Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-03-01

w obOrn. Mass, feD. G.-All lndlCatOnS
today. gained from statements of com.
pany officials at the plant of the New
England Manufacturing Co. including
Captain W. r. Mckay of Boston, the
President and from general inquiry. were
that the explosion last night was acct
dental and without connection with any
outside agency.
A rumor that one of the guards had
started. just before the explosion, to in
vestisatc noise which he thought might
have been made by man climbing the
fence which surrounds the buildings was
the only suggestion of an outside agency
in connection with the disturbance. This
report was brought out of the plant en-
closure by fireman. who said he did no,
know, and could not identify the man
who told him.
Heavily Guarded
For weeks the plant, surrounded by
high fence topped with barbel
wires. which are charged with an cleo
trio current. has been under guard BY
a force recruited from former mem
bers of the army and navy.
Possible Explanation
The explanation of the explosion adj
vanced authoritatively is that certain
elements in the explosive compound
known as Trinitrotoluol failed to fuse
when they were thrown together in 4
nitrater, or vat. The result was the
kissing as these several acids proved
Incompatible: a flash of fame when an
unexpected chemical action developed,
and ultimately an explosion which de-
molished the building in which this
vat was operated. A building 100 feet
away in which benZol was prepared
was partly demolished by the explo-
sion, but it's chemical product was un-
affected.
Men Flee for Safety
Eight men were at work in the
building known as the IT. y. t. shop
when the accident occurred. Seven of
these men were in the room with the
vat. The kissing of the incompatible
chemicals was sensed Immediately as
signal of danger, and the men fled.
being well beyond the immediate eff
fects of the explosion when it came.
All were hurled to the ground. how
ever. by the shock. but slight bruises
were their only injuries.
Night Foreman Caught
The only man in the building who
was not in the vat room was the only
man injured Frank III. Cornett of the
Roxbury district of Boston night
foreman of the IT. \. IT, shop. was
in the Office making out report. The
fleeing workmen found no time to no
tify him OF his danger. He saw flash,
he said, wondered a moment or two as
to what it meant, and his next SEN
sation was that Of water trickling over
his face. 1t was the dripping from
stream turned on to the blazing build
ing by the companys fire department.
The building had literally fallen
about Cornett. and had left him alive.
He was still sitting in his chair.
wedged against a wall. when he re-
covered consciousness. He worked his
way over the debris until his cries
drew assistance. At the emergency
room of the Merrimac Chemical Co,
whose plant adjoins tnAf Of die New
England Co, to which he was taken.
physicians found he had cash in his
forehead, a cut in his right hand, and
an injury to his back, the extent Of
which could not be readily determined.
His condition is not considered serl-
Gus.
A Narrow Escape
But for the fact that there was a
small supply of chemicals in the Trim
it'll rotoluol building. some employees said
the entire plant which covers ten acres