Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-01

POLICE DiSCREEDDIITT I
WARNING STORY
Explosion Results From Mysterious
cause-Huse Hole in Ground All
That Is Left of Buildins-Bodies Of
Victims Blown to Atoms - Injured
Hit by Flying Debris-Forty Bodies
Recovered From West Virginia Mine.

! Wilmington, Del. Dec. 1.-Investiga.
tion of the explosion yesterday at the
DUPONT Powder Company's plant, Kill
ing thirty-one workmen, went forward
today, but because everyone in ths
building at the time Of the explosion i.
dead, little hope is entertained for get:
; only huge hole in the ground where
T, once the building stood.
Reports that notices had been foun(
| nailed to trees and fences leading tc
,. the DUPONT plant at Upper Hagley and
Carney's Point, warning employees Of
! Teutonic origin that they would Inn
peril their lives II they continued tc
work at either place. is being inves-
! tigated by detectives.
+ These reports are discredited, but II
was decided 10 run down every pos
sible clue.
Alleged Warning.
Men accustomed to traverse the
roads in the vicinity Of the plant said
! they had seen the notices. The notices
according to one of these men, read as
follows:
Americans who lost their dives with
the sinking Of the Lus1tania did SO
after due warning. All men OF Teu-
tonic origin are hereby warned that II
they continue in the employ Of the
DUPONT Powder Company they will do
SO at their, peril and will be tahing
their lives In their own hands"
The theories most widely credited
n u that hA
spark from . horses shoe striking q
stone Or piece Of metal. or from q
spark by 3 small cor runninx oyer
powder spilled IN thu yard. ~ 81 81 8. !.
sssf'' Blk fatally Hurt. 49, ~:
Slight hope 10 held out for the re-
covery Of the six injured men who
were taken to hospitals.
Charles b. Lands. an official Of the
Dupont company. gave out q statement
today Ia which he said every care had
been taken to protect the Dupont
plants and precautions had been re-
doubled with receipt Of war orders. He
said the task Of explaining the cause
Of the explosion seemed hopeless one.
Nearly all the victims were young
men between 16 and 81 years OF age.
The greater number Of them lived in
anu dTOuuU lN&IOn.
= The explosion occurred in q packing
house where black powder pellets are
prepared for shipment: These pellets
are used for rifles and other purposes,
much OF the powder, If not all, being
shipped to the waring nations. The
packing house was situated in valley
along the historic Brandywine creek
and Was one of large group OF small
buildings which make up the Upper
Hagley plant Of the DUPONT company
about three miles northwest of the city
Trio Of Explosions.
It was 1870 o'clock when slight ex-
plosion was heard In the neighbor-
hood, followed by another a trifle
heavier which was succeeded by a ter
rifle blast which not only rocked the
valley but shook and startled Whining
ton. Workmen ran from every build
ing and shack In the wide area, which
the company's plant covers. "a great
solumn Of smoke arose from the SPOT
where the packing houDe stood and
when the cloud disappeared there was
only big hole left in the ground.
Workmen who survived the blast
said the scene was one of horror.
From every tree left standing in thu
neighborhood there were hanging
either pieces Of flesh or parts Of
clothing worn by the unfortunate
men.
Dead Blown 20 Atoms.
Twenty-sfx men were In the pack
ing house when the powder exploded
and not enough of them was left for
Identification with the exception Of
Allan A. Thaxter, the foreman. q He
was torn to pieces but q part Of his
body was found hanging on q tree
across the creek.
The pellet packing house was a one
story frame building, 1890 feet, ana
was divided into six rooms. Not a SIN
pie part Of It was to be found. Near
by buildings were badly. damaged. A
fence was blown away and telegraph
and telephone wires near the scene Of
the explosion were ripped from their.
n r; - ~ !, - " Y
injured Hit by FIyina Debris. ,ss
The men injured were outside the.
plant. They were struck by bits OF
machinery, flying boards, rocks and
other debris, and all were badly mu-
tilated. They were rushed to hospitals
In this city. One or two i haa; q ey eyes; IS
blown out and several lost an arm or
leg. Physicians stated they were /; 80
badly injured that not one Of them is
expected to survive.
Explosion In Near ey Plant.
There was q small explosion OF
smokeless powder today IN tine Iu5
Pont plant near Carney's Point, N. T.,
not "a. "a. from the scene OF fsyesterday.st
explosion. No one was hurt aud tie,
was slight. Y