The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1915-12-02
TH|RTY-0NE DEAD
FROM EXPLOSION
IN POWDER PLAN
One Died During the
Night From Fatal
Blast.
"FLARE UP" TODAY
Caused Further Scare In Will
mington.-C Company Offic-
ials in Dark as 10 Cause.

Wilmington, Dela.-There was a
small explosion OF smokeless powder
early this morning at the DUPONT
powder plant at Carney's Point, New
Jersey, across the Delaware river
from here. No one was hurt and the
property damage was slight, company
officials said.
The flash of the explosion was seen
by persons in this city, as it occurred
just at dawn The sound was heard,
but most people knew nothing about
lit until several hours later. Company
officials said the explosion was what
is called a flare up" in the blending
mill. but the few employees in the
place We're not touched by the flash.
Coming so close after the terrible
explosion of yesterday, in which
thirty-one men and boys lost their
lives, it caused some anxiety among
residents in this vicinity. There have
been NO more deaths among the five
injured in the Hagley explosion yes
terday 1t is feared, however, that
several of them Will die
Louis Booker, who died in the hos
pital last night, making death list
of 81, left widow and eight small
children. No statement was forth
coming from the company officials as
TO the cause of Yesterday explosion.
Worst In 30 Years.
Wilmington, Del..-Thirty workmen
were killed and seven fatally injured
yesterday in terrific explosion of
four tons of black powder at the
Upper Hagley yard of the Dupont
Powder company. 1t was the worst
occident that has occurred in any OF
the company's plants in quarter OF
La century.
The cause of the blast is not known
According to statement Issued by
the company, the origin probably
will always remain a mystery" New
ertheless a most severe investigation
has been instituted by the officials of
the company and every employe who
was near the building that was blown
to pieces was put through a thorough
examination in the hope that some
clue as to the cause might be learned
There was the usual rumor afioat
that some outside agency may nave
caused the explosion. but Dupont Of
ficials said last night that there was
not shred of evidence upon which
Ito hang any theory
Victims Young Men
Nearly all of the victims of the
blast We're young men between 16
and 81 years of age The greater
number of them lived in and about
Wilmington.
The explosion occurred in a pack
ing house where black powder pellets
are prepared for shipment. There
pellets are used for rifle and other
purposes, much of the powder, if not
all, being shipped to the warning ma
tions. The packing house was stu
ated in valley along the historic
Brandywine creek and was one of a
large group of small buildings which
makes up the Upper Hagley plant or
the Dupont company. about three
miles northwest of the city.
1t was 1880 O'Clock when a slight
explosion was heard in the neighbor-
hood, followed by another one. a tri-
fle heavier, which was quickly follow
ed by a terrific blast that not only
rocked the whole valley but shook
and startled Wilmington. Workmen
ran from every building and shack
in the wide area which the company's
plant covers. A great column of
smoke rose from the spot where the
packing house stood and when the
cloud disappeared there was only a
big hole in the ground.
Scene of Horror.
| Workmen who survived the tre-
menduous blast said the scere was
| one of horror from every tree left
standing there was hanging either
pieces of flesh or parts of clothing
worn by the unfortunate men.
Twenty-six men were in the pack
ing house when the powder went off
and not enough of any of them was
left for Identification, with the excep-
tion of Allan A. Thaxter, the foreman
whose home is given as Portland
Maine. He was torn to pieces and
a part of his body was found hang
ing on tree across the creek. 1t
was identified by shreds of clothing
that still clung to it.
/, -Four of the 80 men killed were
blown to pieces while at work out
side the packing house They wele:
Mace, a driver; Hanrahan, carpen.
ter; Pleaston, fireman, and Oliver
a machinist.
The pellet packing house was {
one story frame building, is X 20 fee
and was divided into six rooms. NO
a single part of it was to be found
Nearby buildings were badly damag
led. A fence was blown away ane
telegraph and telephone wires whicl
were strung near the scene of the ex
plosion were ripped from their fasten
;,,rx CNy, ~fE ;o1r, =
We're about 5000 pounds of powder il
the packing house at the time. TIL
property loss, Dupont officials sai
: was small.
The men injured were outside TIL