Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-12-01
POWDER BLAST
KILLS THIRTY IN
DUPONT WORKS
Mysterious Blast of Four Tons in
Company's Plant Near Whining
ton Fatally Injuries
Seven More.
BUILDING is BLOWN TO PIECES
Flesh of Victims Found Hanging to
Trees in Neighborhood Of
Disaster.
MOST OF DEAD YOUNG MEN

WILMINGTON, Del, Nov. 80
Thirty workmen were killed and
seven fatally injured today in a ter
rifle explosion of about four tons of
black powder at the Upper Hagley
yard of the Dupont Powder company.
1t was the worst accident that has
occurred in any of the company's
plants in quarter of 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 institu - by the officials
of the company, and every employe
who was near the building that was
blown to pieces was put through
thorough examination in the hope
that some clue as to the cause might
be learned.
There was the usual rumor afloat that
some outside agency fay have caused the
explosion, but Dupont officials said to-
night the!c was not shed Of evidence
upon which to hang any theory.
Nearly All Young Men.
Nearly all the victims of the blast
were young men between 16 and 2l years
of age. The greater number of them
lived in and about Wilmington.
The explosion occurred in a packing
house where black powder pellets are
prepared for shipment. These pellets are
used for rifle and other purposes, much
of the powder. If not all. being shipped
to the warning 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 north
west of the city.
1t was 1880 o'clock when a slight explo-
sion was heard in the neighborhood, fol
lowed by another one trifle heavier.
which was quickly succeeded by s>terrific
blast that not only rocked the whole
valley, but shook and startled Whining
ton. 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.
Flesh Hanging from Trees.
Workmen who survived the tremendous
blast said the scene was one of horror
From every tree left standing in the
neighborhood there was hanging either
pieces of flesh or parts OF clothing worn
by the unfortunate men.
Twenty-six men were i'm the packing
house when the powder went off and moi
enough of any of them was left fol
Identification, with the exception OF
Allan A. Thaxter, the foreman.s whose
home is given as Portland, Me. He wal
torn to pieces and part Of his bod,
was found hanging on a tree across th'
creek. 1t was identified by shreds o.
clothing.
For more than a quarter of mile
about the scene of the explosion th'
ground was strewn with arms, legs anC
bits of flesh Even the trees across thu
Prandywine were hung with ghastl!
fragments. One workman who rushed t
hell at whatever rescue work there wa
TO do spied an arm floating down in tn
rapid current of the creek and fished !
out with a stick Two horses caught il
the blast were torn to pieces and on
large section of one of the animals wa
hurled fore than quarter Of a mile.
Four Blown 10 Pieces
Four OF the thirty workmen killed wer
blown to pieces while at work outside tn
hacking house. They were Mace,
CONTINUED on Page Two. Column Two.