Evening journal., 1915-11-02
ONE KILLED, I3
BADLY BURNED BY
POWDER FLARE-UP

/ rllsNolui Ciiti oua Atnhf "NN 'hNAi
wounds were temporarily dressed and
they were bandaged prior TO being sent
to the hospitals in this city. Some Of
the men wore no clothing when they ar
rived in this city. so badly were they
burned FROM head TO foot.
a large crowd gathered az French
street wharf attracted by the changing
amhulanccs and clustered about and
viewed the carrying OF the wounded
from the steamboat TO The motor yc-
hiclcs, which dashed aWayfwith them.
Major Sylvester looked after "details Of
sending the wounded wcrkmen from the
wharf 10 the hospitals
Notwithstanding that they were
wrapped in bandages, many OF the
workmen gave evidence about their
faces OF what they had gone through.
Others Of the workmen were so badly
burned that only the lightest cover
ings could be laid on their bodies.
Most OF the men appeared TO be con-
sclous when removed from the boat
TO the ambulances. The DUPONT com
pany surgeons accompanied the
wounded men on the boat from Car
ney's Point to this city.
All Lips We're Sealed.
Efforts by newspaper reporters to
obtain information about the explo-
sion OF French street station revealed
that everybody who could tell any
thing about it had his lips sealed
tight
The officers and crew Of the steam
boat Haber. physicians who accom-
panied the wounded men. officers Of
the DUPONT Company. all replied that
they could not or would not tell any
thing about where or how the ex-
plosion occurred. Mr.. Carpenter
said he could make no statement un-
tll after he had gone to Pennsgrove
to investigate the affair. and Major
Sylvester said the same thing. They
went Ia Carney's Point on the Haber
shortly after ten o'clock. with many
other duPort Office men, Mr.. Car
penter said he might not have any
information to give until late In the
day or evening.
II. Fletcher Brown, vice-president
and manager Of the smokeless powder
department. which includes the Car
ncy's Point plant. also went over to
make-an investigation. Mr.. Brown,
who is generally frank with newspa-
per men. said he would try to send
the information to his office as soon
as possible. and il could be obtained
by newspaper men there.
Even the men on the Phoenix am
bnlance a city-maintained vehlclesde-
clined TO give information, and on
their return to the wharf after re-
moving the last man TO the hospitals
they would not say 10 which institu-
tions they had taken the injured men.
At the Physicians and Surgeons
Hospital an attitude OF reticence was
maintained after the wounded men
were admitted there. The superinten-
dent was willing TO give out the names
OF the wounded men and their ad-
dresses, but Dr. u. II. Lendermon OF
the hospital staff, stepped In and said
no information could be given "by or
ders Of the company"
AZ the Delaware Hospital tho
names and condition OF the two pow
dermakers taken there we're given to
newspaper reporters shortly after that
information was recorded there.
A list of names OF the wounded
men was give out from the Offices of
NlNt itnlutHt H. r. ifiO0n At NUN ~
Henry Davis. an official in that Office.
He also gave information that had
been obtained up TO that time.
Eight of Victims Catholics.
As soon as the Physicians and Sur
geons' Hospital authorities found that
eight OF the fire-hare victims we're
OF the Catholic Church local
priests were notified and Father Will
liam Temple and Father James Grant
hurried to the hospital and ministered
to the men who desired their atten-
tion. Foster, who was the worst in
iured, was given the last rites of the
church by Father Grant It is said
that Foster was in charge Of a car Of
powder within the mill that took fire.
Fred Lutz, who home is in Balti-
more, is badly injured about the head
and little hopes are entertained for
him, II was stated that he has an
uncle who is a priest in Baltimore.
The twelve injured men were con-
scious when admitted 10 the Physi-
clans and Surgeons Hospital. Many
local doctors volunteered their ser
vices. Among those who aided were:
Or. u. II. Lcnderman. Or. Charles II
boehm. Or. John NJ Stadter and Dr.
w. Edwin Bird.
Telephones Kept Busy.
The telephones at the hospital were
kept busy with calls Of people HAVING
relatives working az tho powder plant
and callers were told whether or moi
relatives had been injured. Ncyvspape
. representatives who had gone 10 In,
hospital waited for over an hour whoi
word was sent 10 them by DR.. Lender
man that tho names would not be pivel
out.
AT present there arc said To b
twenty-six patients in the hospital fror
the Carney's Point plant. There wer
fourteen in the nospital before IN
twelve Of today were admitted.
Many anxious relatives OF powde
mill employees would not trust to tele
phone inquiry, but appeared at tn
hospital. One aged woman who ha
two sons employed there almost col
lapsed when she arrived at the hos
pItal She quickly regained her cheer
fulness when she learned that he
boys were not numbered among tn
injured
The large number OF patients be
ing admitted at one time taxed tn
capacity OF the hospital, but Miss Muir
phin, superintendent. handled tn,
cases ably.
The fash of the fire could be seer
in Wilmfnofou Darcouc xroftf.,,. -,