The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-06
WILL HEAR APPEAL
IN DYNAMITE CASE
Federal Court to Fix Response
bility for Explosion in Balti-
more Harbor.
THIRTY LIVES WERE LOST
Wreck of Steamship Alum Chine
Results in Involved
Litigation.
THIRTY LIVES WERE LOST

lNlu TcSDOUSiDlc Wy tne il5ll i't N'Nil VI
the United States for the District of
Maryland for the disaster In the port
of baltimore on March 4, 1913, when
several tons of dynamite blew UP tho
British steamship Alum Chine, killing
more than thirty people, injurinG many
others and causing large property loss,
will begin In the United states Circuit
Court OF Appeals here on Monday.
In the lower court the Joseph r.
Fcard Company ana the General steve
doring Company, Of Baltimore. the one
Il parent company to the other. which
were engaged I'm loading the vessel
with the explosive. were udjudgcd re-
sponsible for the terrible accident
The opinion was written by District
Judge John G. Rose. and he held that
the Mary land Steel Company, agent for
the Munson Steamship Company, chart
crer OF the Alum Chine; the Munson
Steamship Company, and the Mayor and
City Council of Baltimore, who were
all made parties to the original suit.
were in no way responsible, ana the
suits agains.. thcm were. therefore,
dismissed. il was charged that these
latter companies ard the Mayor and
City Council OF Baltimore were equal
~ liable In that they contributed to
tho negligence which caused the on
plos!on. Tie lower court freed them
from blame, and was of opinion that
only those actually engaged In load
ing the Alum Chine with dynamite
could be held legally liable.
EMPIOYI: STARTS FIRE,
WITH = BALE HOOK
The lower court also found that the
explosion OIL the steamship was due
To the negligent use by William J.
Eomhardt, IN cmployc of the General
Stcvcdoring Company, of a bale hook.
which he struck Into a box of dyna-
mite. 'au:ing a small explosion. 1t
WAS held that this explosion caused a
hr: which spread into the other boxes
of dynamite, and caused the create:
explosion which sent the ship to the
bott ON OF the hailor and spread death
ana ruin thousands of feet away. II
is contcndcd by the appellants that the
nrc originated in Il coal bunker, and
was. therefore, thu direct cause OF the
explosion and t.iat. in consequence, the
steamship company and Its agents
should lie held liable.
On the morning of March Z, 1913,
tic British steamship Alum Chine lay
at anchor in quarantine anchorage off
thc port of baltimore. 1t had nearly
800 tons Of dynamite on board. \ score
OF men were busy slowing this cargo In
tho forward htli. Two or three min
u;cs before LEGO there was an nx-
plosion in their midst. ii sounded
something like the report of Il pistol.
Two or three nearest 10 IT were slight
iy hurt. Those in the hold clambcred
on deck, sprineing on the tug Atlantic
and the ;auncn Jerome. which were
alongside. Panic spread to most of
twenty others on board, and they, too,
sought refuge on tho smaller vessels.
The latter pushed Off. reaching a point
CO comparative Safcty.
smoke and flames were pouring out
OF :hc forward portion of the Alum
Chine, and In their midst William VAN
dyke. master of The Atlantic. SAW men
on The bow Of the doomed ship. by
signs and gestures they called 10 him
for help. Turning to his mate. Henry
NJ. Digs. and his engineer William W.
| Marshall. he asked for advice. The
answer was. while there Is life there
is hope; If there Is any chance of say
ing the men. Try TO do it," NanDykc
turned his boat into the jaws Of death.
and came alongside the Chine. Two
jumped from the Chine 10 the tug, and
tho latter backed away.
The Atlantic had gone but n few
feet when there was n terrific cXplo-
sion. The whole forward part OF the
Chine was blown TO pieces. ana all Of
it Immediately sank. More than twenty
persons on the Atlantic were killed
or fatally injured and among the dead
lay It's captain and iirst officer. they
who had returned To the stricken ship.
| Death and injury came also to a mum
her on the steamer Jason, lying 200
feet away. More than thirty lives were
lost. much injury To person and prop
crty was inflicted and the trcmblc OF
tho explosion was felt miles away
TWENTY-FIVE i.IBEiS
HEARD As ONE CASE
twenty-five lihclS scckin,: Comncn-
sation for the death of fourteen per
sons. for the woundinE OF twenty four
others and for damage to the property
of two corporations were filed. and
WHO, In tho opinion of the lower court.
caused the preliminary explosion, was
one of those who escaped on tho At
lantic.
In his opinion, Judge Rose SAYS:
THAT they (thc Foard and Stcvedor-
ing Coinpanics) should bear the loss
aces not seem fair to them. II is mat
ural that they shnuld feel that every
one who had a part in causing the
dynamite To lie slowed on the shin
should be liable TO them. On the other
hand. what has been said shows that
IL does not seem 10 be in accordance
either With natural Justice or with
settled legal principles to mako every
ore who has any part in the handling
/ OF thc dynamite aIrwcrabic fer all tho
| consequences of an explosion, although
lie was not in fault either in ucrson
! or through some one for whom under
the ordinary rules of law. he must an
! law viii be so nodded that more exact
and complete equity may be done
| Public opinion has apparently como to
the conclusion that workmen should be
/ unidentified against the pccuniary con-
: sequences of accidents suffered by them
In the course of their employment.
some day step further may be taken
II may then seem Just to compensate
all persons who, without fault OF their
own, suffer from Industrial accidents
! such a policy may be wise. Even If It
! be- courts would not he now justified
! IN holding liable for the consequences
OF Tie accident him who directs the
Shipment Of an explosive or who know
inSiy and willfully takes any part In
such shipment or permits II. having
power TO prevent it. Whether indem-
| nihcation shall he given ut all, and IL
so. how, is a complex problem. 1t is
Tor the Legislature to- work out In
this case the court may not impose
the burden upon either the city or
upon any person or corporation who
was no moro directly responsible for
nj t.n t1,a,,