Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15
HUNT ALIEN PLOTTERS
NDYNAMTTE EPLANTOF
] DUPONTS;; TWO DYING
Latest of Series of Mishaps in
Period of Six Days Occurs
in Ammonia House at
Gibbstown, N. J.
U. S. AGENTS AT WORK


day 70 determine the cause OF the latest
explosion in n plant OF the corporation,
which occurred at Gibbstown, n. j., last
night and to learn II there are any aliens
unlawfuly employed at any OF the vari-
Gus branches of the powder concern in
Wilmington and across the Delaware in
New Jersey.
All four OF the explosions in du Pont
plants this week were OF mysterious
origin. There has been no satisfactory
explanation OF the three explosions of
last Monday at Carneys Point one OF
which resulted in three deaths ana II
was through the Investigations that fol-
lowed that series OF disasters that the
four German soldiers who were arrested
IN Wilmington and detained at Glouces-
ter yesterday, were for n time under sus-
picion. They are now at liberty under
parole, pending inquiries being made by
Department of Labor agents.
Two men lie in agony on cots in Cooper
Hospital. Camden, as a result Of the ex-
plosion at Gibbstown, N. Jr shortly be-
fore midnight
Edward Bubb. % years old, of Pauls-
boro, and Isaac Gibson, 60 years old, of
Bridgeport, were rushed in an auto to
Camden.
Bulbs body Is covered with decorations
and Gibson's back Is terribly burned with
acid 1t was said at the hospital today
that IL was feared they would die from
their Injuries. Three other men who were
injured are being treated at Gibbstown.
The explosion occurred in the nitrate OF
ammonia crystallzing house of the Re-
pauno plant, and the building was de-
stroyed The building, which was of brick
and iron stood close to the bank of the
Delaware River and its site is n mile from
The mainentrance to the plant
SCENE a LONELY ONE.
The Structure, which is 25 by 60 feet, is
tn what is generally regarded as the lone
Hest section of the powder district, 1t
ts believed possible that strangers might
rave approached the building from the
liver. after having crept along the bank
IN a small boat
This Is the first time I'm the history of
che du Pont Company that an explosion
has occurred In such house. In this
building the ammonia nitrate was
changed from gas to crystals In the proc
ess of dynamite making. The explosion
came without warning and from no ascer-
tainable cause.
Pierre s. du Pont president of the COM
pany, was attending a dance In Whining
ton when word was sent to him of the
latest explosion. He had ordered extra
guards put ON at the various plants on
Monday after three men had been killed
in a mysterious explosion at Carney's
Point. That explosion had been followed
BY two smaller explosions there. News
of the fourth explosion in one district In
week greatly agitated the officials of
the company
Mr.. du Pont left the dance Mt once and
went to his offices i'm the du Pont Build |
ing. At midnight he began an investi-
cation of the explosion by telephone. |
Later eX-Congressman II. b, Lands, |
spokesman for the du Pont corporation. |
issued statement declaring the cause |
was a mystery The loss is about $4,000. !
No other buildings besides the destroyed
ammonia house were damaged.
The plant at Gibbstown recently has
been enlarged. due to the rush in war
orders and has been operated under pres |
sure with many new employees. Dyna- |
mite Is made in the Gibbstown plant, in |
which Lammot du Pont, father of Pierre |
s. du Pont. was killed In an explosion
about 20 years ago.
LOOK UP ALIENS RECORDS.
Federal authorities in this city int- !
mated today that the revelations of yes |
terday in regard to the ease with which I
German reservists who have come to !
this country as seamen on merchant ships |
have been able to place themselves at |
points OF vantage in factories near |
powder plants ana even on Government |
vessel would lead to a thorough search of |
the records OF men employed by the |
various United States services since the |
outbreak of the European war
Two of the four German sailors who |
were taken into custody Thursday night |
In Wilmington and released on parole |
after Il hearing at Gloucester Immigra-
on board the Government dredge Minquas. |
II was said that they had originally
sought jobs as cooks and had failed In |
this. and had then gone to contractor /
in Wilmington. who had given them tenn
orary jobs which took them on board /
the Minquas.
ALIENS NOT QUALIFIED.
There was no annoyance expressed in
Government circles over the fact that
the men were Germans. but that they
We're aliens who had not qualified 10
take up residence in this country. their
status being that OF sailors attached 70
merchant vessels, and there would be as
much objection 10 British sailors getting
past the immigration bureau without
examination as there is to Germans
The point that was mace by immlGra-
tion officials was that only subjects OF
Germany and Austria are placed in the
position of being "interned" i'm Ameri-
can ports, as only the German and Aus
trian vessels are unable 10 leave port,
owing to hostile cruisers lying in wait
of this coast.
II the men arrested were eager to get \
places from which they could inspect /
the dolngs at the du Pont powder works
they could not have obtained better /
ones than the jobs that two of them
held in the Bancroft & Sons Company
textile mill provided The place where
these two men boarded at Rockford yir-
tually adjoIns the du Pont employees
settlement
The du Pont Company officials say
they have not been able to learn OF any
German aliens who have obtained posi-
tions in their plants, but ii is known that
Gopernment agents have watched the
nlants 10 determine whether the immi-
grafton and alien labor laws have been
Violated.
ii was learned today that before the
German auxiliary cruiser Eitel Friedrich !
was interned at Norfolk. the ships band
ana some OF the officers visited Whining
ton and were the guests of German sym
ssatfizers there
PRISONERS GET 235 LASHES