Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-03-01
DECLARE W0BURN EXPLOSION
WAS WITHOUT CONNECTION WITH
ANY OUTSIDE AGENCY Y--0FF|C|ALS
MAKE STATEMENTS ON TUESDAY

and comprises a score of buildings,
would have been destroyed. A fire there
six weeks aso had crippled the de-
partment until two days ago, when
work was resumed.
This fire was one of several which,
together with minor explosions. have
occurred within six months. In each
case officials of the company have
stated there We're indications that the
trouble was directly traceable to
causes considered natural in the haz-
ardous course of the work upon which
the plant is engaged. They have TAX
en- no notice at any time, they said Of
reports that the plant was to be blown
up because of its war munitlon actlV-
tiles.
Medical Examiners Visit
The company officers kept within
the plant throughout the morning the
seven men who were in the vat room.
Only one person other than company
representatives and firemen were able
20 pass the wall and the guards, news
paper men being denied admission to
the grounds or access to the survivors.
TT Geo. T.. McGrath. medical eXami-
ner of Suffolk county. however. was
permitted to visit the scene in order
70 make personal inquiry. He states
he had no official standing in the mat
ter. as it was outside his jurisdiction.
The IT. y. r." building, DR.. Magrath
said, was almost levelled by the explo-
sion, having collapsed entirely. The
benzol building was damaged, but not
considerably. Other shops were affect
ed only by breaking Of windows or dis
placement of instruments by the de-
tonation. he stated.
The medical examiner subsequently
placed his observations unofficially be
fore Walter Wedger, the explosive and
chemical expert of the state police. The
latter announced his intention of MAX
in" official inquiry later in the day.
The shock Of the explosion was felt for
many miles. II dropped picture on the
head of an aged woman, Mrs. Caroline
Ewing. who was bedridden in her home
two miles away: broke glass and bric-a-
brac and tossed objects about in the inn
mediate vicinity; shook plateglass win
dows at points as far distant as Boston,
10 miles to the south. and rumbled sleep
ers into wakefulncss in many suburbs 0:
the latter city.
The work of the plant in departments
other than the IT. =. T." went on today
as before. Inspectors of the several fo:-
eign governments who have been on dut--
at the plant to supervise the produc.
which goes into the making of munitions
for their armed forces, We're early at the
yard to view the ruins. These were still
flaming somewhat when the day shift
came on. but were well under control an !;
none Of the other buildings was in any
danger.
The Plant
The plant of the New England Manu-
featuring Co. is in the North Woburn
section, removed from any other occupie I
property except that of the Merrimac
Chemical Co. adjoining. which is engaged
in similar line of business The build
ing destroyed. one of score within the
plant. was two stories high, of brick
and steel construction, with corrugated
tin roof adjusted to give ready vent 10
any explosive disturbance inside which
might cause widespread damage if an
opening on either side were found. The
building was valued at about Sc, ZOO and
this was the estimate of the extent of the
financial loss by the explosion and fire.
Presidents Statement
William E. Mckay, president Of the
company. declared in a statement today
that so far as he was able to learn no
report had been made by the guards
concerning the presence of suspicious
persons around the plant
EARLY in January MIR. Mckay said,