New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-02
FIRE ANDBLOW-UP
new ACCIDENTS
At DU POINT MILLS
Tower Wrecked at Car
news Point, N. J.-Blaze
Endangers the Plant.
CAR TRACK TORN UP;
SUSPECT CAPTURED
Employees Terrorized, but Off,
cials Decline Federal Aid
Police Helpless.
ryrau . ss1s Correspondent q Tbs Tribunal

fYrcu . exd Correspondent Il rns Tribunal
Wilmington. Del, Dec. This city
% BEGINNING to feel the grip Of a
rsign Of terror. The explosion, with
is toll Of thirty-ons dead and six IN
;ured, was rivslled to-day by q series
Of mysterious happenings, which have
struck terror into the hearts Of the
du Pont Powder Company employees.
Soon after midnight fire was dis
covered In s structure few yards from
powder mill In Lower Hagley Yard.
This was followed by an explosion at
Carney's Point, N. j., which ripped to
pieces a three story blending tower
early .his morning.
The car track leading to Upper Hag-
ley yard was evidently dynamited late
this afternoon, resulting in the partial
wreck Of a streetcar. Half an hour
later q man about whose body was
wrapped sixty-hve feet Of fuse was
captured by county detectives and held
for investigation.
Du Pont Officials Guarded.
Detectives have been stationed about
the massive du Pont Office building in
Market Street. Police in plain clothes
are watching the homes of officials o.,
the company. The guard about the
plant has been tripled, with orders to
shoot any person who should attempt
TO force a way through. All roads lead
ing to the plant have been closed for
distances varying from half a mile to
a mile and half. Secret Service men,
sent, it is reported, by order Of Pres-
dent Wilson, have already arrived.
In addition, the Department of JUS
tes sent Its agents to-dty to conduct
IN investigation into the persistent re-
ports that plseards warning Teutons OF
the danger Of employment in the mills
had been nailed to trees and telegraph
poles along the Salem Turnpike and at
Carney's Point, on the opposite side Of
the river, where $1,000 men are en-
ployed in the manufacture Of powder
for the Allies.
Assistant Attorney General Warren
announced to-day that the Department
Of Justice would cooperate with the
state authorities in an effort to ascer-
tain the causes of the explosion and
the persons responsible. This an
nouncement did not meet with the un-
qualified approval Of Pierre du Pont,
president Of the company. To the sug-
gestion that an investigation by the ma
tional government should be immedi-
stely started, Mr.. du Pont to-day re-
turned the answer: "Hands off,"
Ex-Representative Charles B. Lands,
an official Of the company, told The
Tribune reporter to-day that should
the Department Of Justice start such an
investigation its agents would meet
with frigid reception from the repre-
sentatives Of the powder company ..
We want no outside interference,
he said. 1--WE can handle this situation
very we'll ourselves. We have an excel
lent police system, and the explosion
should not be made the basis Of gov
eminent investigation. Explosions and
accidents are integral parts OF the man
ufaeture Of powder"
Blaze Another Mystery.
But the do Pont police system, with
ksior Sylvester, ex-superintendent OF
police Of Washington, d. c., at lts
head, Is absolutely helpless in the face
Of the nsv accidents" Following on
the heels OF the explosion. with its
grewsome results, Of yesterday after
noon, one Of the buildings In lower
Hagley yard was fred shortly after
midnight Just what caused the oiaze
IL another one OF those mysteries that
are battling du Pont officials. NO gen
sral alarm was sent out, but ioree
OF trusted men was ordered 70 hght
the flames with chsmiols and e1tin-
guishers. -.
The fact that several powder mills
we're only few yards away increased
tne difficulty In overcoming the hre'
The building was destroyed.
Soon after 9 o'clock this morning one
Of the mills az the Carney's Point plant
Of the du Pont Company was destroyed
by FIRE. The building was three story
blending house, and the wOrkmen VINO
were inside jumped for safety. The
great tongue Of fame which followed
the explosion could be easily seen from
Wilmington, and as II shot into the ar
a. outcry was raised In the city. a
large number Of men Immediately left
here for tho scene Of the explosion.
Several thousand pounds Of blending
poWder was destroyed.
Coming right after the explosion and
Ere In the Hagley yards, the new "ac-
eieenp Immediately created feeling
Of horror. Several hundred Of the en-
pioyes did not report for duty this
morning. Up % the minute the after
nooh papers appeared In the street with
o full story OF the blow-up the tele-
phones IN the Offices Of the various pub
l.eaiions were kept busy accounting Tor
lns safety Of a father, a brother or SON.
Ihe only explanation offered BY the
company vas that such fires were in
eioentzl 20 the business OF making
ponder and that the explosion al Car
heyT Point was merely occidental
Think Rail Was Dynamited.
ibs third incident occurred soon
hhsr this afternoon. The o'clock
miit IL relieved ~ that time. and there
are ~ rule, half a dozen closcd
.1sstesrs waiting 70 take the men from
" outskirts Of the piant 70 the city.
tentisssd on page ., column q