The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-08-03
DECORATIONS FELT IN FIVE
STATES BEGIN WITH BLOW
ING UP OF QUANTITIES OF
DYNAMITE.
AMMUNITION AWAITING
SHIPMENT TO THE ALLIES
Three Known Dead and Five Missing
While Scores Are Injured-Fire
Starting After First Crash De-
stroys Thirteen Warehouses
on Black Tom Island.

New York, Aug. Property loss
estimated at $25, 600, 600 was caused
by a series of terrific explosions of
ammunition awaiting shipment to the
Allies and stored on Black Tor Island,
a small strip of land jutting into New
York bay off Jersey City.
The loss of life still is problematical.
1t will not be determined definitely
until there has been opportunity TO
check up the workmen employed on
the island and on boats moored
nearby.
New York was relieved to learn that
the toll of death was not as great as
at frst believed. Until several hours
after the explosion reports were cur.
rent and accepted in New York that
hundreds had been killed, including SO
Jersey City firemen.
Three Dead; Five Missing.
Three are known to be dead and at
least five are missing. Scores
of persons were injured, some of them
probably mortally.
The detonations which we're felt in
five states, began with a continuous
rapid fire of small shells, the blowing
up OF great quantities of dynamite,
trinitrotoluene and other high explo.
sives followed BY the bursting of thou
sands of %shfapnel shells which literal
ly showered the surrounding country
and waters for many miles around.
Thirteen Warehouses Destroyed.
Fire that started soon after the first
great crash which spread death and
desolation in its wake destroyed 13 of
the huge warehouses of the National
Storage company on Black Tom Isl
and, in which we're stored merchan-
disc valued between ST., 200, 900 and
SIS. 000, 600. The flames, shooting into
the clouds were reflected against New
York's skyline of towering Office
buildings which only a few moments
before were shaken to their founda,
tions by an earthquake. Miles of
streets in Manhattan alone were
strewn with broken glass and shat.
tered signs.
Cause of Disaster Unknown.
Early reports hat scores had been
killed were impossible Of verification
and the authorities asserted the mum
Der of deaths probably would be small.
1t was said that owing to the extent of
the wreckage it might be several days
before the exact figures could be OBJ
tanned.
The cause of the disaster has not
been determined. Officials of the Ma
tional Storage company and the Lee
high Valley railroad, which also suf-
fered heavily through loss OF prop
erty, declared, however, that reports
to them showed a fire started shortly
after / a. m this morning on a barge
belonging to an independent towing
company that mad been moored along
side a dock used by the railroad com.
pany to transfer ammunition ship
ments from trains to vessels in the
harbor.
MansIauehter Is Charged.
The barge it was said was there
without authority either of the rail
road or the storage company. The Of
nclalb TeluSeu W uisciosc the HdHne VI
the Independent towing company say
ing they were investigating ito ascer.
tain whether the barge purposely had
been set on fire as the result of a
plot"
Warrants charging m~anslaughScr
were issued for the arrest of Albert
NJ. Dickman agent at the Black Tom
Island docks for the Lehigh Valley
Railroad company; Theodore b. John.
son head of the Johnson Lighterage
and Towing company, and Alexander
Davidson, superintendent of the Ma
tional Storage company. They were
accused of having Illegally permitted
explosives to be stored where human