The Washington times., 1917-04-11
DEATH TOLL IN
EXPLOSION GROWS
Eddystone Officials Positive
Horror Was Wrought
BY PIotter.

PHILADELPHIA, April 11.-Latest
figures obtainable today placed the
death toll of the Eddystone muni-
tons disaster as high as 140, many
OF whom died horrible deaths during
the night at the various places in
Chester used as hospitals II Is
thought that the death list will reach
$50. More than $50 others are now
placed in the list OF injured, al
though an accurate count is next to
impossible. 1t is feared that there
may still be other dead in the ruins
OF the plant, and a minute search
Will be made for additional bodies to-
day, now that the fire has subsided
sufficiently for officials to probe the
wake of the terrible disaster.
The work of Identification began
last night, and still continues. Al
though many bereaved relatives have
identified loved ones as their own,
scores left the morgue and hospitals
In despair, resigned to let those
whom they knew to have met death
be buried among the lot who will
received public burial Those who did
identify their friends did SO by means
Of finger rings or other trinkets. 1t
was utterly impossible to identify by
bodily marks. Scores Of bodies were
80 charred It was impossible to as
certain even their sex
Awed Beyond Tears:
In the Chester morgue alone there
are still ninety-six bodies yet to be
claimed. Friends of the dead were
let in during the night by twos and
threes. and led down the rows of
sheet-enveloped forms laid in as care
full precision as the rows OF DEATH
dealing shells that killed them 1t
was a sad sight to see fathers, moth
ers. sisters, and friends slowly scan
the bodies, moving from form to form
with looks Of despair. The horror
was 30 great that many were aHeo
beyond the stage of tears.
They merely walked along with
pallid faces STOPPING over each form,
and proceeding onward in their vain
search. Two or three women tainted
but for the most part there was
grim and horror-stricken determine
tion not to be overcome.
Two suspects Of the plot were ar
rested early today at the Pennsyl
vania station at Chester by Depart
ment of Justice officials. Their names
are withheld. The men bought tick
cts for Philadelphia and went out on
the platform, but let the train go by.
They had been under surveillance by
officers, who Immediately nabbed
them Sufficient evidence for their
conviction in the plot was found to
warrant taking the men to Philadel- |
phia for further examination
1t is thought that further arrests
will be made during the day.
Work will be continued today |
along three lines:
Further Identification OF the dead. |
A more careful search through the |
ruins for additional bodies.
A most rigid investigation into the
cause of the disaster.
Warning Was Circulated.
Federal, State, and county officials
are cooperating in running down all
clues that have bobbed up, leading
to the belief that 1t was the diaboli- |
cal work of an incendiary. 1t is
practically the unanimous belief OF |
the detectives and other officials that,
horrible as IL may seem, the destruc-
tion was the result OF q carefully laid
plot.
Scores of employees who were not
victims of the tragedy have told the
story that warnings were passed
around last week saying: Don't
come to work Saturday or Monday"
Most OF them laughed at the idea, but
it is known that a great number took
the hint even TO an additional day,
and thus avoided death.
significant statement was made
today by Basil Greenko, inspector for
the Russian government in the pellet
department. Greenko declared that
the explosion occurred in the loading
room, where there was no powder or
shells. He was badly hurt and was
taken with other injured to the Sixth
regiment armory. While lying on his
cot, he told the following story:
81 was standing near ne Of the
tables when suddenly froI. under the
door of the loading room there came
bright glare. Then, instantly, an
other bright light, and 1 and every
body fell to the floor. 1 go to my |
feet, but fell down again.
There was no powder in the load-l
Ing room, and no fire, nothing but
cases Of empty shells, maybe ten or
hfteen carloads. There was a heavy
iron door between the loading room
and the pellet room, and Immediately
with the first glare under the door
there was an explosion. then came the
second burst of light as turned to
see what caused il.
TT was awful. Men and women
were falling all around me. l tried
when ! got on my feet to help some