West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-08-03
Several People Injured and Prop
crty Loss of Many Millions
When Great Quantities of High
Explosives Catch Firc-Shock
Felt for More Than Sixty Miles

| Explosives latch trc-ShOSk X
Felt for More Than Sixty Miles
NEW YORK, July 30. Property
loss estimated at $4,000 900 was caus-
ed today by series OF terrific cxplos-
ions OF ammunition awaiting shipment
to the Entente Allies and stored on
Black Tom island small strip OF
land jutting into New York hay on
| Jersey City.
The loss of life still was probloma-
| tical tonight. II will not be dctermin-
ed definitely until there has been on
portunity to- check up the workmcn
| employed on the island and ON boats
moorcd nearby. Three are known to
be dead and at least five more are
missing
The detonations. which were felt i'm
five states. began with continuous
rapid fire of small shells. then the
blowing up of great quantities of dy-
Mantle. trinitrotolucnc and other high
explosives. followed by tho bursting
OF thousands of shrapncl shell. which
literally showered the surrounding
country and waters for many miles
around. Fire started soon after the
first great crash
The fire. which spread death and
desolation In it's wake, DESTROYED IA
OF the fugc warehouses OF the Ma
tional Storage company. on Black
Tom island, in which were stored mer-
chandise valued between $4,000 900
and $l5.0OO.OO0 The flames, shooting
into the clouds, were reflected against
New forks sky line OF towering Office
buildings, which only a few moments
before were shaken To their founda-
tions by the blast. Miles of streets I'm
Manhattan alone were strewn with
broken glass and shattered signs.
Early reports OF heavy loss of life
were impossible OF verihcation. and
the authorities asserted the number
of deaths probably would be small II
was said that owing to the extent OF
the wreckage IL might be several days
before the exact figures could he OBJ
tanned
The cause of the disaster had not
been determined tonight. Omcials OF
the National Storage company and tho
Lehigh Valley railroad, which also
suffered through loss of property. de-
clared. however that reports to them
showed n fire started shortly after 1
o'clock this morning on barge be-
longing TO an independent towing com
pany that had been moored alongsiI
dock used by the railroad compat
to transfer ammunition shipments
from trains TO vessels in the harbor.
The barge, II is said. was there with
out authority Of either OF the railroad
or OF the storage company. TIE Off
Gals refused to disclose the name OF
the independent towing company, say
ing that they were investigating ito
ascertain whether the barge purposeIy
had been set on fire as the result OF n
plot"
Warrants charging manslaughter
were issued late tonight for the arrest
OF Albert NJ. Dickman, agent at the
Black Tom island docks for the Le-
high Valley Railroad company. Theo-
dore Il. Johnson, head OF the Johnson
Literage e. Towing company. and
Alexander Davidson, superintendent
Of the National Storage company.
They are accused OF having illegally
permitted explosives 10 be stored
where human life was endangered
Joanson's COMPANY had been cngag
ed. II Is said, In lightcring munitions
from the docks to ships.
It has not yet been definitely deter
mined what the money loss will be
Some 10000 tons OF raw sugar, valued
at approximately $3.4O0.oOO IS known
TO be lost II Is believed the other
contents OF the ware houses DESTROYED
Will greatly increase this amount
There were no explosives stored I'm
the ware houses Two OF the cars de-
stroyed were loaded with shrapneI
which would not have been a source OF
danger but for outside fire.. The other
cars destroyed we're loaded principally
with salt and pork
The scene Of che explosion and FIRE
is in no way adjacent to the main pas
senger and freight terminals OF the
Lehigh Valley railroad. either NJ New
York or Jersey City. and the mishap
will not interfere with the operation
Of business