South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-07-31
HIGHER UPS" TO BE
SOUGHT TO BEAR BLAME

"HlGHER UPS" TO BE
SOUGHT TO BEAR BLAME
CONTINUED FROM PAGE oNEJ
NAMED Of many lighters after they
had been eaten by flames When
they caught or FIRE and threatened
other shipping nearby. they were SET
loose TO burn.
Many Violations.
IL is alleged there were many
violations OF the federal law in the
manner of storing ammunition at
Black Tom island and the way they
were handled there. United States
Dist Atty. J. Warren Davis is said
10 have secured the help of a num-
Der of the best men in the govern
ment secret service TO investigate
these violations. Their inquiry may
result in action by the department
OF justice.
The Jersey City police assert
there were many tons of dynamite
in the warehouse on the island. This
Is one of the most powerful and
destructive explosives known in this
country.
In commenting on the arrests
made in connection with the case,
Chief Of Police Frank Monahan of
Jersey City said today:
These men were subordinates.
They did what they had TO. We
shall try to reach the men really
responsible"
Loss of Life Small
That the loss Of life was mirac-
ulously small as compared with
what might be expected from such
tremendous explosions. was asserted
by the Jersey City authorities. A
number of fremen from that city
probably owe their lives to the fact
that their hose buckled. They had
gone to the point wherA Che kink
was when the first explosion occurred
leaving only two men ~ the nozzle.
These two were blown 80 feet.
Fire is still I9-ning in part OF the
wreckage todH fTiremen said that
a week will f-Rs before the flames
Will burn themselves out. Every few
moments the blaze reaches one OF
the many unexploded three-inch
shells that are scattered about and
a sharp report follows. For the most
part the shrapnel flies into the air.
Blow out Great Hole.
The scene OF the explosion is like
a bit Of the western front in France.
About % acres have been gouged
out to a depth OF 80 TO 40 feet and
water from the bay is making a lake
of the hole. Whatever stood on the
ground there was blown 20 atoms.
Twisted pieces of steel-and not
many Of them-remain to suggest
what happened.
OF the 25 storage houses, which
a few hours ago stretched along
Black Tom island and the hll-in
ground that connected it with the
main land, only four and a half are
left. One great concrete grain ele-
vator stands also, but its interior is
ruined and there is doubt if the
walls can be used again.
There is a likelihood. in the opin-
ion of hremen and officials, that all
the dead will never be accounted
for. The explosion that destroyed
the cars and buildings and excavated
land. without doubt. blew some
workmen TO bits. The bodies of such
as were blown into the bay will ap-
pear again i'm a few days.
The Jersey City police have driven
a line aboard the approach to the
scene OF the explosion through
which no one can pass without Civ
ing a good account OF himself. A
score Of policemen remained at the
scene under Lieutenant Schorgue,
all night and this morning their
places were taken by others under
Inspector Lannan.
Begin Salvage Work.
The salvage of millions of dollars
worth of merchandise began early
when c. f. Jacobs, general super
visor of the department of bridges
and buildings Of tire Lehigh valley
railway arrived with three work
trains and 500 laborers. He first
looked after 100000 worth of
wheat which remained in barges be
side the ruined grain elevator. His
forces viii be increased by 500 men
within a few hours.
He said that in the destroyed
warehouse, s5,OOO,OOO worth of fine
Havana tobacco assigned TO Ger
many was stored. This tobacco was
to have been shipped abroad as soon
as war conditions would permit. It.
however, formed only a small part
Of the contents of the building.