Middletown transcript., 1915-12-04
81 men MEET DEATH
Packing House at Hagley Yards.
Swept Away by Explosion
NUMEROUS GREWSOME Scenes


NUMEROUS GREWSOME SCENES
With a roar that could be heard for
many miles and shock that caused
houses in Wilmington and within a ra-
dius of twenty miles to rock, eight
thousand pounds of black powder ex-
pIoded Tuesday afternoon at 1.80'
O'clock in the packing house in the up
per Hagley yard of the dupont Powder
Company's plant at Henry Clay three
miles west of Wilmington.
Thirty men and boys were instantly
killed IN the crash, another man died
later at the Homeopathic Hospitaffrom
the terrible injuries he had sustained
and six others were so badly hurt that
it is not thought any Of them can sur
vive. Reports that forty-six men and
boys had been killed outright were said
by the company officials to be incorrect
the official list as issued giving the
names of but twenty-nine known dead
with one unidentified victim and the
thirty first victim expiring later in the
hospital. -
In all the history of the d Pont Pow
der Company, this was the worst acci-
dent they had ever had. In 1890 twenty
five years ago last month, six of the
powder mills in the Hagley yard blew
up one after the other. At that time
fourteen men were killed and many in
jured. This accident was up to that
date and for twenty-five years there
after the worst one in all the history of
the company's existence in this coun-
try, but Tuesdays explosion far sur
passes anything of the kind known.
heretofore and, in fact, is one of the
worst if not the worst that has happen
ed in any Of the dupont Company S nu-
.merous plants.
OFFICIAL LIST OF DEAD AND INJURED IN
TUESDAYS ExPsosIoN
Most of the victims lived near the
works or in Wilmington. The addresses
of some are unknown. The list follows:
KILLED
James Baird.
Benjamin Barber, aged 27 years, 22l
South Van Buren street, married
Marge Bricott, aged II years, Henry
Clay.
Louis Booker, 1925 Tatnall street, age
about 40 years.
Elmer Cumpston, aged 16 years,
Henry Clay.
James Egner, aged II years, 1851
Peach street
Harry Elliott, aged II years New
port.
Elmer S. Fox. aged 2l, 1908 Chest
nut street.
Norman Fisher, Y. Nj. C. A.
James Gemmll, aged 10 years, 1124
B. street.
Patrick Hanrahan, aged 80, 1920 Lam
caster Ave.
Nelson Howgate, Harry Haber, Fred
Jeffry, Rising Sun.
Bartholemin Kelleher, aged 40 years,
Rochland, single.
Edward King, aged 18 years, 4O6
West Harrison street.
James Malloy, aged II years, 1122
West Sixth street,
Elmer Mace, Long Row, duPonts
Banks.
William Oliver.
Bryan O'0onner, aged "a years, 80
Kentmere road.
Harvey Place, aged II years. 4l6
Lombard street.
Gimi Silvestri.
Paul Smack.
John Sma elk.
Wesley Simpson.
i. Elijah Springfield, aged % years,
5748 Cherry street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Allen A. Thaxter, Portland, Me-,
lived at Y. M. c. A.
W. Leslie Timmons, aged 10 years,
1920 West Seventh strs ct.
w. Vein, formerly of Odessa.
Clarence Pleasanton, Smyrna.
INJURED
At the Delaware Hospital
F. F., Ware, 6l9 Madiso street.
P. j. Sykes Y.M.C., A. Building.
j. Raymond Meredith.
W. H. Oliver, 21O7 West Eleventh
street.
At Home
Edward Davis, l07 E. Eighth street.
Edward Gross, aged % years, 12l7
Linden street. = -