially differed
and even yet no accurate list of those
who lost their lives has been compiled.
LIT is accepted, however, that the list
viii total between forty and fifty dead
md almost as many more were in
ilred. Several of the former died at
the hospitals here.
1t is regarded as almost certain that
Pll the bodies have not vet been recov.
fc~eG from the waters of the harbor
while others may never be recovered
q Those who escaped death in the ex.
rlosion brought vivid but disconnected
4 rcconnts Of the explosion when they
reached the city with the dead and
wounded.
Captain j. r. Thompson. captain Of
the new collier Jason, which was tt
have taken it's trial trip, had a mar
row escape. when hurled boxes of DIV
Mantle crashed onto the Jason's decks
: 'pnd exploded with death-deaing fury
II He had seen the smoke issuing from
the Alum Chimes hold.
: Immediately after the first shock a
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 wen
Istraight, through the plate, which il
spots was three-fourths to seven
Fights of an inch thick.
One. hole was big enough for ma,
to put his head through This hole i
eight feet above the water line. Othe
holes are near the water line.
William p. Van Dyke of Baltimore
captain Of the wrecked tug Atlantic
lost his life in heroicallv rushing t,
( the aid of the imperiled British sea
men in the doomed Alum Chine, an,
Z his vain effort carried with him &
death many members Of his crew.
Robbed by Man She Fed.