The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-12-01

REPEATED
Another Occurred at Dupont
Plans but No One
Was Hurt
81 WE'RE KILLED YES
TERDAY AFTERNOON
Officials Claim Last Explo-
sion Was Due to a
Flare-Up

Wilmington, Del, Dec. Ia small ex-
plosion OF smokeless powder occurred
early to-day at the Dupont powder plant
at Carney's Point, NJ j., across the Della
ware river from here, but no one was
hurt and the property damage was
slight. Officials said the explosion was
what is called nare-up in the blending
mill, which frequently occurs.
| No further deaths were reported
among the injured in the Hagley explo-
sion of yesterday, Louis Hooker, who
died at the hospital last night, making
the 3lst victim.
| No statement was forthcoming from
the company to-day as to the cause of
yesterdays disaster. and the cause may
never be known, as all who were near
the packinghonse when it blew up are
dead, and the injured apparently have no
knowledge OF the origin OF the blast
Nearly all OF the victims yesterday
were young men between l6 and q
years OF age The greater number of
them lived in and about Wilmington.
The explosion occurred in a packing
house where black powder pellets are
prepared for shipment. These pellets |
are used for rifles and other purposes,
much of the powder, ii not all, being !
shipped to the warning nations The |
packing house was situated in valley /
along the historic Brandywine creek and |
was one Of large group of small build
ings which make up the upper Hagley |
plant of the Dupont company, about
three miles northwest of the city.
1t was 1880 o'clock when a slight
explosion was heard in the neighborhood
followed by another one tritle heavier
which was quickly succeeded by ter
rife blast that not only rocked the
whole valley but shook and startled VIII
mington. Worknen ran from every
building in the wide area which the
plant covers. A great column
of smoke rose from the spot where the
packing house stood and when the cloud L
..tllare Was only big hole
left in the ground.
Workmen who survived said the scede
was one Of horror. From every tree ,
left standing in the neghborhood there /,
was hanging either pieces OF flesh or
parts OF clothing. IL
Twenty-six men were in the packing -,
house and not enough OF any of them !.
was left for identification with be ex-
,eption of Allan A. Thaxter, the fore
nan, who was torn to pieces and part ;,
Il whose body was found hanging on a 4
rec across the creek. a
Pour OF the 81 men killed were blown a
% pieces while az work outside the a
packing house. They were Mace, a ,,
river; Hanrahan, carpenter; Plcaston, h
fireman. and Oliver. a maohinist. I
The pellet packing house was one ~
tory frame building Is by 20 feet, and n
vas divided into six rooms. Not sim i
he part Of il was 20 be found. Nearby 4
,uildings were badly damaged. A fence a,
ras blown away and telegraph and tele
.hone wires, which were strung near the
Gene, were ripped from their fasten.
lgs. Company officials said there were "
bout 5000 pounds of powder in the
ackiug house az the time The proper
' loss. Dupont officials said, was small
The men injured were outside the ia
liant. They were struck hy bits Of ma. b'
iinery, fying boards, rocks and other 10
ebfis aud all were badly mutilatcd. u
hey were rushed 10 the Delaware and pa
hospital in this city. One n
/ two had eyes blown out and several NJ
- arms and legs Physicians stated ~
ley were 20 badly injured that not one ~
them h expected to survive. na- vi
Is and Walker. two of the injured. we're
= powder rolling min when they were ~
lrt th
One theory advanced hy workmen az Oh
r. yard is that the explosion may have ce
igtnated in a spark from a horses shoc ~
iron a spark caused by q suall ca3 an
inning over some spilled powder A ho
1rkman ssid that just before tbe ca AZ
osion occurred q ear in which there
IRE several thousand pounds of black
Iwder had bccn drawn by tvo horse.
ong a narrow gauge traek D. the en- b.
anee 81 the parking house e. b. pre- BE-
red for shipment The powder is cat
eked INTO boNes holding ahout fifty ths
ands each. Icf
~ome of tic powder. 4 nus sid mnv ths
81 spilled from the car. Either isl
~ ) sh0e ~ tlse wheel ~ the car could an'
te irnited tho stuff and eaused q fash aid
reseh TIE powder in the ear. striGl- tre
/ i ani the pou der fn the hfa-s ere
ne awfni sliork 81 fise blasf strurk ere
-r8F b. tbs hearts a the r.zidents uT pa
.risg. Henrg Clay ana ati,sF settle tha
nts along fhe Branis=r ius. aer.ustgu..s1 1.ll
they art e. powder mlH erril.si.rrs frl
E fl11surf urrks ere ufsFNtamg - tifraf T.ff
fts End every huus sn fhf uei Easaf ii.t
81 8 rttsresants.8 autanH - esrfaafas w.
sht r'art Thsrf was e rush e. nl ~
- - rsitfiras and sshars e., fss-sr tne'
as5aa.5sr rna l rirH NsaFs. s.4lfrarIas Is
..fi.s-. 49, g.fs. ~ Il fs.s .s~r..,-t'. sff
sisr "a -ss f-r-.a - ,.s- r-r.s sr.r
arsnal rnnrls fH