Perth Amboy evening news., 1914-04-22
FINDS NO CAUSE
FOR EXPLOSIONS
Deceive PeItier. Makes Probe
at u. S. Cartridge Plant
After Fatalities.
MISS MACKAY IN HOSPITAL
Rests With Investigation as to
Whether Grand Jury viii
Take Action.

Inc cause or the explosion at the
United States Cartridge Companys S
plant yesterday morning will prob
ably never be known If there is
anyone who can give any information
that will lead to ascertaining such
cause it Is believed it will be Miss
Gladys Mackey, of Tottenville, the
young woman who was operating the
loading machine that first exploded
and caused four other such appar-
atus to go off in succession. When
County Detective Peltier, sent by
County Prosecutor George S. Sill
ger, went to the city hospital where
the girl Is confined, he and Detective
Sergeant Huff, OF the local police,
who accompanied him, were advised
that Miss Mackey's condition was too
cerning the accident.
The two detectives interviewed
Lawrence Kidd, who is also in the
hospital as the result of the explos-
ion, but could learn nothing from
him that would lead to the discovery
OF the cause of the combustion.
Superintendent Thomas b. Doe, of
the plant declared that all precaut-
ionary means had been taken to pre-
vent such explosions, and that he
himself would be glad to learn the
cause of the accident.
The two detectives made a thor
ough investigation in the building
where the explosion occurred, and it
VIII depend upon the county detec-
tive's report whether the prosecutor
will ask an investigation by the Mid
dlesex grand jury. However, 1t Is
believed that in the meager informa-
tion the detective secured that no
apparent negligence on the part of
the management was found.
It developed that there were five
explosions, two OF which were heard
for radius of onehalf mile or more,
and the other three were less terri
fic. In some manner the magazine of
the loading machine at which Miss
Mackey was working exploded, which
sent off four other magazines, sue
cessively. The first machine was
wrecked. the second dismantled. and
the other three sustained but- little
damage except to the magazines
which were shattered.
1t is said that the machine which
first exploded had It's magazine only
Immediately previous filled with
black, highly combustible powder.
The powder is held In a metal cylin-
der just above the loading machine
which it feeds. Some two pounds Of
explosive was In the magazine when
a jar or some other cause set it off.
The magazines Of the other four
machines contained less powder, and
the damage to them was not SO great.
Misc Gladys Mackey, of Totten-
Vile, who WAS severely burned by the
explosion, Is reported as being in a
slightly improved condition at the
city hospital today, and it Is believ-
ed that she will recover. Laurence
Kidd, the colored employee, who was
not as severely burned as Miss Mack
ey, is also much improved and will
soon be taken to his home at 305
Oak street.
Since the terrible explosion which
occurred at the United States Cart
ridge plant January "a, 1912, killing
Margaret Kellner, the officials OF
that company have installed various
devices to prevent a similar occur
renee. Captain Doe had a system in
stalled on the loading floor consist
ing of long tubes running from the
machines to the roof and which are
intended to carry off the conclusion
of the discharge of the cartridges by
a principle similar to that used In
the construction of cannon. The
automatic sprinkling device exiting
uished the flames when Miss Mackey
caught fire and it is probably due to
the installation of the appurtenan-
ces that she owes her life.
1t is said that Captain Thomas B
Doe, who nearly lost his life at the
time of the explosion which killed
the Kellner girl, having been in the
room q few minutes before the acci-
dent took place, has been active in
taking precautionary measures to
save the employees lives in the event
of similar explosion.