The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-31

of dollars worth OF stock was exposed
in stores.
Hundreds Of thousands OF the
sleeping population were awakened
Many were hurled from their beds.
The FIRE spread TO four heavily
loaded munition barges moored to the
pier. The freight consisted of shrap-
I mel and black powder. Half an hour
later the barge load of black powder
became ignited and blew up. This
explosion was scarcely less violent
than its predecessor. Four of the
munitions loaded barges were the
Paulina, johnson "a. johnson II and
Dauntless. They broke from their
mooringS' and drifted into the bay.
In a few minutes they were ablaze
from stem to stern. They furnished
ever witnessed by the millions who
cast their eyes toward the Jersey
shores
About & o'clock one would have
imagined that the blazing barges we're
in charge OF trained guuners. Sew
eral hundred shells exploded almost
simultaneously and sent their mighty
charges directly at the crowd. Scores
dropped to their stomachs. Others
rushed panic-strtcken behind string
Of dirt cars. which they used as
barricade until the hombardment sub
sided. Then there was mad rush
of the spectators for the freight cars
A half mile to the rear.
Handsome st. Peters Church on
Bramhall Avenue. one of the cost
lest in Jersey City, was badly dam
aged. When the early morning wor
shippers arrived they found Rev.
Father Mcdonald ready to say his
regular Sunday mass
Great Hole Ia Left.
An International News Service re-
porter who managed to evade the po-
lice who were on guard trsversed this
territory TO thu end OF the float dock.
His investigation disclosed the fact
that at a point a short distance west
ward from the float dock on solid land
one Of the explosions had torn
crater into the earth and ripped out all
the land which WAS made years ago,
leaving a hole clean 10 the rock for
nation under that section of the bay.
Into this hole were carried portions
OF many freight cars. other fragments
being scattered widely in the bay and
upon adjacent territory. II was APP
parent that the explosion did the
greatest damage In the freight cars
II is said eighty seven OF them stand
ing on the tracks upon this stretch.
w men was once soid ihhu, IL NO"
vast pond II was among these freight
cars at this point that Cornelius j.
Leyd. of the Lehigh Valley Police, was
standing when last seen alive. with
him were standing several other men.
The float bridges and the territory sur
rounding the crater were strewn with
exploded shells OF various sizes
Some were thrown half n mile to the
north falling on made land of the
Central Railroad of New Jersey. OPP
porslte the Statue of Liberty, Many OF
tho larger shells were picked UP by
boys who sold them for fifty cents
each The value of each shell Is said
to ne SIS So unioagied and SIS load
ed--that is the larger variety.
Inspector Denied Evidence.
In the bay in the vicinity OF the
float bridges and to the north of tho
territory which was torn UP by the
EXPLOSIONS were the wrecks of many
lighters and near tho float bridges n
body was found IN the water.
James Afayloerry, inspector OF rail-
roads of the Public Utilities Commits
sion and his assistant, Peter kirwn,
managed to pass the dead line estah-
iished by the police. They got part
way to the territory where the dyna-
| mite cars were destroyed, but were
/ stoupcd before reaching II and turn
tesi-haek Mayberry was told that II
he was tho President of the Infted
States he could not pass He wanted
to take ono of the discharged shells
which he had picked from the ground
| to place before his commission as
evidence. but it was taken from INN.