Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-02
Seven More Will Die-Is Worst
Accident That Has Occurred
at the Plant in Quarter of a
Century.
POWDER FOR EUROPEAN WAR
Usual RumOrs AhOat That Ca
tastrophe Was Planned by
Outside Agency but Factory
Officials Scout Such a The
DRY.

Wilmington. Del, Nov. 3o.-Thirty work.
men were killed and seven fatally injured
to-day in a terrific explosion Of about
four tons of black powder at the Upper
Hagley yard Of the Dupont Powder COM
pany. 1t was the worst accident that
has occurred in any of the companys
plants in a quarter of century.
The cause of the blast Is not known.
According to a statement issued by tho
company the origin will probably ALWAYS
remain a mystery" Nevertheless a most
searching investigation has been nstitu.-
ed by the officials of the company and
every employe now alive of those who
were near the building which was blown
to pieces will be put through a thorough
| examination in the hope that some clue
may Re learned.
There was the usual rumor afoat that
some outside agency may have caused the
explosion but Dupont officials said to-
night there was not shred of evidence
upon which to hang any theory
Nearly all the victims of the blast
were young men between 16 and II
years of age. The greater number Of
them lived in and about Wilmington.
The explosion occurred in pack
ing 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 warning ma
tons. The packing house was sit
uated in a valley along the historic
Brandywine creek and was one of a
| large group Of small buildings which
make up the Upper Hagley plant OF
the Dupont company. about three
miles northwest Of the city.
1t was 80 o'clock when I slight
explosion was heard in the neighbour
hood followed by another one a trihs
heavier which was quickly succeeded
by a terrific blast that not only rock
cd the whole valley but shook and
startled Wilmington. Workmen ran
from every building in the wide area
which the company's plant COW
ers. a great column Of smoke rosa
from the spot where the packing
house stood and when the cloud dis
appeared there was only big hole
left in the ground.
Workmen who survived said the scena
was one of horror. From every tree left
standing in the neighnOrhood there was
hanging either pieces Of flesh or parts
of clothing.
Twenty-six men We're in the packing
house and not enough OF any Of them
was left for identification with the exc
cepton of Allan A Thaxter, the fore-
man who was torn to pieces and part
Of his body found hanging on a tree
across the creek
Four of the 81 men killed were blown
to pieces while at work outside the
packing house. They were Mace. a
driver: Hanrahan. carpenter Pleaston
a fireman, and Oliver, a machnist,
The Pellet packing house was one.
story frame building, Is by 20 feet, and
vas divided into six rooms Not sim
gle Part of II was to be found Nearby
buildings We're badly damaged. \
fence was blown away and telegraph
and telephone wires which were strung
near the scene. We're ripped from their
fastenings. Company officials said there
We're about 500 pounds of powder in
the packing house at the time. The
property loss, DUPONT officials said. was
small
The men injured were outside the
plant. They were struck by bits of
machinery. flying boards, rocks and
other debris and all were badly mutt.
lated They were rushed to the Della
ware and Homeopathic hospitals in this
city. one or two had eyes blown out
and several lost arms and legs. Ply.
soans stated they We're SO badly in-
jured that not one of them is expected
to survive Davis and Walker. two e
the injured We're in powder rolling
mill VIXEN they We're hurt.
one theory advanced by workr,en az
the yard is that the explosion may have
originated in a spark from horses shoe
or from a spark caused by a small car
running over some spilled powder \
workman said that Just before the eX.
plosion occurred a car in which there We're
several thousand pounds of black powder
had been drawn by two horses along q
narrow gauge track to the sntrance Of
the packing house to he prepared for ship
ment. The powder Is packed into boxes
holding about nifty pounds each.
Some of the powder, it was said. may
have spilled from the car Either horses
shoe or the wheel of a car could hava
iGnited the stun and caused fash to
reach the powder in the car. exploding
1t and the powder in the house.
The awful shock of the blast struck
terror to the hearts of the residents of
iIagley, Henry Clay and other settlements
along the Brandywnc. accustomed as
they are to powder mill explosions Tho
Dupont works are operating in three
shifts and every home in the neiGhbor-
hood Is represented among the employees
of the plant. There was a rush to all
the gates by relatives and others to hear
II anyone was killed. Every entrance
whether at the gates or at the companys
Hagley offices, was barred by uniformed
and armed guards.